As early as May, a large portion of us will be receiving a check or direct deposit from Uncle Sam himself. Economics 101 indicates there is no such thing as a free lunch, so the money needs to be coming from somewhere. In a last-ditch effort to improve his sagging approval rating and revitalize a sputtering economy, President George W. Bush recently unveiled an economic stimulus package that would give thousands of taxpayers in the middle class a rebate check.

The plan is devoid of common sense and logic, as the rebate checks are insignificantly small due to the fact that the dollar is anemic and most Americans will probably use the checks to pay off debt. The idealistic notion behind this trivial endeavor is that the checks will enable Americans to go out and spend money and boost morale as well as the economy. The sad reality is that many of the people who will go out and blow their stimulus package checks on conspicuous consumption purchases most likely will be buying products that are made in China.

There has been much confusion about the process, so the IRS is trying to explain the odds and ends of it. The Web site belonging to the IRS answers frequently asked questions regarding the stimulus package and it has done its best to make the process as confusing as possible. The process for obtaining the money is simple enough, all one needs to do is file for a tax return, but it is not clear where the money is coming from.

The circumstances surrounding this whole situation seem a bit difficult to trust. If the government wanted to stimulate the economy it would include some money for infrastructure as well as temporarily expand the distribution of food stamps as part of the package. Congressional Democrats, despite their majority, have folded on key issues in order to get the checks out faster.

According to the IRS, the income we receive from the stimulus package will not be taxable income for 2008. Logic would indicate that 2009 would not contain the same federally-mandated gravy train, and we could all expect to be taxed to the last cent on anything the stimulus package may have given us. The money has to come from somewhere. Soaring energy costs, property foreclosures and a bloated deficit make this stimulus package a $150 billion exercise in stupidity.

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