STIMULUS PAYMENT INFORMATION FOR 2009...

[B16Enk]

This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment.

This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

"Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment? "

A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

"Q. Where will the government get this money? "

A. From taxpayers.

"Q. So the government is giving me back my own money? "

A. Only a smidgen.

"Q. What is the purpose of this payment? "

A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set,

thus stimulating the economy.

"Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China? "

A. Shut up."

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending

your stimulus check wisely:

If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.

If you spend it on gasoline, it will go to the Arabs.

If you purchase a computer, it will go to India.

If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala (unless you buy organic).

If you buy a car, it will go to Japan.

If you purchase useless crap, it will go to Taiwan.

And none of it will help the American economy.

We need to keep that money here in America. You can keep the money in America by spending it at

yard sales, going to a baseball game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer (domestic ONLY), or tattoos,

since those are the only businesses still in the US.

[GreyKnight]

[DD_Brando]

Ah well, it's a funny take - but it's very simplistic and only partially true.

One point that's worth noting, in a global economy, is that purchasing is what it's about. It doesn't particularly matter where the goods originate - it's the infrastructure of merchandising that is under threat.

Look at it this way. You work in a shop and your job is under threat through poor sales. Now it doesn't matter too much where the goods you sell come from - computers from India, petrol from the Middle East, or cars from Japan - it's the selling that keeps you in your job.

Go further back up the chain. You're a haulier, or a dock-worker or you work in the oil-refining business. Your jobs are under threat because commerce has slowed down - not because of where the goods you work with come from.

You're a pump-jockey, or a vehicle mechanic or you serve food in the local diner - once again the same thing. If you work in software for computers - you don't take heed of where the hardware originated - it doesn't matter.

Spending is the important part of this equation. For example, remember that anyone who buys a PC will probably use Microsoft to run it. There you see a home-grown profit which, through taxation, will show a return on your national profit-sheet. There are many examples of this that I could list.

It's not wrong that people should find a way of restructuring their shopping-lists, countries included, and look for new home-grown products to stimulate the manufacturing industry - but it's important to look beyond nationalism to understand the purpose of public spending initiatives. For good or ill, it's money that greases the machinery of a capitalistic society.

B

[Perfesser]

True enough.

Most Japanese cars sold here are built in the US or Canada, domestic cars would be better but if you must......hell, my job depends on it.

There isn't that much profit in the price of a car these days 85% is material(mostly bought locally) and all those labour costs go right back into the system.

Canada is the biggest supplier of US crude oil (20%)and natural gas.

America's Top Annual Suppliers of Crude Oil in 2007

The United States imports approximately 62 percent of its oil. Canada supplies approximately 20 percent of these imports, and Mexico contributes 10 percent. But over 30 percent come from regimes that are less friendly or stable, including Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Nigeria, Angola, Iraq, and Algeria (respectively the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th largest oil importers to the United States).

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/05/oil_imports.html

Plenty of produce year round from California.

Cal strawberries are cheaper here (in Ontario) even when ours are in season!! Not better though.

Do your part and look at the labels, pay a bit extra for domestic. It will end up back in your pocket.

Especially look for local produce, when your farmers are gone, you'll have to buy whatever there is, wherever it comes from.

If you can get it right from the producer(farmer) you cut all those middle men out, you pay the same but the farmer gets a better cut.

Real food is produced by farmers, dunno where that crap in a box comes from or what it's even made of but it ain't what God intended for you to eat.

Those middle men search the planet for the lowest price, not the best quality, not the best for your economy, not the best for your health, only the best for their bottom line.

[JensenPark]

And only vacation in Victoria, BC and stay at hotels with strange Il2 and porn obsessed managers.

[Tribunus]

You can keep the money in America by spending it at

yard sales, going to a baseball game, or spend it on prostitutes, beer (domestic ONLY), or tattoos,

since those are the only businesses still in the US.

That's almost correct.