2008 Tax Rebate Checks: What Does a Bush-Hating Liberal Spend Hers On?

America's economy is a lot like the sinking Titanic, and instead of a shiny lifeboat, today the Bush administration is throwing us an old, deflated tire in the form of a $600 rebate check. I agree with the large contingent of experts who don't think this will do much meaningful stimulating. And while I reject the notion that it's my "patriotic duty" to buy more junk I don't need, let's face it - it's far more fun to spend it in a creative way that reflects my values than to save it or do something equally responsible. Since "the check's in the mail" no matter how much we object to this policy decision, here are 3 ideas of worthy ways to spend the money that could do some social and economic good.

1) Plant a garden. $600 is more than enough to get tools, supplies and seeds for a garden where you can grow some of your own food. It's spring and not too late to get started. Author Michael Pollan suggests that this is one of the most powerful individual actions a person can take to combat climate change and transform our cheap-energy-minded culture. You'll get the satisfaction of growing your own ultra-local vegetables, know you're doing something great for the earth, and you'll support the economy with smart purchases. If you live in a concrete jungle like New York City, look into a community garden.

2) Generously distribute among service sector workers -- aka -- leave big tips. Many people like waiters, busboys, and baristas may see their tips dwindle as people cut back on discretionary spending. Start leaving 25% instead of 20% until you estimate you've reached $600. Not only will you feel personally virtuous, you can help out workers who are more likely to live paycheck to paycheck than salaried employees. Their economic wellbeing is more subject to patrons' whims, so when business is slow they may feel the impact most acutely.

3) While Bush's educational policies leave many children (and teachers) behind, donorschoose.org is a website that lets teachers post wish lists and project needs and then individuals can purchase the items for the classroom, whether it's school supplies, textbooks or electronic equipment. No, this won't fix the systemic problem of educational inequality in America, but it does provide a platform for purchasing something that will have a meaningful and worthy impact. The students will even write you a thank-you note.

Got some creative ideas for great ways for Bush-hating liberals to spend their $600? Leave 'em in the comments.

Comments

[Stevelagain]

Katherine:

Every 7 to 10 days a NEW COAL FIRED POWER PLANT comes on line in CHINA. They are growing that fast!

Every single day another 2,000 new cars hit the road in China.

Sky scrappers are growing at the rate of about 400 per year in just one major Chinese city.

So you can plant your garden in your car, turn off your power, have no children, and unplug unused appliances to shut off transformers, it just doesn't matter. Nothing you can do will undo the growing Chinese economy and pollution.

We need to stop pretending we are going to save the world by unplugging things. We in the US need to stop supporting coal plants and start supporting carbon free Nuclear Power. Then we need rechargeable cars so we can plug them in to our carbon free power lines to fuel up.

But it's time to stop pretending. Time to stop turning food to fuel and making pollution worse and starving people in the process. The democratic party ethanol bill has to be reversed.

I spent my tax rebate on a new blender and food processor for my wife, a new runner for our reworked stairwell, and we may pick up another runner for the entrance way as well as a side table for one of the beds.

Maybe you can give your's to Obama or Hillary? Keep some wealthy consulting people well paid.

Politically correct far left radicalized hate is just as ugly as any other hate.

[olephart]

Use your check and dollars to buy heavy gauge platinum wire. Fashion it into clothes hangers. Paint them black and use them to hang your clothes. When the fruits of Bush's labors ripen and the dollar goes down the toilet. Pack your bags and move to a civilized country.

[libertarian89]

After reading this article and comments, I noticed no one, the "liberals" included, volunteered to give the rebate back to the government. Instead I see a number of ways to use the money ranging from the everyday "pay bills" to more esoteric ideas. Giving the money back to the government is easy, just don't cash the check and eventually the government will put it back on their books.
So, without realizing what they are doing, the author and the commentors have acknowledged what those against big government have been professing for a long time; private individuals, and not big government, should decide how money is spent (or saved).
Interestingly only a few suggested donating their money to a worthy cause. Most want to use it for themselves; however, these same folks don't mind figuring out how to spend my money via a never ending stream of government programs. Wanting to help others is a noble aspiration and we have labels for the the two types of people who do so. For those who want to help others using other peoples money we have coined the term "liberal". For those who want to help others using their money, time, talent we use the term "generous".
Oh, and how am I going to use my refund? I plan to purchase gold or silver with the money and give it to my kids, so that when the day comes to repay my "rebate" they will have the money on hand to do so.

[sheila]

solar panels fund. we have to get energy independent and stop killing the planet with fossil fuels and the almost-as-bad wilderness-killing "solar farms" and "wind farms." Local, point of use conservation and renewable generation is the only sustainable future for this nation and this planet, and I intend to be part of it.

i am also lobbying hard for parity for myself and all of you with Big Energy, which is getting enormously better subsidies, tax treatment, low-cost capital and 100% guaranteed power buy-backs from our tax dollars so they can permanently destroy our taxpayer owned (BLM) wilderness so they can further enslave us to themselves even now (especially now) that a decentralized renewable paradigm is possible.

i hope you will all do the same!

[WorkingClass]

I am a poor person so I will only get $300.00. I have a lot of class envy. But I'm not complaining. I know exactly what I'm gonna do. Buy a pistol. With a pistol I can go into business for myself after I lose my job. And if I get sick I can blow my brains out. THANKS president bush.

[marinara]

only have 300 coming to me too but i already have a pistol so im not sure what to do with it

[WorkingClass]

Party till the money is gone!

[Stevelagain]

Let me help you. Dump your internet connection it costs you too much money. Stop wasting time typing on blogs on the internet and possibly get a second job like many not quite as poor as you who got a larger rebate! Better yet, use your blog time to pick up a degree and increase your income.

You can thank me later.

[Novista]

I repudiated my stimulus letter.

But! on another blog, I suggested with the userbase and the wide variety of skills, they could set up a microlending operation, and I would donate US$100 of my own money. *crickets*

Someone before suggested 'food bank'. Not a bad idea. It would make you feel good, and maybe before teh end of the year, you'd be standing in line yourself ...

[NABNYC]

I'll use it to pay bills, of which there are always more.

But I may send some to Nova M Radio.

I was just thinking that we need to get a tight control over this whole primary season issue. I think it was the Clintons who started Hillary's campaign around the turn of the century, strong-arming big corporate donors, tying up endorsements and superdelegates, which forced everyone else's hands. So we have a two-year primary, which is obscene.

Hundreds of millions of Democratic and progressive dollars poured down the toilet while Democrats fight with each other and essentially help the Republicans. We need to have a six-month campaign season, national primary, encourage people to give money to progressive causes, not just to the consultants, ad agencies, and media conglomerates that own all the TV and radio.

Then the money that we don't throw away on primaries, we can give to progressive causes.

[sheila]

why not simple, publicly financed elections with fixed debates, fixed free airtime on OUR airwaves (radio & TV), and NO donations, commercials, PACs, lobbyists, "issue ads" or otherwise. Each candidate can speak for themself, and win or lose based on their position instead of their ability to convert bribes to marketing...

[biwee]

Since this money was borrowed from the Chinese, buy something made in China. This way, the Chinese get a "two-fer". Actually, think I will have new brakes and new shocks for my six and a half year old vehicle, which I plan to drive another 4 years. At least a local small businessman will get this
money from foreigners.

[JBS]

Pay off the last of the credit card debt.

[kwalla101]

Mine went to the Red Crescent/Red Cross for humanitarian aid in Iraq.
Go to: http://www.redcross.int/en/default.asp
and choose 'Iraq Humanitarian Response' under 'I would like my contribution to go to:'. Not technically a tax-deductible donation in the eyes of the IRS since it's the international branch of the Red Cross and not the US branch, but I will likely forget the details by April of 2009...

[cylindar]

I am spending my rebate on sex toys. The hell with everybody else.

[67bug]

Mine is going to mom's monthly meds.

[Roshi98]

Mine will be going to Kiva.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to distributing micro-loans to entrepreneurs in the developing world. If only there were a US equivalent....

[BlackbirdHighway]

it's going the same place my dividends from Exxon go: my electric car fund.

[Jude2004]

As a relatively impoverished human, I have more ways to spend $600 than you can imagine. I'll be getting one son eyeglasses and paying for his driver's instruction. I can't imagine ever being able to view $600.00 as peanuts, but maybe that's because I supported three of us on $10,000 just 3 years ago.