Thanks, I guess...

I don't get our limited world view . So, because of misguided banks (bad lending principles) and consumers that can't practice delayed gratification (credit card debt), the economy is tanking a bit. What I don't understand is why this justifies the American people receiving $170 billion dollars over the next 2 months in rebates (I know, it's our tax money to start with)... not only does that put our country into a further spending deficit (and is so short sighted in how to fix an economy); but it is just a bad spend of money in the grand scheme of things (grand scheme being humanity, not just folks under our American flag)

Personally, instead of my wife and I each getting a $600 rebate check, why not end the world water shortage?

Did you know that the UN estimates that 25,000 people die EACH DAY (that's eight 9/11 tragedies every day) because they lack access to clean water. They also estimate that $52 billion/year would provide the infrastructure to provide clean water to these folks. (WHO&UNICEF; Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 Report).

thanks for the money back uncle sam.... it could have gone toward saving 25,000 folks a day for the next three years. Guess I'll go get an xBox to spur on the economy (that last sentence is sarcasm, just incase it's not clear).

Maybe we (anyone who is reading this) should start a non-profit fund for folks to give some/all of their rebate check to water relief organizations (ex. http://1000wells.com/).

Anyone want to join me in that?