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I’m totally excited that our tax-rebate checks
are coming! Washington has turned into Santa Claus, the Easter
Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, all rolled into one, now delivering $300 to
$600 checks to nearly every one of us. The idea is that we’ll all rush out and buy,
buy, buy — thus stimulating the economy, creating jobs, and causing
bluebirds of happiness to trill with delight. Wal-Mart is ready for you,
offering to cash your government checks for free and tempting you with
special price promotions. Indeed, every big retailer is running shopper
specials in May. But wait — most of the stuff sold in those
stores isn’t made in America. So those sounds of economic stimulation
we’re hearing — from factory machinery to bluebirds — are
coming from China, Singapore, and other low-wage nations where U.S.
corporations have moved production. Spending at the Wal-Marts won’t
create new production or new jobs in your town or mine. That’s why I have a different plan for my $600
check. I’m setting $400 of it aside to spend at farmers’
markets, artisan shops, and hometown businesses that sell goods produced
locally or at least produced in America. This way, our tax dollars can
circulate here at home, genuinely benefiting our grassroots economy. Then I’m going to donate the other $200 to
public-interest groups or progressive candidates who are pushing for real
economic reform, not made-in-China consumerism. In particular, my small
donations will support those working for a massive public investment in
repairing and extending America’s deteriorating infrastructure
— including water systems, bridges, schools, parks, public
transportation, and a state-of-the-art Internet system. Instead of a shopping stimulus, we should be
employing millions of Americans at good wages to do the good grassroots
work that needs to be done.
Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator,
columnist, and author.
This article appears in May 8-14, 2008.
