A better economic stimulus program

This is simply to offer an alternative way to help stimulate the economy. This is in reference to the recent (january '08) plan of the US government to increase the tax rebates to most people.

On hearing much of the discussion of the planned tax refund increase, it seems that, of course, much of the tax refund put "into the hands of the people" will likely go simply to payback debt, though some will be used to increase consumption, stimulate the economy, ect.

One article stated that there is however a potential negative in that some, or much of the refund money might go to buying imports and thus just flow out of the economy. This is the basis of a different, and better plan. Indeed it is necessary to "turn this arguement on it's head".

What is proposed is that the governement issue monies/debit cards/certificates that are required to be spent on imports, and ONLY imports. Moreover this amount should be to everyone and made perminant/yearly. Illogical as it may sound this has many benefits.

First, people buying imports spend money usually at US stores, and thus much of the money will be initiated into the US economy. Although this is not the best arguement, it is true and a basis for better reasons.

Second, this mechanism would promote within the American population a necessity to ponder and sort out what products are American and what are foriegn. Better yet this is done in a non confrontive way and ultimately would simply lead to better organization and a much better informed public.

Third, this would ultimately create a sort of "leverage" that the US government could have in dealings with imports. True this is not the hands off sort of liberalism that triumphs in todays econonomic politics. But we cant simply keep doing the same thing and expect different results. Actually it can be said to be somewhat socialist, but it is only mildly socialist and the truth is that all options and ideas need to be utilized when are adversaries are not "playing by the rules".

Also, this would create a different and more complex atmosphere in commerce. While simple to impliment, there would be vast potential for the new system to vary, from city to city, or state to state, ect. In the battle of ideas that our leaders tell us we are in, complexity might be a good thing. Freedom in someways could be spared while freedoms in other ways are simply changed.

Finally, the question is, what else can the government do? In a way our government is in deep debt, and it's way of having influence can be said to be hindered. It is best to, yes, have limited government in some regards, so to have a smart, influential government that takes initiative is the best role to play.