Tax rebate won't be economic panacea

I read with interest about the "rebates" that will be coming to the American public as part of an economic stimulus package to jump start the economy.

The hopes of the president and Congressional leaders is that the "rebates" will be spent by all recipients, not saved or used to pay down bills, as this would, in their minds, revitalize a lagging economy.

It seems that if they really wanted to make sure that it would be spent, they should have issued the "rebates" in the form of a national gift card that could be used at all malls and retailers.

Leave it to Congress to think giving us a portion of our own money, and calling it a "rebate," is the panacea to all the economy's ills.

Bob Kusek

Arlington Heights

Letters in Neighbor