Tax Rebate

Got the letter from the Feds today saying our tax rebate is on the way. Fifteen hundred bucks—not an insignificant chunk o’ change, (we get $300 extra for the kid)—and how’s it going to stimulate the economy?

Our plan, if truth be told, is to turn it right into Euros for our trip abroad in two weeks.

I’m sure that this isn’t exactly what the Bush administration had in mind when they dreamed up this deal; we won’t really be lining the coffers of any American companies I can think of—except maybe Visa, to the extent they’ll make a bit of interest if we charge stuff—on the contrary, my hope is to hand crisp bills right into the hands of some patisserie chef on the rue Monge, or perhaps a wine merchant on rue Mouffetard.

Frankly, I can’t say that I really understand the rationale behind the rebate program; I’m cynical enough to see it as an out-and-out bribe, but it’s kind of an ineffective one. If the incumbent politicians were truly serious about buying my vote, they ought to have given me at least twice as much and should have done it closer to the upcoming election.

Part of my distaste for the whole thing is that I’m not a better person; that is, instead of donating my rebate to charity or refusing to cash it out of principle, I’m going ahead and spending it—and pretty much entirely on enjoyment for me and my family. I realize I ought to at least tithe to some worthy cause, but heck, a hundred and fifty bucks is like a hundred Euro—at least enough for a couple cups of coffee and a baguette and some modest Parisian bistro, I’ll bet.

Speaking of betting, I’m really hoping we get out to the Hippodrome de Longchamp; it looks like there’s a racing card on the quattorze juillet; perfect! I can squander my American tax rebate on French independence day!