Economic Flatulence

Location: Home.

Received my Economic Stimulus check the other day. Been thinking about what to do with it.
The classic options are: Spend it, save it or pay off debt. To have the best potential for impacting the economy, spending it is the only choice. But not just wanton spending.

If I buy a product that was made overseas, that money goes overseas. Sure, some small amount goes to the retailer, the domestic transportation company, etc., but the majority goes overseas. In a truly global economy (which we don't have here), any spending would help, as the flow would be in all directions at once. If I'm interested in using this money the way our legislators intended, buying a domestically-manufactured product is a better choice than an overseas-made product.

Better still, to retain even more of the financial flow in the United States, the money should be spent on services. That way, a clear majority of the funds go to the person or company providing the service; services are much more completely domestic than products.

I'm willing to bet, though, that this 'economic stimulus' attempt will work just as well as the last time. That is, it will have no discernable effect on the economy. There are too many other, more significant, factors at work.

So my suggestion? Use the extra money however you like. It's extra money. Take it as a lottery winning, a gift from a relative, a found wallet with no identification inside... The money's yours.

As for me, I think I'll buy a gun. A domestically-manufactured gun. A Ruger, Kimber, Smith & Wesson, North American Arms, etc. NOT a Glock, Sig Sauer, Taurus, Beretta, etc. Those are great brands with great products, but in this instance, I'll stick with the American-Made option.