[cowpip]

Originally Posted by Sledge »

So this $600 that was intended to "stimulate the ecomomy" is doing nothing but allow people to "survive" a little nicer until it evaporates. The governments idea that people would take that $600 and go out and buy big ticket items appears to exploded in their face.

Bernanke and company were largely betrayed by oil and energy, but their early "secret" policy of allowing the dollar to depreciate is probably what really sunk this (the rebate check) boat.

I'm sure Bernanke screams at night in a cold sweat, "I'm in a car-crusher and can't get out. Help!"

For someone who has devoted most of his own life to a study of the Great Depression, his worst nightmare must be close to a waking dream by now. I'll bet his pharmacist loves him. "Oh look, here he comes again. Break out the sleep med boxes, Ethel!"