April 15, 2008 - US NewsWire Service - A spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service today apologized for the inadvertent release of an unauthorized letter* written to accompany the economic stimulus payments to households across America. The IRS spokesman said that taxpayers should ignore the letter, originally written for review and consideration by the White House. Congressional leaders asked for an investigation into how the letter was released. The document is reproduced below:

Dear U.S. Citizen,

Enclosed is your economic stimulus payment for 2008. The check amount is as follows: $600 for a single person, $1,200 for a married couple, and $300 per child, for families making less than $75,000 ($150,000 for a couple).

Speaking of children, if you have any, you should thank them for loaning you this money. After all, they are the ones who will have to pay it back. If you are blessed with grandchildren, don't forget to thank them too. They'll be paying off the interest.

Internally at the IRS, we had suggested that the President and Congress could have saved us a lot of work if they had just sent the money directly to China. After all, they are hoping for a boost in consumer spending, another Christmas in May. But, purchases of Gameboys and Xboxes, iPods and big screen televisions, won't really help the U.S. economy or the global environment. They will send jobs abroad and increase energy use in the US. But since the President wants you to have the money, we here at the IRS are frankly worried that this rebate will make both the economy and global warming worse for our children and grandchildren - a double whammy.

So, if you actually want to help build a better future, then the IRS wants you to consider the following ways to strengthen the economy and rescue the planet:

1) Invest in a "green" mutual fund that invests in environmentally friendly companies, or in those backing alternative energy. Investments in U.S. clean-tech companies will pay you back as they begin the shift to a lower carbon economy for the U.S. (By the way, did you really think a President from Texas was going to invest your tax dollars in alternative energy sources?)

2) Reduce your energy costs by investing your rebate. Replace an energy inefficient refrigerator. Insulate your house. Replace drafty windows. Get your car tuned and replace that tire with the slow leak. Save it up for a hybrid to replace your current car when it fails. These changes will allow you to see an economic return from your rebate and boost American jobs. It will also reduce greenhouse gases and help reduce the price of energy for everyone. Reducing our use of energy is ultimately patriotic and good sense for your family.

3) Buy organic food this year. Although it is more expensive, it will help domestic (mostly small) farmers. And, if you want to be really energy efficient, buy a share in a local farm. Community-supported farmers plant a variety of crops, selling shares (generally costing about $500) in advance. During the growing season, farmers deliver boxes of assorted fresh organic produce; you get fresh healthy food and the farmer gets help in keeping local land in farm use. Can't get more wholesome than that.

4) Repair your house. Using local skilled labor will boost our economy and, after all with the current real estate market, you're going to be living there for a while.

5) Donate the money to a U.S. oriented charity. Any local charity will spend your money, and stimulate the economy almost as quickly as if you had. This will also give you a tax deduction next year and a warm fuzzy feeling this year.

6) Donate the money to a political campaign of a candidate who supports action on the environment and climate change, in particular.

The media is going to be paying a lot of attention to how you spend this money. One of the arguments for tax cuts is always that people can do a better job of deciding how to spend their money than politicians can. This time, America, let's prove them right. 

There's no such letter, obviously -- or at least it hasn't surfaced yet! But the point is very much a real one: Short-term thinking is what's gotten us into these messes, both economic and environmentmental. Taking the long view for a change might actually make a difference!