Published: May 03, 2008 09:36 am         

Other View: Drive? Or eat?

Fill the gas tank, or stock up on basmati rice?

There are many ways to spend those government rebates ... With the cost of living soaring, consumers are likely to spend this extra cash on necessities, not ... retail purchases that Washington officials had hoped would stimulate the economy.

When Congress and President Bush agreed in February on the $165 billion package, Bush worried that the aid would arrive too late. ...

He needn't have worried. The economy is still weak.

Long range ... this infusion of cash for low- and middle-income taxpayers probably isn't going to shorten a recession, or what feels like one. The more people spend on necessities such as food and gas, the less impact the rebates will have on stimulating an economic recovery.

One of the few bright spots this week is for shareholders of oil companies BP and Shell, whose first-quarter profits rose 63 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

Philadelphia Inquirer