So the Senate Republicans seem to have offered their stimulus package which to their credit does not consist entirely of tax cuts for the rich.

But still is mainly concerned with comforting the comfortable.

Three provisions struck Wonks Anonymous:

The Republican want to lower the corporate tax rate. Which sound just grand until you remember that corporations that are really in trouble aren't paying any taxes at all. On the other hand this will give corporations like Chevron and Halliburton that are making profits more cash on hand. These leaders of industry can hold on to this cash for a few years and get some real bargains when the economy finally hits bottom. Also they can pay out dividends which will support the market for luxury goods.

They also want some kind of payroll tax cut/tax holiday. They seem to think that times are hard because we are saving too much and they want to help us by cutting back on our collective saving for retirement. Besides, it will strengthen their case when it comes time to try to dismantle Social Security once again.

Finally they would like to give us all another temporary tax cut - which will only work if we are foolish enough to go out and spend it rather than trying to get out of debt.

The problem is this. We want and need to save more and the friends of the Republicans, free marketeers and financial geniuses to a man, cannot seem to come up with decent investment opportunities that will use our savings. Because free marketeers can never be wrong in the Republican universe, they want to encourage us to adjust our behavior and expectations to the new low level of income and opportunities that their friends now want to give us.