DougR- The last givaway to the wealthy didn't stimulate anything, and this one is less likely to. I doubt that companies who are in a frenzy to lay off workers are going to do much investing in tools and machinery. You can bet, however, that they will be investing heavily in "golden parachutes" and huge year-end bonuses for CEO's, who will then be able to stash their money overseas. This is absolutely shameful. Meanwhile, in my state, Medicare just increased the co-pays for critical treatments such as dialysis and cancer treatments, exhorbitantly, for poor and elderly patients who are already in poverty. And reduced drug benefits at the same time. Of course, the number of folks with no health insurance at continues to grow. If this is "compassionate conservativism", you can keep it. Absolutely shameful. BlueJay