Sometime this year, we taxpayers may again receive an economic stimulus payment. This is a very exciting program. I’ll explain it using the Q and A format.

Q. What is an economic stimulus payment?

A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?

A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?

A. Only a smidgen.

It is only my opinion, but I think a longer term stimulus could be achieved by reducing taxes universally, ending — or reducing — certain benefit packages for elected federal and congressional members — which they enacted for their benefit — and promoting the support of the U.S. economy by limiting imported products.

I feel that it is the United States that has financed the nuclear technology of Iran and other nations. It’s not that we could have prevented their development of nuclear weapons, but we might have delayed their production if they had to depend on their own economies to finance the project and our own economy would be less vulnerable to the recession of foreign economies.

I challenge you to buy a cell phone, toothbrush or ink pen made in the United States. It might have an American trademark such as Bic, Crest or Motorola, but it will be made in India, China or Japan. Other stuff comes from Pakistan or Indonesia.

What is made in the United States without foreign made parts? Some Hondas or Toyotas maybe?

Steve Arteman, Clinton