One of President Obama’s campaign promises was to “spread the wealth.” With $7 trillion in new government debt and rising, he’s certainly a man of his word. Now there is a new beneficiary of taxpayer generosity – prison inmates. $250 government checks went out to 3,900 prison inmates as part of the economic recovery package passed by congress back in February. Nearly 52 million Social Security recipients and railroad pensioners qualified for the one-time stimulus payout. Under federal law, 2,200 of the prisoners get to keep the gift from their Uncle Sam. “The law specified that any beneficiary eligible for a Social Security benefit during one of those months was eligible for the recovery payment,” Social Security Administration spokesman Mark Lassiter told the Associated Press.

According to the Associated Press, of the $13 billion already spend for Obama’s stimulus, $425,000 incorrectly made it into the hands of jail birds. Perhaps they’ll stimulate the economy buying power drills and cash for clunkers getaway cars. This is understandable in the sense that our nation’s ruling party views all American citizens as inmates entrusted to their care. “Hope and change” is just part of our rehabilitation process.