In the blink of an eye, January 2009, is history – and in more ways than one. Did you keep up with your resolutions? Can you even list them? Don’t feel bad if they fell by the wayside this year, especially during this very hectic and historic Presidential Inauguration year. Each day of the countdown until Inauguration Day was probably spent following our new president’s every move, speech and promise.
Barack Obama has been in office for only 12 days, and already the intense media coverage is noticeably less; we are in a holding pattern regarding the stimulus package, and we have yet to feel any real change in the government’s direction as to the wars and our broken economy.
My mother, a 75 year old with only a high school education, reached the limits of her patience with the “shenanigans our government is trying to pull”, according to her. She specifically called me to give me a piece of her mind on an idea she heard on one of her favorite talk shows; Rodger Hedgkock or Glen Beck, she couldn’t quite recall, but this is understandable for a woman her age.
Mom heard about a formula for disbursing this much discussed financial bail-out money to the people which seems to make perfect sense to her – and frankly, me too. There’s been an idea floating around about the $850 billion (the amount changes daily, so don’t quote me on this!) the heads of our country want to inject into our floundering economy. The Huffignton Post reported, “The stimulus plan provides some $550 billion in direct investment for modernizing infrastructure, expanding broadband, and improving health care delivery systems. Funding is also aimed at shoring up state and local budgets that have gone deeply into the red, preventing layoffs of state workers.”
Some think this money should be handed directly to the American people who would almost immediately spend it in ways that would stimulate the economy faster than waiting for the trickle-down effect if only a small percentage of people get their greedy hands on it.
The Seattle Times dealt with this very subject in Letters to the Editor, “If they are trying to help out Americans, my simple calculations show that the $800 billion or more they want to spend can provide $40,000 in income to 12 million Americans for two years. This would really help out those who have lost their jobs in this recession” wrote an observant reader.
Yes, try to contain your excitement when you read the amounts being discussed – my mother certainly couldn’t, and that’s why she’s so frustrated with the non-action of our new leaders. The proposal below was sent to me by a friend a while back, and though it’s regarding the past bail-out of AIG, it could certainly pertain to any kind of financial package the White House is currently considering. Just plug in a new amount you’ve heard in the news lately, and have at it!
“I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.
To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.
Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%, and that everyone uses free tax software to file instead of paying an accounting firm (just an idea so you don’t have to spend your well-earned government dividend to send some of that money back to Uncle Sam!).
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife have $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college – it’ll be there
Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car – create jobs
Invest in the market – capital drives growth
Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back, and, of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it…instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00
(“Vote buy”) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.
If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG – liquidate it.
Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.
Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.”
But, can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion
We Deserve It Dividend more than do the geniuses at AIG or in WashingtonDC And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Ahhh…I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
Kindest personal regards,
Birk
T. J . Birkenmeier, a Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic”
David Axelrod, Obama’s senior advisor, while speaking of the package told The New York Times, “It’s a collective process, and we’re willing to listen to people’s ideas.” Asked if they were willing to adopt people’s ideas, Mr. David Axelrod said: “We’ll see. It depends on the idea.”
Mom, go ahead and call them!
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