This idea sounds just crazy enough to possibly work, so naturally it won't be given serious consideration. How great is our bureaucracy!! Hi Pals,
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 bona fide 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%.
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 has $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
Pay off credit cards - credit crises solved
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 I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC
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.
if you do the math, it comes out to only 425 dollars per person. sounds good but falls way short. liquidating AIG isn't a bad idea and spreading the money out over the US in the way of rebuilding infrastructure is one great way to put a lot of people to work and keep the economy robust.
I have heard of several people that have said, each adult over the age of 18+ should have a piece of the bailout -- but the number has been $1M to each -- however, you have done the numbers and I agree with you. It is just ashame that the American people can't take charge and actually make this happen.
God Bless
Giving some people money is a waste of money - it will be spent in ways that are not useful to yhe economy. But giving money to companies could also be a waste of money. We have to remember that this economic crisis was brought down on us by people who are supposed to know what they are doing!
If you can't trust the so-called experts, then what do you do?
What do you do? I would let them fail!
What good is a 'free market' when you can do everything possible to make a quick penny, and not have to worry about any harm done if things don't work out for you!
The free market isn't free unless you are both free to fail, and free to succeed.
What do the capitalists say about the curren economic situation? They're screaming for govt intervention aren't they? Sounds a bit Socialist to me! Hahaha!
Actually, capitalists are screaming to keep the government out!
If government didn't dictate that lenders had to lend to those who can't afford it (racial profiling they said!) or kept the oil market glued to what the latest OPEC meeting said (why did the US buy Alaska anyway?).
Now, let me ask. If the sub-prime issue didn't happen, and Americans could still drive their huge SUVs they love so much. Where would America be today?
On a side note. Why is the government giving money to ANYONE? How about they spend that money... on their own debt!
Unfortunately, the entire issue has become a problem that's snowballed since it began. The bailout might have been fine, if people had taken the time to plan, put in reasonable limits, and accountability from the start. Instead, there was a lot of money given out with no real guidelines as to how to spend it, as if by adding money to the problem it would solve a system that is proving to be flawed on some levels. The self-correction is necessary at this point, but it's going to be painful.
