We Deserve It!

I am not good with numbers. Anyone who knows me very well at all can attest to this. In fact, my friends won’t even let me keep score when we play Spades!! So, this whole bail-out thing with AIG and all is very confusing to me. The way I understand a free market society is that you take a risk, and if you succeed, you are successful and make money. If you do not succeed (or at least not to the point you hoped for) then you shut your doors and try something else. But apparently, if you can manage to get far enough into debt to sufficiently freak everybody on Wall Street out, then you are eligible for the government to come and bail you out. To the tune of BILLIONS OF DOLLARS!!! (So, Jill, here’s my rant!!!)

Last night, on the news, I actually heard Obama say something I agreed with. He proposes that the companies being bailed out should be held accountable, and made to pay back, with interest, the amount they receive from the government to stay afloat. Yes, that is a great idea, but my friend, Angela, sent me an email this morning that outlines an even better plan. At least to my non-mathematical mind! Let me know what you think:

Good afternoon my fellow Americans,

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%.
*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
*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 Hoover 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,

Thomas J. Hoover — A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic

PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it’s either good for a laugh or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $85 Billion!!