CROWE made a stunning proposal, half-jokingly, as a possible resolution for our economic crisis. He said: “that there are relatively *300 million Americans. And the bail out was asking for $700 billion. Why not give 3 billion of that to taxpayers, averaging out to about one mill per person?”
There was a small applause, but mostly shock. We, the people, are not accustomed to concepts that would actually level the playing field. The idea made too much sense, something else we are not accustomed to.
First, it would allow Americans to be in a position to invest as a whole, remove large sums of personal debt, and an opportunity to start over. Really start over. For all economic levels. There would be no more poverty. At least for a while in this country. But think of the possibilities worldwide. We really are do-gooders.
Second, since it is possible that the money for the bail out will come from taxpayers in the long term, and taxpayers are already struggling, there is no guarantee that the debt will be repaid. Unless We, the people, are forced to pay more and more taxes, oppressed under more debt and rising costs and inflation. Recession and a Depression is inevitable this route. Especially if they are just “printing up new money”.
Third, the majority of Americans are responsible for the money being available in the first place, and not just the rich. It’s the rich (or rather a good number of them) who have misused, mismanaged, greedied it away, living large and in charge. Now, it’s our turn, the 99 percent, to stop giving and start receiving and living large. The rich will
always be rich.
There’s a responsible way to allot these monies to avert waste. Damage control.
We wouldn’t receive the money all at once. Think about it. Junkies would OD on a massive scale. And large numbers of people would spend it so fast, it would truly be a waste.
Of course, there are minds more advanced and capable to construct a better plan, but here’s a plausible start:
Every person would have to invest $100 grand towards Wall St. investments. Let’s add that up. 300 million people investing $100 grand. Uh, duh, let’s see…that would be…uh…you have calculators. Anyway, they wouldn’t see that money because it would go straight to the source, like taxes.
After that, each allotment would be a certain amount annually per person, like the lottery. Probably starting around $25,000 per person. The rest would be placed in
various government bonds, trusts, estates, bank accounts, etc., which no one could actually touch. It would earn interest, while banks use it to do what they usually do,
invest it, loan it, whatever.
Would that cause millions of people to walk off of their jobs? Or millions more to simply live off the allotment, tax free? (It’s the Australian way.) And, it’s probably more than a lot of current salaries.
Or, would it ignite more spending? More qualifications for loans, small businesses, college educations, purchase homes and afford them, pursue dreams, shopping? If spending is what they want consumers to do, then this would allow
spending as well as investing. For the first time in history, the 99 percent would not just be giving to the rich, excluded from the American Dream, but in charge of
their lives.
Too idealistic you say? It’s what is being done, has always been done, and will probably continue to be done for the truly wealthy among us. Make no mistake, we’ve been duped throughout history by the policies and procedures that maintain a permanent underclass, in order for the wealthy to remain so.
It’s a shocking and daring proposal. But so is giving $700 billion dollars without American citizens being able to vote on that plan.
Which comes to another proposal. Voters get to vote on most legislation. Why are they not getting a vote on the biggest economic proposition in history? A proposition that they will pay for.
Therefore, instead of putting a “rush” on this plan, like the Iraq War, let’s slow this thing down. Ask a few more questions instead of panicking and feeling helpless and hopeless.
For instance, how many of “us” have had an opportunity to go over this plan? Probably none. We’re just being “told” about it.
So, here’s the deal: No Deal until we say it’s a deal.
It’s easy. It’s honest. And it’s fair.
Present the plan to American citizens. Place the full material in the Sunday newspaper, make copies available online, at libraries, at post offices, etc. Give American’s a few days to read it, investigate it, talk it over. Then, hold a special televised program, like the debates, or presidential speeches, where Bush, McCain, Obama, the treasury guy, especially Pelosi, and some top financial expert — and have them explain everything, line by line to the American people.
Then, and only then, set a date for a special election where WE get to vote on this bail out. Yea or Nay. And the final results will speak for themselves, unless chads get stuck and ballots get lost, and we have to start recounts, etc. etc. etc.
What a concept, huh? It’s scary and most American’s will be hesitant because we are not use to taking responsibility for our own lives. We have been trained, programmed, and conditioned to look to our leaders to deceive us, lie to us, cheat us, and keep us in our place.
We look to them like they are our parents. We think of them as our “deadbeat” dads (and moms). We expect them to disappoint us, make us promises so that we can keep hope alive. We like living on a hope and a prayer. It’s what
we are accustomed to.
And then, let us down, so they we can complain and bicker amongst ourselves. Blame one another. That always works. That almighty divide. It works everytime, has worked for all time, and unless we change it, it will continue to work forever.
We have poverty because we accept poverty. The wealthy are rich, because they demand it. We like having idols, and people to look up to, and we need to have people to look down on, to look up to us. It’s ego. We like feeling special and better than others. And we like having something to aspire to.
With that said. The balls in your court.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:10 am
hi, Give something for help the hungry people in Africa or India,
I added this blog about them:
at http://tinyurl.com/556poc