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However, what effect would this have on the economy?
1. Give every worker (as opposed to investor (= tycoon) his rent/mortgage payment for two months. Cap it out at $4K.
2. Pay off everyone's credit card balance, up to $10K.
3. Give every household $1,000 in cash as a pad, to make sure they don't fall right back into debt again before the end of the month.
4. Pay off everyone's outstanding medical bills and institute universal health care so we don't fall right back into that again.
5. Or a flat payment of $5,000 to anyone who opts out of all of the above.
We'd be talking an average of less than $10K for each of the 100-million households. One trillion.
If we had not spent a trillion on the Iraq war, we'd have it available, in hand, to bring almost everyone up to speed, eliminate most personal debt, significantly reduce the cloud of foreclosures, end the nightmare of medical debt. But you can't have it, because when they said "Who wants to invade Iraq?", nearly all of you raised your hands, and there went your money.
However, what effect would this have on the economy?
1. Give every worker (as opposed to investor (= tycoon) his rent/mortgage payment for two months. Cap it out at $4K.
2. Pay off everyone's credit card balance, up to $10K.
3. Give every household $1,000 in cash as a pad, to make sure they don't fall right back into debt again before the end of the month.
4. Pay off everyone's outstanding medical bills and institute universal health care so we don't fall right back into that again.
5. Or a flat payment of $5,000 to anyone who opts out of all of the above.
We'd be talking an average of less than $10K for each of the 100-million households. One trillion.
If we had not spent a trillion on the Iraq war, we'd have it available, in hand, to bring almost everyone up to speed, eliminate most personal debt, significantly reduce the cloud of foreclosures, end the nightmare of medical debt. But you can't have it, because when they said "Who wants to invade Iraq?", nearly all of you raised your hands, and there went your money.
And "who wants to bail out the banks?" And few of the people raised their hand, and there went your money.
That's what we all say. But the results are plain for all who want to see.
Confucious says: 'Tis better to have recieved one million dollars and squander it away than not to receive it and have no chance of squandering it away.
1) Take our total budget and cut it in half, or thereabouts, then start from the top and prioritize for the things we really need and fund it - It's that easy, our federal budget is halved and we can get rid of tons of pork and programs we don't need. (For example, I would be happy with doubling or tripling our current education spending - there are places like education to increase spending and many others to cut it)
1a) This is somewhat of a budget issue but also a principle issue: Bring nearly ALL of our troops home from the war and every base around the world and focus ALL of them on protecting our borders and national security - NOT world security. We are not the world police, we are not the freedom fighters for democracy, nor can we afford it.
1b) In line with prioritizing our budget - get rid of nearly ALL entitlement programs - it is not the governments job to pay for your retirement, healthcare, welfare or anything else. If you think otherwise then move to Europe. Those retirees nearing retirement should get their social sceurity and health,etc. Then take the SS medicare, etc taxes that fund entitlemnts and privatize them to each individual - for example, your SS taxes paid would roll directly into your personal 401k type plan. Pensions didn't work for GM or anyone else and they won't work for the gov't.
2) Strict term limits, definitely no more than two terms in ANY office. And as an aside - corporations should not be allowed to contribute a dime to campaigns, they are a seperate legal entity for legal purposes but they are not a citizen - they can't vote so they shouldn't be able to influence the politicians or lobbyists either. This limits the corruptive power of being in office and keeps candidates on their toes, they come in with fresh ideas, have time to implement them, and then they go back to being a regular citizen after serving their duties. (We have plenty of capbale individuals here in America to serve as elected representatives, politicians are not somehow superior, except in their ego's)
3) Cut corporate taxes and capital gains to 0%. Get rid of income taxes for individuals and make a flat sales tax - that way you are encouraged to save not spend as the system is currently designed - and much easier for everyone to understand - no tax filings every year. (This would attract ENOURMOUS amounts of investment and jobs to our country, we have one of the least attractive tax structures to promote domestic investment or FDI)
4) Initiate a giant, but well thought out and executed, "stimulus" that is focused on rebuilding ALL of the aging infrastructure in America and funding and building a new power grid and alternative energy for the future. This will make jobs in these tough times (think Hoover) and quickly minimize our dependance on foreign oil.
5) Read the constitution and give power back to the states, quit meddling in our business and dictating our freedoms and liberties. It is not the government's business if you want an abortion or smoke a joint, etc. - that is a personal and/or religious choice - let the state's regulate it. Worry about the big picture and things out of control of the state's - that was the orriginal intended purpose of the Federal government. (Just because it is offensive to you or your beliefs does not make it illegal nor the federal governments job to regulate it)
Are corporations paying taxes? I thought most of them are quite clever to shift the money around so that they skip paying taxes. I doubt that companies would invest in the U.S. when corporate taxes are zero. Labor will still be a lot cheaper overseas.
Also, while you're at it. (6) Build a giant ark to ship those that are useless because they are jobless, broke, sick, disabled, etc. off into the great blue yonder as we don't want crime, homelessness to skyrocket. As they say out sight, out of mind.
Although it would seem easiest to ship such people off to a lepper colony, the real solution lies in education.
If we improve education we will have a workforce that you cannot find in other countries.
We should devalue the dallor (as we are doing) to bring manufacturing jobs, promote exports, and deter imports. And you are right that most corporations shelter their income offshore - that is why we should go ahead and slash corporate taxes to 0% and spur further investment in America.
It is my hope that education leads to jobs, health, productivity, and overall welfare. It is the uneducated who often become homeless and/or dope fiends.
The cheapest of labor wil be found in other countries, but if we devalue our dollar it will make that $20 VCR at Wal-mart much more expensive; That is why emerging markets are upset about QE2, it will drive inflation in their fragile economies. Eventually cheap labor in emerging markets will move to other "emerging markets" for cheaper labor and hopefully by that point the American workforce is so well educated that we have already have the jobs that require higher education locked up here in the USA. It's not too late for change.
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