i just heard a good theory. the reason that bush is calling this a crisis is that china et al will no longer finance our stupidity.

“So concise and sadly true. And why I bank at a credit union, buy from Farmer’s Markets and American-made goods. By Step away from the BLOG! on 09/25/2008 1:35 pm” Thanks Suzanne, have you heard the “Save our Food” campaign. If more people don’t start buying local in season and home preserving when possible all of our food is soon going to be outsourced just like our manufactured goods. This is a Virginia Farm Bureau website, but I’ve heard of this being in other parts of the country also. http://www.saveourfood.org/Pages/default.aspx

I got sent this today - makes you think, well, hey, why not? Instead of bailing out the larger corporations, 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 billon 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 Lehmann 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. Kindest personal regards, Birk T. J. Birkenmeier, A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic

Sounds better than anything Wall Street and our politicians have come up with, maybe you should run for President because it seems both McCain and Obama have taken money from the lobbyists of the failed institutions! Does anyone even remember that Ron Paul talked about our country’s financial problems about 18 months ago? Maybe as a country we should start looking at some of our other choices for President.

There’s blame on all sides. Why should we punish only Wall Street? I haven’t heard of anyone holding a gun to the head of the US citizens who signed up for home loans. They knew they weren’t qualified. And the real estate agents also knew and still touted creative financing. The banks and loan companies didn’t qualify their clients. And then… and then… and then… until no one knows how far out this mess extends. I’m against rewarding anyone at this point. What must be done NOW is for the federal government… president - congress- regulating agencies… and the best minds in the private sector… to STOP BICKERING and get down to hammering out a possible solution ASAP. After that we can sit around forever and place blame.

Oh, come on. This is so obvious.

“Chips Ahoey—-Of course if the world was sane that’s a much better idea. BTW McCain interrupted the bailout deal to demand LESS regulation and MORE corporate tax breaks be included.” By Step away from the BLOG! on 09/26/2008 3:40 am OMFG Suzanne, did he really? After all this BS he’s been spouting about creating an oversight commission and making sure the people of the country are taken care of in this deal he gets behind closed doors and says just the opposite. But then, why would I be surprised?

Let’s be honest folks, HGTV is to blame. ;{