As as Democrat I love the fact the Pres Obama is doing something to stimulate the economy and is trying to fix the cluster that GW created. Whether you agree with it or not at least it is something. But I have to say that I have my own opinions on what the package should be.
To stimulate the economy you have to get the money into the hands of those who will be spending it - The people. NOT the banks... NOT the investment brokerage house and NOT the automobile companies. They are proven failures and have deflated all confidence out of the consumer balloon. What I would do as Pres is something that would be totally out of the box. Let us just make up some numbers here for the sake of making them up. Say there are approximately 375 million people in the USofA. Of that number maybe approximately 200 million households. Of that let's say for the sake of argument 150 million households with combined income of under $1million. If the government were to give each of these households (not individuals) $1million dollars ($150million total) I think there would be a stimulus like never seen before. (Please do not hold me to exact numbers - I am only estimating to make a point; thank you)
Sure some people will squander their gift.... But they are the ones who can't be saved no matter what. But what about those who will use it wisely. By wisely I mean this..... Pay their mortgages.... send their kids to college without worry... purchase automobiles.... purchase goods and services... not worry about sickness.....and if unemployed, no worries about the next paycheck..... Most of all the one thing this would instill is CONFIDENCE....
Once confidence is instilled in the people - the economy will rebound. In the late 1980's when mortgage rates were 13-15% people still bought houses; why? because they could afford them because they had jobs. Today rates are at an all time low (4.5-5.5%) and people are still squeamish because they are unsure about tomorrow and if they will have a job or not. Confidence and trust stimulates.
Also want to get people to buy American products then give America a fighting chance. By forcing car makers to make more efficient cars doesn't mean people will buy the cars if the foreign made cars are cheaper. We as a country have to not only think globally but nationally. For every car we import - that country has to take one of ours; one for one. And maybe slap higher tariffs on imports making our products more attractive. We owe this to our citizens not to the world. For family members to survive in business other family members need to buy from them. For American companies to survive; Americans have to buy their products and services..
With the relief of financial burdens - people of this country will get back in the groove again.... Now we would have to use our resources wisely or else we will end up in the same mess years from now... We have to learn to be reasonable and not GREEDY....
So get the money out of the GREEDY hands of the power brokers and in the hands of the people who are paying for the stimulus with their taxes - and let;s get moving again...
This idea may sound to simple of a fix for our problem. Then again sometimes confusing issues should be broken down into the simplest form. Just maybe then the problem will be solved.
