There is no need to be antagonistic. None of my comments were. Actually, some of the other posts are not at all about the bailout package. I am sure that if we remain on topic, the thread/discussion can remain very interesting, as the bailout will continue to be with us for a long time to come. We will be paying for this new government debt for many years.

I wonder how much it will cost after the interest on the bailout debt is added in?

I'm not antagonistic. I'm giving you a chance to make a better choice before I make it for you.









There is no doubt that this will cost us more than the $700,000,000,000. What has it already cost us in the eyes of other nations?

I'm trying to prepare my students and my own kids for the hard times to come but they have no background knowledge to attach to. I reference books we've read on the Great Depression but fact/historical fiction have cause blurry literary lines.

What do you all anticipate having to do without or doing differently? Have you already begun being more frugal?

I know I will be making sex toys on the cheap ;)

Well, this is a slightly different topic so if you want it elsewhere Lil, feel free.

An email I just recieved......



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 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 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.





Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Thats what I said, the 'Trickle Up' approach

I am unsure that the bailout itself will force any change of lifestyle. I think that both energy and potable water will be less abundant or more expensive in the future.

Everything goes up and the world still revoles around the sun. Prices just go up faster than wages. All the bitchin' in the world will not change that. And the greedy will take all they can.

Coaster, interesting email. I trust that we could indeed solve the issues ourselves.

Coaster,

An amusing alternative! TY.

I like Coaster's approach. Let's elect him as our next President. :)

Heck, what if we extended the whole $700,000,000,000 to the same solution. That'd be better than a chicken in every pot. :D

Coaster, I think it was a politician/MBA/Wall St policy maker that sent you that email with the new math. They have a problem with the decimal point when it is the $$$ being sent to US. They only double check it when it is what WE have to send it to THEM.
By my old math method, (8.5)(10^10) / (2)(10^8) = $425.00. After that 30% tax, $297.50 is what would be in your pocket. :shrug:

Another cut at the math....

the US household population in 2006 is 291,332,841 (http://factfinder.census.gov/servle...sheet_0&_sse=on)



Which brings the average payment per house hold to $2402.75 per household BEFORE TAX. After tax, that's about $1680.

So, the question is....what would you do with $1700? If you used this money to pay on your mortgage or credit cards or car loans, then you'd be basically giving it to the same people who needed bailing out.

Do you think this method is better than giving it straight to those companies, or does it functionally make a difference?

ahhh...got it. Thanks.

Thanks.... I didn't check the math!!!! It was an email that I just forwarded!

Osuche, I guess the only difference would be that I'd owe them less money if I were using it to pay down a bill. Now our taxes will go up to pay off this debt.

Now instead of it taking 5 months pay to settle our taxes it will take 6 months!

Read my lips, No new .....................

PAGAN 09!! :D