It’s that time of year again as we head into the Christmas shopping season. Already the major stores and malls are starting to put out the Christmas paraphernalia that make the holidays so special. I don’t know about you, but I feel a certain sense of relief when I walk through the shops knowing that everything needed to bling the halls and buy that special someone that perfect gift is all just a credit card transaction away.
Yet with soaring gasoline prices, unemployment, pending terrorism (is it burnt orange?) and our financial system being in a shambles has all cast a dark shadow over this 4th quarter event. I’m guessing I don’t stand alone when I say I’m not sure if I can bling the halls and buy that perfect gift. Heck, at this point I’m not sure I can pay the mortgage and feed the kids.
Still, every cloud has a silver lining. This week the Federal Government is in the process of deciding to bailout the financial industry. Apparently they have 700 billion dollars laying around and at this moment are looking to give it to the corporations that played fast and loose in the sub-prime housing market. Me thinks some CEOs are ripe for a smacked bottom, but that’s commentary for a different time. Frankly, the first time I heard this number I was absolutely blown away, but then I started thinking. Yes, thinking about an alternative plan, since the Feds only have the one plan.
So here goes. The Rage Mime plan is simple and to the point. Instead of giving the 700 billion to the corporations simply give it to the the People the Fed is supposed to be representing. Here’s how it works:
Step 1 – Distribute the 700 billion dollars to each and every U.S. Citizen. Easy enough, just take the 700 billion dollars and divide that by the 305 million. That works out to about $2295.00 for each and every person! Or about $9180 dollars for an average family of four. That’s cool, I could use a few extra thousand.
Step 2 – Setup a website that accepts charitable donations (PayPal has something like that, right?) for the financial system bailout. Include the information along with the check so people know where to send their money.
This is nothing less then a win-win scenario for the Christmas season. Firstly, we all will have extra cash to bling the halls and buy those perfect gifts. Economic stimulous indeed! This will have an immediate positive impact on our economy – spending good, saving bad – especially since our banks are failing. Secondly, we will have the opportunity to donate to a real charity. None of the Save the Children crap, real people with real financial problems. And certainly nothing says Christmas more then giving without expecting anything back. Best of all, it’s tax deductible.
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