|
|
|
The Word's Eye View is a newspaper column written by
"Stimulus Package Alternative" President Obama is vigorously pressing Congress to pass a stimulus package funded by tax payer dollars that will approach a trillion dollars. How much is a trillion? One economist offered this explanation – if a business was started at the birth of Christ and continued to the present, losing a million dollars every day, it would be necessary to provide it with a 700 year extension at the same rate of loss to reach one trillion. Even some of the most liberal lawmakers have admitted that much of the first $350 billion bank bailout has disappeared into a black hole of no accountability. Some of the recipients of the original TARP are still planning extravagant retreats for top end employees and have even posted a full page justification for their fun in the sun in the New York Times. Allegedly, the stimulus monies will serve the singular purpose of creating jobs. Estimates have ranged from $200,000 to $600,000 per job created. The originators of this proposal concede that it will take several years for all of these proceeds to actually enter the economy. If Congress is determined to spend a battleship full of money I would like to suggest this approach. A federal lottery could be formed with an assigned number of individuals receiving the most conservative number of $200,000. Eligibility would be granted to those who have worked and faithfully paid taxes for a minimum of twenty years. This would, of course, exclude aristocrats like Tim Geithner, Tom Daschle, and Nancy Killefer, all Obama appointees who “forgot” to do what is expected of us peasants. Since the liberals have such animosity toward the rich (unless they have Hollywood connections), anyone who has an annual income of more than $200,000 should be excluded. At the 30% tax rate $60,000 will directly return to the government for what it was designed--- infrastructure and national defense. The contract for the remaining $140,000 would mandate that it would all be spent in a period of not more that six months; thus local economies would receive an immediate boost. The agreement would also require the beneficiary to buy an American-made vehicle for not less than $20,000. Detroit and area car dealers would benefit with salespeople and mechanics realizing extended employment. Another essential part of the package would be a stateside two week vacation. Hotels, restaurants, theme parks, gas stations, campgrounds, grocery stores, tourist traps of all kind would prosper. A significant portion should be allocated toward home improvement thereby benefiting building material centers, contractors, carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other construction workers. Evidence of expenditures would be included in the next year’s tax return. Beyond the contractual spending, some discretionary flow would be tolerated but keeping in mind it must all be spent within six months. Personally, I would buy two Henry rifles which are manufactured in New York, along with several thousand rounds of ammunition. I would host a giant shootout-barbeque for dozens of my friends at a silhouette shooting range. We need to keep the ammo people working and help the rancher who provides the steer to roast. The local deli would sell us lots of baked beans, potato salad and desserts. We could even hire overtime police to monitor the event with all safety precautions. A great desire would be to provide all the residents of our county with copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Holy Bible. Think of the work made available to the paper mill folks, the printers and distributors. The Post Office is complaining of being in financial straits, so a mailing of 8000 packages would be a help to that institution. It wouldn’t take long for the ACLU lawyers to show up to protect people from the mental distress and emotional abuse they received from this hate mail. These barristers will utilize local watering holes, hotels, etc. They will file papers, buy gas and be a general nuisance, but they will engage the local economy. It will be wonderful! Perhaps my plan isn’t perfect (to quote the President), but I do believe it’s better than the one on the table.
|