Life As I See It

The Economic Crisis

We've had to throw TRILLIONS of dollars at the economy to correct what the greedy financial people on Wall Street have caused. No one is asking why. Larry Summers, Geithner and, to a lesser extent, Rubin are tooling along watching out for their cohorts on the Street. Why is there no talk about going after those that caused this mess and try to make them pay the piper? There is evidence that some knew that they were driving the economy into the ground. The Treasury Department came across an email where one trader said that he hoped that they made their bundle of money before the world found out that it was all a big fraud. How come we don't hear anything about new rules and regulations to stop this foolishness that Wall Street is fond of. It appears like we're going to make everyone whole again and then it's business as usual again.

What about the rest of the business world? Spend some time on the web site www.footnote.com. Look into all of the ways the executives of the corporations play with the stockholder's money. FTC, a small consulting company spends $1,095,000 on golf memberships. The GM Exec that Obama forced, Rick Waggoner, out is leaving with a $20,000,000 retirement after losing billions for GM and causing thousands to lose their jobs. Some executives get baseball tickets worth $600,000 or more. Where are the shareholder lawsuits?

The Smart Grid

We are hearing a lot about the Smart Grid that has to be built to take us into the future. What no one is talking about is that this grid is privately owned by the utility companies. Why does the government have to pay for the Smart Grid? Guess What? The Smart Grid isn't just about transmitting electricity; the utility companies will also be able to transmit telephone, cable and internet over the same wires at different frequencies. Hey, a whole new profit center. That makes sense; spend taxpayer dollars to create new profit centers for the utilities. Now I'm beginning to understand why there's a push to get a Smart grid.

HDTV

Soon we'll convert to High Def TV. Ever ask yourself why? Have you really checked out those high definition TVs in the store? Are they really that much clearer that it would justify spending $3,000 or more on a new TV? Well, there's a bit more to that story too. By going digital the FCC frees up a lot of bandwidth that they can sell for big bucks to the corporations. It also means that you'll almost have to switch to cable TV or Dish TV. Let's see; we go to HDTV and have to get cable TV and the government makes a ton of money selling the bandwidth that has been freed up. Sounds like sneaky taxation to me.

Fuel-Efficient Cars

The auto makers are griping about having to meet new fuel efficiency standards of 35MPG by 2012. They are saying that it is too hard and it might not even be possible. Well, Razer Corporation just put their new drive train in a full sized Hummer and it gets 100MPG. This isn't a prototype; this is a car that could be put into production quickly. Razer hopes to convert 2,000 Hummers next year to their hybrid drive system. The web site for this is
http://gas2.org/2009/04/21/hummer-h3-plugin-hybrid-gets-100-mpg-kicks-prius-butt/

I don't know when or if it will ever stop! General Motors has announced that it will invest one billion dollars in it's Brazil operations. How can they do this in their precarious financial situation? that's an easy one; they are going to use part of the bailout money they got from the American taxpayers. I'm still trying to figure out how this is going to help America's jobs situation.

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?CategoryId=12396&ArticleId=320909

Received this in an email today and was wondering what others
thought?
“Here’s an interesting idea which I received on the AIG Bailout: 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 boneifide
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 billion 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 have $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 some away money for college - it’ll be there. - Save some 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 ( “attempted vote buying” ) 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 do
the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.

And remember, The Family 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,

A Creative Person & Citizen of the Republic

PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as its either good for a
laugh or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $85 Billion!!”

So what say you? Block parties anyone?

SOUNDS REAL GOOD BUT THE SENDER WASN'T VERY GOOD AT MATH. IT AMOUNTS TO $427 PER CITIZEN.