Bailout

I got an email yesterday that I thought was so profound, that I sent it to Sen. McCain (which I normally wouldn't do). Here is the copy of my letter and the forwarded email. If any of you want to use my letter to send to your Congress members, feel free.
Dear Sen. McCain,
I received the following email yesterday. It has been forwarded several times, so I do not know the original author. It was meant as a light-hearted look at the economy, but I urge you to please look at it seriously. It does not fit the mold for what Washington usually does, but I believe we are at a point with our economy that we can not simply stay the course of normality. It is time we break the mold. Drastic measures must be taken, and perhaps, this is the way. It makes sense. Where does America need the money? In the pockets of the people. Who determines how well businesses thrive? The people. We, the people, will continue to be in the same place financially, even after the proposed bailout. This, however, would change everything.

Hi Pals,

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 would 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 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 redistribute wealth, let's really do it instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( 'vote buy' )
economic incentive that is being proposed.

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 .

And remember, The Birk 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.

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

So, please feel free to share this, maybe Washington will decide to do something that might actually work!

Forever Strong

There's a new movie opening this weekend called "Forever Strong". It's based on a true story. The coach was a seminary teacher and the movie looks incredible. It hasn't gotten a lot of publicity. It was done by Crane Movie Company, and some big budget films from Hollywood have threatened to pull the movie nationally if it doesn't have a big opening weekend. So take your family, tell your friends, and head to the theater this weekend to see "Forever Strong"!

Friendship

Here's a little poem that was emailed to me and I wanted to share it with all of you. I couldn't have put it better.

When you are sad-- I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on mountain dew.

When you are blue-- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

When you smile--I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

When you are scared--I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

When you are worried-- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.

When you are confused--I will use little words.

When you are sick--Stay away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever the heck you have!

When you fall--I will point and laugh at your clumsy butt.

This is my oath...I pledge it to the end. "Why?" you may ask; because I'm your friend.
Friendship is like peeing your pants. Everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.
Now share this with 10 of your closest friends and then get depressed because you can only think of 4...

No truer words of friendship have ever been written!

Creative kids

Every now and then, Amy and Taylie like to take a piece of paper and cut it into a million little strips and glue them all together. One on top of the other in some random pattern. Amy made one for me once and said it was a boat. Sure, why not?! Then she made one for Mike that looked oddly like mine, and told him it was a Transformer (a proud moment for Daddy). Well, the other day I got them their little safety scissors, crayons, paper and of course, their glue sticks. I folded some laundry and was doing the dishes when I thought that I should check on them and make sure their little paper pieces weren't all over the floor yet. To my amazement, they had ACTUALLY made something. This is an Ant Eater. And it actually looks like one. I was so proud of their creativity that I had to post this. Kids are amazing.

Pictures..finally!

Here are some updated pics. I'm not sure why my blog is acting like this. New posts are out of order and it's a day late on the time. Who knows, but hey at least it's here!

Pictures

Where were you?

It was September 11, 2001 and I was driving in my car on my way to work, listening to the radio, and thinking, "There joking. This is some sick joke." Then, with horror, I realized it was the truth. I got to work and we turned on the television. I was watching the news and watched as the second plane flew into the second of the Twin Towers. I saw the images that they won't air anymore. The people jumping from the falling and burning buildings. The images are emblazoned in my memory. The feelings, every moment of that morning lives on in my memory. I will never forget. I will never forget what we're fighting for, or why. May God bless the USA!