There’s this e-mail going around that says “Hey, just give us all a chunk of the $85B AIG bail out and we’ll all be rich and solve the crisis.”  Sorry, but you’re decimal place is misplaced…just like the apostrophe in this sentence.  It’s a little detail, but it completely changes the message. At any rate, the final number would be $425 per person, not $425,000.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here’s the text:

I’m against the $85 BILLION 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 bona fide US. citizens, aged
18+.

Our population is about 301 million counting every man, woman and child.
So, 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.  Now, divide 200
million, 18+ adults into $85 billion - that equals $425,000.00 each!   Yes,
my plan is to give that $425,000 to every adult as a “We Deserve It”
dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free.  So, let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.
Everyone would pay $127,500.00 in taxes.  That sends $25.5 billion right
back to Uncle Sam!  It also 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?

*   Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.
*   Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads.
*   Put away money for college – it’ll really 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 parents to come clean – or else.

Remember this is for every adult U.S. citizen, 18 and older (including the
folks who lost their jobs at Lehmann 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 $1,000.00  “economic incentive”.

If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U.S.
citizen!

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.

We deserve the money and AIG doesn’t.  Sure it’s a crazy idea, but can you
imagine the coast-to-coast block party?!

How do you spell Economic Boom? W-e  D-e-s-e-r-v-e  I-t  d-i-v-i-d-e-n-d!  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 ,
D.C. .

And remember, my plan only really costs $59.5 billion because $25.5 billion
is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.  Good idea?  I think so.

So to answer the last question of the e-mail.  Good idea?  No…and don’t ever come up with anymore again.  Leave that to the professionals…like me.  Now go get in line to get your rock!