Here is what I think should happen..but who am I, just a lowly taxpayer. Give your vote on this!! On the surface, this sounds great; but think about it : Everybody would get this amount, including the welfare people; the poorer working class ; even the homeless; nobody would work anymore; how would things get done; the country could not survive. Our elected people wouldn' t let this happen anyway; it could be that a lot of their money is invested in this company (stockholders); and they could lose much of their invested money; that's why they have come up with this "BAIL-OUT" which will be paid for by the tax-payer (us). ====================================================== Don't know who figured this one out but it sounds like a good plan to me! Subject: 85 billion humor 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 has $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 re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 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 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 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.

Date: September 26, 2008 11:14 AM (Pacific Time)
Author: Vickie Buckley (a2591@sbcgloabl.net)

I believe the american taxpayers need to stand up and say enough is enough. I believe we are tired of bailing out these companies and in turn they give their top executives large pay raises and we are stuck with the bill... I say let them give back some of their pay to help the economy. As a tax payer I know I am tired of making other people rich.

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Date: September 28, 2008 10:22 PM (Pacific Time)
Author: Tim H (timothee1@aol.com)

Maybe there's a balanced approach in this problem somewhere however I can't see how bailing out the banks without any help for taxpayers solves any problems. From an individual perspective, I'm unemployed (really grossly underemployed and have been for over a year) and on the verge of starting to miss mortgage payments. How about 50K go to someone like me and not to an executive who needs an "enticement" to participate in this bailout? That would get me through another year or more until a job that pays me what I need to pay my mortgage might come along. Why do we need to entice these executives? What are their other options--going to work at another investment bank? Oh wait, there are none left! It's absolutely absurd. Maybe we need to help prop up these institutions to some degree but if we don't help the people at the ground level, nothing will change.

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Date: September 29, 2008 11:36 AM (Pacific Time)
Author: Christine Buck (g.g.chris@hotmail.com)

Which party do you think the financial bailout will benefit the most in the election? Do you think it will have an affect on middle Americans in the way they vote?

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Date: October 19, 2008 04:30 PM (Pacific Time)
Author: Tony Fama (tony.fama@50plusprime.com)

Hello, Christine. Good questions. I can't say I know the answers. But, I do know that tough economic times have historically benefited the Democrats on Election Day. We'll know soon enough if that trend holds this November. Tony

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Date: November 03, 2008 01:40 PM (Pacific Time)
Author: winifred smoot (win-1919@hotmail.com)

honestly it depends on everyone gets out to vote!