Some Ideas for Resolving the Current Economic Crisis

Tongue and Cheek...

The world is in an economic crisis, so I hear. Well, I can't solve the world's problems but here are a few ideas for the United States:

The Auto Industry Bailout:

So Congress "lent" the auto industry billions to bail it out of imminent financial collapse. You know who has billions to spare? The Oil Industry. Didn't we read about their record breaking profits over the past year? Well, without cars, no oil, without oil, no cars. Hmmm, the oil industry could bail out one of it's biggest resources (automakers) for making a product (cars) that consumers of gas (us) buy to give them such enormous profits.

Or...

Have congress demand that the Auto industry stop making cars for one year and sell everything they've made so far. Pay the workers to not work for a year (hang with me on this one) and give them their jobs back next year. Now, you may be asking, how fair is it that these thousands of people should get paid for doing nothing? Well, look at it this way. Our economy needs some people to spend money. If even a third of these people took other jobs they'd have two incomes coming in, thus have more money to spend. Additionally, next year, the auto industry would probably experience a boom because so many people would want new cars!

The Jobs Problem:

Our jobless rate is going through the roof and throwing money at it won't work. Getting money thrown back, however, might. So tax the hell out of companies who send their jobs overseas. If it can be done by a legal worker in America it should be done in America. The tax could be the equivalent plus 2% of each salary a US worker would be making if the job stayed in America. That way it'd be cheaper to hire American workers.

The Housing Problem:

Real estate is tanking. Why? First, because people bought houses they couldn't afford. Second, because no one has money to spend on a new house. How do we get the market to get going again? See the solution to the jobs problem for this one. Plus, don't give money to people who can't afford to repay it. Common sense. No special financing, no special perks. If you can afford it on what you make (not what you hope to make, not what you're going to use if grandma dies and you inherit the money, not money from some phantom lottery ticket, real money!) buy a house. If you can't, stay at home with mom and dad, rent or live with friends (after all, what are friends for?).

Change:

Barack Obama's campaign was about change. Well, lets remember, change can hurt, change can disorient, change can confuse. There are always growing pains with change. We've been living with the same problems for so long that a change might be frightening to some, not fast enough for others and may seem just plain unnecessary to a few. Well, buckle down for the next year or so and give change a chance. Who knows? Maybe there will be a light at the end of this tunnel. Otherwise, keep your car tuned up, your house in good order and stay in school...or go back.

Hope you're smiling!