18 billion dollars.
That’s a shit-ton of money. Most of us cannot even wrap our poor little brains around that number. Most of us will never have a million dollars. Or 18 million dollars. But 18 billion dollars? Too difficult to imagine. Lets add some perspective.
The new stimulus plan passed by congress and heading to senate, where it is surely to be passed as well, is for $819 billion dollars. We won’t even get into that amount, or the disastrous effect it will have on you and I. Well, ok, we’ll get into a little. Where do you think that money actually comes from? It’s ours! Yours! But, no, you won’t have to actually chip in on it. It’s a tricky secret tax. See, the Fed will pull this money out of their assholes to give to the government as a loan. A loan that will never be paid back. So where does it really come from? Well, the money in your pocket just dropped in value. By how much, I don’t know, but since the Fed and the US government started operating this way together in 1913, the dollar has dropped in value by 96%. Think about it.
But I digress. My outrage at the inflation this supposed ‘stimulus’ package will eventually created will be saved for another day. For now we are talking about 18 billion dollars. (You have to say Billion in your head in real maniacal way with an evil laugh. If you have a white cat, stroke it).
Why 18 billion? In case you haven’t heard, it was reported that Wall Street executives, from the very companies receiving the $819 billion bailout, were paid $18 billion dollars in bonuses in 2008! Did you get a bonus in 2008? You and I are paying these people $819 billion, and they already gave themselves $18 billion! I could repeat this over and over, but it will still blow me away. The failing markets responsible in part for the mess we are in thought it ok to give themselves bonuses. The 6th largest amount in bonuses in history! In 2008!!
This stimulus package contains a $500 payroll credit for most working Americans. Let’s look at this.
If 18 billion was distributed to EVERY American, it ends up being about $60 a piece. Divided among adults over 18, it’s closer to $80. Factor out folks over 65, and it’s about $100. Considering the average working American is only going to see $500 in a payroll credit from this bailout, I think this number is significant.
It is amazingly difficult to obtain details about where this money is going. For some reason they don’t want us to know. Obama has promised to post online the spending details so we may track it, but not until after it is passed. We are kept in the dark. I do know about $9 billion is going to help repair the country’s infrastructure – roads, bridges, tunnels, and levees. Levees. Think they need some help? And they are getting a portion of the infrastructure money which is HALF of what Wall Street got in bonuses!
Part of this stimulus is aimed at job creation. It’s estimated that by investing $100 billion, over two years, the US could create 2 million jobs. That’s 2,000 jobs for every billion dollars. So $18 billion could theoretically create 360,000 jobs! Would that help?? (I know it’s not as simple as this, but humor me on this one. )
So, what can we do? GET PISSED OFF! The President and/or congress can ask for this money back. That’s right. We want the $18 Billion Dollars! I would be thrilled to get a check for $100 out of the pocket of some rich Wall Street exec who doesn’t deserve it. Never mind the other billions he is about to receive! Better yet, I would gladly give up my portion of the $18 billion to see it used for something needed in this country. Fix the roads bridges and levees. Give a raise to every teacher in America. Put it towards public healthcare. Anything. Just don’t allow some douchebag to put an addition on his place in the Hamptons.
Mr. President, Please, on behalf of the American people, take back our $18 Billion!!!!
