Let’s Do Some Arithmetic

What do the Michigan floods have to do with paying the people? The answer is dams over 100 years old need fixing. Over 2000 dams in the U.S. are in need of some kind of repair. Tragedies like these may become a common occurrence. Not performing fundamental repairs to our infrastructure is going to cost a helluva lot more than governments’ penny pinching will save. Spend the money now, utilizing programs similar to the New Deal. Not only will it help our country get back on its feet financially, but it will take care of repairs that should have been done decades ago. For those too young to remember, the New Deal was a program initiated by President Franklin Roosevelt after the depression to rebuild our country and put Americans back to work.

To accomplish this we need great leadership. Where will this come from? Who knows. Not happening with our current guy in charge and I have serious doubts about whoever replaces him. We really need a radical change to advance forward as a species, old ways have failed the masses. Many countries give frontline workers pay and hazard salary increases. The United States is now cutting hours and laying off these same types of workers. I guess like military personnel, financial love is harder to come by than prayers, and thank you for your service rhetoric. It appears hazard pay has time limits even as the pandemic is still raging.

First of all, I’m not an economist or particularly smart. My fine wit and personality make up for my shortfalls. Looking at the math, it can be proven giving every man, woman, and child $1000 per month up to $4800 per family is doable. The money would immensely improve lives and be closer to Christian beliefs of love thy neighbor or at least put up with said neighbor.

The pertinent numbers were obtained from Google of course. Nobody should be whining about people receiving money. Good for them and probably you. Spend money on people and economic recovery will go a lot faster. If you have over one million dollars in family assets, then you will not receive a check.

1. 328 million population 

2. 150 million file for taxes (If you don’t file, then you’re out.)

3. In 2019, feds collected 3.5 trillion 

4. Deficit 2019, 1 trillion

5. Military, 720 billion

6. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, 2 trillion 

7. 250 million people eligible for the theoretical program, 3 trillion per year

By giving 12,000 per year, up to $48,000 max, to families of 4 we would need to scrape up 3 trillion buckaroos per year.  A bulk of this could come from the big four, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and the military. If every man, woman, and child is getting $840,000 per lifetime (average of 70 yrs.), then we don’t have a big need for three of the four. The top 10% of earners instead paying an average tax of 20% can on a sliding scale pay on an average of 50%, which would kick in another trillion. The three top individual earners in the U.S. make more than the bottom 50% of American earners. That is mind-boggling. Corporations could easily kick in more by eventually not having to pay many of the taxes such as social security, unemployment or medical insurance. As for other income revenues, we could legalize all drugs and prostitution and impose a heavy tax. Why not, these activities go on whether legal or illegal?  Might as well collect the money. There is a difference between being a pseudo-Puritan country and what actually goes on. For the record, it’s easier to love thy neighbor when you’re on drugs. If your neighbor happens to be a prostitute, then loving becomes that much easier, but just a tad more expensive.

As many more jobs are taken over by new technologies we do need to reinvent how we take care of ourselves. Our infrastructure is outdated. Private and public jobs on top of the $1000 a month giveaway would give millions of people a chance they currently do not have. If we can change how we think, many social and economic disparities may disappear. Poverty is a major underlying cause of many of our problems. Wake up America and become the Christian nation we claim to be. Think out of the box.

With all of the unbelievable things happening in the world today, take extra time in being kind to others, because more than likely we will still be quarantined in our damn homes for years to come. Well at least try to be kind to your significant other, who is stuck at home with you day, after day, after day. Oh, by the way, there is no way in hell a program like this would happen. It’s an election year and promises are a dime a dozen. Just warming you all up for the campaigns. The good news, however, more stimulus money should be on the way.