Elevator Economics - An Idea

Dear US Government,
I have an idea to bail the US out of the issues at hand.

If a bail out is necessary - do it.

BUT - we need to make sure this money can be paid back.

What are the plans for taking care of citizens? Who is going to protect us?

There will need to be an overhaul of the system. Has that even been considered?

Here is my idea - when I owe money, I pay it off. I work hard, apply extra and pay my bills on time. To do this, I must have a source of income - which is my job. Also, I cut corners - I carpool and clip coupons. I look for saving opportunities in my home. Have you looked for savings in your "home"?

Department of Energy 2009 Proposed Budget - $134,000,000
http://www.cfo.doe.gov/budget/09budget/Content/OrgControl.pdf

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board -
http://www.dnfsb.gov/budget/budget_fy2009.pdf

Budget of the US Government - Fiscal Year 2009
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2009/

Budget for Dept of Agriculture - $22,643,000,000
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2009/agriculture.html

Guess what ???? We're giving money to Pakistan, that country that is going through great distress - shooting at our troops, etc?

Quoted from the 2009 Budget
"Sustains our strategic partnership with Pakistan. Approximately $830 million to help Pakistan achieve stability, development, and democracy goals, with a focus on security, economic development, and combating terrorism in Pakistan’s western frontier regions."

What about this?

"Supports international exchange programs. $522 million for educational and cultural exchange programs, including the newly launched Partnership for Latin American Youth, which will give thousands of students from Latin America the opportunity to study in the United States."

It makes me a little mad to read the budget for the Department of State budget - the 2 items above are from - another $22 billion dollars:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2009/state.html

Here in the US - people are scrambling to pay our bills. People cannot afford medicine. Young people starting out or people restarting a career must pay student loans - I simply don't get it.

Like Theodore Roosevelt said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far"

Our stick is not big - the stick the US carries now is rotted, with a lot of holes in it. The world will not allow us to be an isolationist nation any more - but, we could tuck tail and regroup, which we are in desperate need to do.


Use a little of the money for a brain trust of efficiency experts to go through our budget and see where we can cut just a few corners. Heck, give me a budget and a red pen - I can save a couple of billion off the bat.

Boy, am I mad.