My fellow Americans,

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

My fellow Americans,

The economy is very bad. It is getting worse.

Look at this chart:



In 2008 you can see what hit us.

In the last quarter of 2009 we got the full effect of the stimulus package.

But then the peak effect had passed and unfortunately the economy didn’t spark. We are on our way back down.

Everyone hoped we could restart the economy with the smallest possible amount of spending, but it wasn’t enough.

Either we can slide down into a deeper and more terrible recession or we can hit this thing harder and stronger.

Trying to restart the economy will add more to the national debt, but so will doing nothing. If the economy goes down then the amount of money the government takes in goes down. People who are out of work cannot pay taxes.

The only way to reduce the long-term deficit to to have a vibrant economy. And everything good has its cost.

So that’s the choice before us. It is a serious choice.

I wish I could offer you candy-canes and butterflies, but that’s not the real world today.

We can take our bitter medicine to try to have a better economy tomorrow or we can close our eyes and hope for a miracle.

I am proposing the following…


(Finish the Speech)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. ___

[Chan790]

2. (I get to be BO?!!)

four initiatives to save American prosperity.

1. Public Option Now In Economic Stimulus for All(PONIES for All), a initiative to spark economic growth by presenting a robust and comprehensive option which removes the single largest expense facing small business owners, healthcare premiums, thus encouraging hiring. Now some of you are asking "How will we pay for that?" Others are asking "Can I keep the coverage I have now?" The answer is simple to both questions, America. Yes, you can keep your coverage. We're going to fund it by levying a 100% tax on insurers against every dollar of premiums in excess of 120% of the public option premium. We're charging $1000 per insured per year. Aetna can charge whatever they want, but we're keeping every dollar over the $1201st. Suck it, Kaiser. Eat me, Cigna.

2. Tax Relief for the American Middle-Class (TRAM-C) Nothing encourages spending like putting money into the pockets of Americans. I am proposing a tax-cut for all individuals making under $85,000/year or families making under $150,000. Americans making under $40,000 will pay no income tax whatsoever. To fund this proposal, we will be creating two new tax brackets. Americans making in excess of $1,000,000 a year but less than $5,000,000 will now pay 41%. Those making in excess of $5,000,000 will pay 55%. That's not class warfare. There is no war, we already routed you. Now we're taking the spoils.

3. Employee-Leveraged Productivity Loans. Simply, if established businesses needs money to hire workers, after a complete audit to insure need and the health of the business, we will lend them that money on a 20-year unsecured loan at 3% with no early-payoff. The condition is simple...the job created can never be outsourced. If it is, we collect 200% of the loan amount plus 17.99% interest plus all profits gained from off-shoring those jobs. The rate will be 1% on jobs that reduce US reliance on limited natural resources and fossil fuels, conserve energy or other "green jobs". Can we put America back to work? Yes, we can!

4. I've saved the best for last. A $0.10 national lottery with a weekly winner. What does that winner get? They get to kick John Boehner in the teeth. Second prize gets to wallop Newt Gingrich's ass with a golf club. This won't stimulate the economy, it's just good for American morale. Because who doesn't want to kick John Boehner in the teeth? Hell, I'll buy the first 10 million tickets. Think they'll take a check? I don't carry that much cash on me.

This has been your President, America. Better days are ahead America. I promise you. Keep on rocking in the free world. Someday your children will say "What's a conservative?" and this will all have been worth it.

[glitch]

3. The stimulus might've worked if it had been applied at the bottom rather than the top.

But it wasn't so it didn't. Let that be a lesson for future applications.

[Raster]

4. As long as it's the "top" dictating the terms of the stimulus, the benefit will always be felt...

...at the top.

Contrary to common opinion, the purpose of the stimulus was to give the "impression" of increased activity and positive action, when in fact, it really did no such thing. Too little, too late and benefiting the wrong groups of people.

[bobbolink]

5. !

:applause:

Consider: Each federal dollar spent for food stamps returns $1.72 to the economy.

Good buy!

What was returned of those billions to the banksters????

[Raster]

6. Those funds are STILL being hoarded. Those funds enriched a few FABULOUSLY.

We really could turn this horrendous economic morass around in just a few years, but it would take a true shift in group-think.

The rich must be taxed in proportion to their benefit received. As it stands now, the uber-wealthy 2% feed off of the bottom 98%. Slavery in it's new 21st century guise is alive and well in the United Corporations of America. And we are none the wiser or richer.

[glitch]

7. 1.3 Trillion hoarded. Can you imagine that flowing around our economy?

You are absolutely correct on all points.

[Raster]

9. Two prime examples: bailouts for the banks, ostensibly to restart the credit markets, which it has

NOT! Homes are being foreclosed in record numbers and banks are hoarding the cash.

Second, the Wall Street bailout. Remember, we were told the entire financial structure of the United Corporations of America teetered on the edge of the precipice and going over anytime, taking the rest of us with it. As it turns out, that was not the case. How much did Goldman Sucks pay in bonuses this year?

[bobbolink]

8. You're so right. I just informed a nice and naive young man about the tax rate on the upper 1% or

2% in the fifties (I wasn't sure which group it was, but nevertheless, it made a huge impression on him), was 90%. He looked at me like I suddenly had two heads.

When I then proceeded to point out that they had so much money that the missing 90% didn't deprive the Kennedy's of their compound, nor the DuPonts of their mansions and private planes and yachts, I could tell the gears in his head were getting unrusted.

Its stuff like this that we need to get out to the general public. It has a big effect on them!

[Redbear]

10. 4 Proposals to consider

1. A New Works Progress Administration to rebuild bridges, roads, and schools and rebuild public transportation systems.
2. Universal preschool and Head Start.
3. Ending all tax breaks for fossil fuels and replacing them with grants to wind,solar, etc energy companies who hire new workers.
4. Payroll Tax Holiday. Set FICA rates for employee and employer at 0% for six months.

[Raster]

11. I say a RESOUNDING YES to all except number 4.

4. Payroll Tax Holiday: 0% for employer and employee for six months IF both had previously been paying.
5. Remove the FICA cap. ALL income--$50,000 to $5,000,000,000--should be taxed.
6. No exemption for "investment income."