April, 2009

Citizen Investment Initiative, CII

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

What follows is my economic stimulus plan, the Citizen Investment Initiative, CII, with a shout out to Jerry Gold, who has supported the idea from the beginning and, like me, is more committed to it with each passing day.

Every adult citizen of the U.S. (18 and older) will receive a check from the Federal Government for 1 million dollars by July 1, 2009.  The first payments will go to every adult who filed an income tax return in 2009 and to those who did not make enough money to file a tax return in 2009.  The second payments will go to the homeless and the off-the-grid citizens:  they can either come forward on their own; they can be located by various church affiliated and secular organizations who have the information to track them; or they can choose not to participate, no questions asked. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau tonight there are 307 million people in the country.  Close to 1/4 are under the age of 18.  But let’s just pretend we are country of adults — that is 307 million people, 307 million dollars.  Tack on some fraud (as if it’s not happening now with the banks and auto companies) and let’s agree we’re working with 350 million dollars. 

Check this out: 

My point is, the economy will spring to life the day the first payments are cashed.  350 million dollars is a miniscule drop in the bucket when compared to the bailouts the taxpayers are funding on a daily basis to the banking and auto industries.  We are a country of entrepreneurs.  Americans are innovative and cannot be stopped when they get a chance.  It is our turn now.

Happy Birthday,

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Mr. Luke: 

There is no one like you on the face of the earth.  Your nature, your instincts, and your vast reservoirs of love are tributes to your big brown eyes, specked in gold . . .  along with countless other attributes not to be shared in public.

You are the definition of an ”honorable man.” 

Happy birthday, my love.     

Iowa

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

My maternal grandparents, from rural southwest Virginia, used to refer to the state of Iowa as “I ah Way,” the state that just legalized gay marriage thanks to the state Supreme Court.  Granted, the other side, the anti-side (why is there an anti-side in matters of love?) will do their best to change that decision as quickly as they can which isn’t all that quick at all when compared to the speed with which the voters of California slammed down the right to gay marriage last November, mere months after the right was granted.  I prefer the “I ah Way” way, myself.  And you can quote me.