Economic Stimulus

Posted on January 29, 2008

Let’s face it, when it comes to economics I am not that savvy. I am however fairly adept to managing my household finances and in a former life, small business finances. So with that preface I’ll leave you to judge this post on it’s own merits, but filter it for BS.

I’m concerned. The Fed’s plan to stimulate the economy with a massive $150 Billion giveaway is counter intuitive. Certainly I will smile as the check lands on my doorstep and eventually in the bank account, but spend it, I won’t.

I am one of the fortunate ones. I have a great mortgage with a fixed interest rate. Two cars with payments that I plan to keep long term and will have no consumer debt in 30 days. I spend and I save, but have developed good habits. And those good habits are what keeps me from firing off a wad of cash given me by the Fed into a retail store on crap that I do not need.

So let’s talk tactics. If the Fed really wanted to help they would buy each of us $600 worth of stock. The rules might be 1) you have to keep it invested for two years. 2) we each get an investing 101 training course to make us smarter around the subject. Now it is ours to lose, or ours to grow, but it invests in businesses that create jobs and produce the products we need and want. It isn’t simply a flash in the pan. This isn’t a petty game we are dealing with here it is a very important plan.

Now another way that the Fed could do this wiser is to invest in work projects that provide education as a portion of the plan. The works programs of the early to mid-1900s offered economic stimuli while investing in the greatest resource our nation has to offer – its people. When people have good jobs they are well paid. This paycheck in turn purchases the goods and services produced by the good job. This is simple really, but takes a little more time to get going. I think personally the election year is simply allowing for the one-off successes that have no real long term gain. But that’s just this American’s opinion. What’s yours?

1 Response

  1. mightysmith
    August 2, 2008

    Hi George:

    The only thing that would do is make us better investors. Which in and of itself is a good thing, but would do even less than the $600 check in the overall health of the economy… at least the aspect they are attempting to fix.

    Stocks are only being bought and sold by people who already own them. The company already got its money when they gave out the Initial Public Offering.

    I would say that the economy would be better served by giving us $600 shares in a well managed Venture Capital fund. Then that money would be more likely to make its way into the hands of small and medium sized businesses that will create real stimulus and long term wealth.

    Your idea itself was not a bad one. I just believe that it did not go far enough.


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