Dear Right...

[GBBob]

I'm curious.....do tell..

You are President...and I know it will be tough..but what would YOU have done in your first six weeks as Prez...

And I want specifics...stuff that will turn this country around..And lastly, pleeeeze don't say what you wouldn't have done...that's easy..

Warren Buffet also said the Bush administration was
taking the right steps under Paul Volcker. I am beginning
to doubt anyone knows what the proper fix is.

But a whole lot of people apparently know what NOT
to do. Thanks a million. Thats a lot of help.
Your plan. Your turn.

Anyone who thought this was gonna turn around over
night... No one has a flippn clue what to do or how long
anything will take.


There was no reply at all.
No reply at all.

Good luck,
-Phil Collins

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I'm curious.....do tell..

You are President...and I know it will be tough..but what would YOU have done in your first six weeks as Prez...

And I want specifics...stuff that will turn this country around..And lastly, pleeeeze don't say what you wouldn't have done...that's easy..

anyone who has less than 250k in AGI could make a full tax free withdrawl (state and local taxs as well)from an IRA or 401 k plan up to 250k to buy a primary residency or pay down an exisiting mortgage - i think this helps the guy in the middle the most , there is a ton of cash sitting in money market funds , people have lost a lot in 401'k + ira's in the last year give'em a break and let them withdraw tax free for a year to either buy a 1st home or pay down an existing mortgage (primary only)


of course this won't happen and wouldn't even be a consideration

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I'm curious.....do tell..

You are President...and I know it will be tough..but what would YOU have done in your first six weeks as Prez...

And I want specifics...stuff that will turn this country around..And lastly, pleeeeze don't say what you wouldn't have done...that's easy..

I would start a world war.

I would ~
School Choice
Cut all funding for abortion
open up drilling off shore and Anwar.
License all the nuke plants I could.
Put America back to work building / repairing bridges, roads and prisons
Place a serious military presence along the Mexican border. if there is a war - surrender California (teasing) but I would consider giving them LA - too late.

and maybe honor some of the treaties we have with the "Native Americans"

Legalize Marijuana

and I wouldn't claim that Ear Marks were already there before I said, "no ear marks"


All Barackovich wants to do is his Stalinist agenda. I expect him to start abusing eminent domain to the max.

[TheSpyder]

Here's what I would do....

Walk away from the WTO...world trade has desimated our manufacturing base.

If we could open plants that make things, this will employ people, call on the need for capital equipment (made in USA), supplies to keep it running (made in USA), jobs for all the associated needs for food, healthcare, etc. (in the USA)

Fu*k China and the rest of the world who have sucked our middle class close to extinction. Those of us coming from the manufacturing world saw this coming along time ago.

Target 100 products and 100 places that need help and get it going in 100 days.

[Cannon Shell]

I would start with a state of the union where I would announce that I am going to be doing some things that may be very unpopular with some people including some withing my own party.

The first order of business would be to put the social agenda issues on the backburner so that we could concentrate on the economy and not be distracted. (of course if I were elected the forces that helped me get elected would have a lot different outlook than the current administration)

Then I would order my financial team to start drawing up plans to allow the crippled institutions (Banks, AIG, GM, Etc) to go away (via some sort of controlled bankruptcy) and stop being a drain. Naturally I would encounter resistance but I would put my foot down and make it happen. The bleeding would stop, there would be no nationalization and the assets of these companies that are still worth something including the physical assets would be auctioned off with some sort of federal incentive for buying. The so called toxic assets would be eaten by the govt. if we are going to wind up paying for the entire thing anyway i would rather draw down the life of these companies, take the hit and start moving in the right direction. I'm sure that it wont be as simple as this but this is theoretical.

I would lower govt spending and eliminate wasteful programs and projects. Not talk about it and do the opposite like what is being done now. The artificial attempt at propping up job creation through govt is scary because we all know that very little govt ever goes away especially if it means losing jobs. If Bush had reduced spending as well as cutting taxes his plan would have worked much better. The environmental lobby would be told that there will be no cap and trade or other token programs that will simply be window dressing. Any changes that they wish to implement will need to be done slowly and on a small scale. If they want the bone of no off shore drilling to continue, I would give them that.

I would also try to keep the dollar strong which will help our businesses and consumers as the rest of the world struggles as well. This of course is a little trickier but steps would include the above reduction in govt spending to keep from having to print more money to pay when the US treasury market stalls. A tick UP in interest rates would probably be needed also. Not much but the almost free money being offered right now has less appeal to business because of the lack of tax incentive to get and use this money. The relative strength or weakness of the dollar is tricky in its effect but i believe that a strong dollar would help the consumer and strictly US based business in a positive manner.

I would give some radical tax breaks to certain segments. The current, non default home owner would get a special, one time tax credit of significant value, not $250 dollars or something like that. They are the backbone of the housing market and responsibility should be rewarded especially since we will almost assuredly have to do something for those in default. I would also give new home owners a sweetheart deal of some sort as long as they meet certain financial standards. I would run the risk of Dems calling me for the 'rich' and other bunk but forcing home ownership on the poor is a major reason why the housing market imploded regardless of how Barney Frank tries to deflect attention away from his actions. In order to stabilize the housing market, we need new, solid ownership and increased buying. Allowing and rewarding responsible consumers to upgrade their housing while the market is depressed and they can get a great interest rate (despite my inching up of rates) helps everyone except those who defaulted.

Wall street would need help but they also need supervision. I certainly wouldn't implement wage caps. This is a purely political move that can only serve to push the really strong minds to other sectors. Getting rid of mark to market accounting is one thing that would need to be done. I would have my justice dept draw up strict regulations that will deal with fraudulent practices and predatory lending. The tricky thing is that lots of regular people depend on the health of wall street for thier retirement accounts and with that in mind we will walk a fine line between regulation which will be enforceable and effective and punitive punishment which will add to market depression.

Unions would not like me.

I would reverse the stem cell policy of the previous administration just as Obama has done.

I would refrain from doing anything on iraq or Afganistan until I fully understood the situation as opposed to the general public's view.

I would begin to take steps to simplify the tax code. This would have to be done over an extended period and since my plan would work I would have at least 8 years.

I would increase the retirement age to begin to deal with the Social Security and medicare problem.

I would increase defense spending especially in areas where the modern warfare that we currently fight are strengthened as opposed to simply buying more nuke subs. Also included is a substantial pay raise for those already in the military. Why don't we pay these people more? If we are going to subsidize the lazy of our society, why not do the same with the brave? Defense spending is almost a 100% investment in American business and job creation. I would also create a program whereby recently retired police officers (many who are in their 40's or early 50's) are brought into the military and used to create a Military police that can be used more effectively than regular troops in places like Iraq in policing the population and specializes in teaching the forces of these areas to police themselves more effectively when we leave. Our soldiers are taught to kill not police.

I would absolutely NOT tax American income overseas as the research has shown that American firms overseas investments not only strengthen their domestic businesses but increase employee compensation. This goes hand in hand with the strengthening of the dollar strategy.

Infrastructure spending would be necessary not only as a job creation function but because our country needs it.

I'll have more later

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

Here's what I would do....

Walk away from the WTO...world trade has desimated our manufacturing base.

If we could open plants that make things, this will employ people, call on the need for capital equipment (made in USA), supplies to keep it running (made in USA), jobs for all the associated needs for food, healthcare, etc. (in the USA)

Fu*k China and the rest of the world who have sucked our middle class close to extinction. Those of us coming from the manufacturing world saw this coming along time ago.

Target 100 products and 100 places that need help and get it going in 100 days.

I know that it has hurt you personally but this ship has sailed. This would dramatically increase consumer prices and dramatically increase the price of imports as other countries act in the same manner. Isolationism is an impossible policy in 2009.

[cowgirlintexas]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

I would start a world war.

I would ~
School Choice
Cut all funding for abortion
open up drilling off shore and Anwar.
License all the nuke plants I could.
Put America back to work building / repairing bridges, roads and prisons
Place a serious military presence along the Mexican border. if there is a war - surrender California (teasing) but I would consider giving them LA - too late.

and maybe honor some of the treaties we have with the "Native Americans"

Legalize Marijuana

and I wouldn't claim that Ear Marks were already there before I said, "no ear marks"


All Barackovich wants to do is his Stalinist agenda. I expect him to start abusing eminent domain to the max.

That ought to help turn things around

[ArlJim78]

another diversion, its looks like people are still struggling to come to grips with the fact that they have been had.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

Here's what I would do....

Walk away from the WTO...world trade has desimated our manufacturing base.

If we could open plants that make things, this will employ people, call on the need for capital equipment (made in USA), supplies to keep it running (made in USA), jobs for all the associated needs for food, healthcare, etc. (in the USA)

Fu*k China and the rest of the world who have sucked our middle class close to extinction. Those of us coming from the manufacturing world saw this coming along time ago.

Target 100 products and 100 places that need help and get it going in 100 days.

ok, so no world trade-but who would buy all these things we would be manufacturing?

[Danzig]

from what i've seen, most feel that the dollar was hit so hard due to the deficit-so a balanced budget would be a priority. no earmarks, no millions of dollars sent to arkansas to study hybrid bass for example. and yes, that's in this current budget.
at any rate, the problems stem from the last administration. so, since this is a hypothetical, i would turn back time and not have the iraq war for starters. imo that would void the several years of rampant speculation and price hikes on oil. no bloated defense spending, having a war is the #1 largest expense a country can have, and we're in two. so that would not have occurred on the levels that we had. and we'd be out of afganistan by now, since all our efforts would have been put into the one area.
but you can't do that...so what would i do now? financing is the #1 issue, so that's where attention would go. the new bridges, roads, etc-fdr tried that, hell japan tried that not long ago, and it didn't help at all. you get the best financial minds in the business, and come up with a solution to the credit and financing mess. absolutely no unnecessary spending for/from the feds at all. i certainly wouldn't make now the time to talk about setting aside funds for a future health care plan, and cut current medicare/medicaid to fund it. we can't afford that right now. and all that part of the plan they passed did was drive down health sector stocks, which made a panicked situation that much worse.

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Oh my god

not my best I know

I forgot eliminate all taxes on compensation
close the IRS

dump Social Security

stop foreign aid to countries that are not our friends
especially the ones that do all that terrorism

Gaza and some others would be SOL

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

not my best I know

The first bolded is on Obama's agenda.


My guess.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

I would start a world war.

I would ~
School Choice
Cut all funding for abortion
open up drilling off shore and Anwar.
License all the nuke plants I could.
Put America back to work building / repairing bridges, roads and prisons
Place a serious military presence along the Mexican border. if there is a war - surrender California (teasing) but I would consider giving them LA - too late.

and maybe honor some of the treaties we have with the "Native Americans"

Legalize Marijuana

and I wouldn't claim that Ear Marks were already there before I said, "no ear marks"


All Barackovich wants to do is his Stalinist agenda. I expect him to start abusing eminent domain to the max.

prostitution too. new revenue streams, as well as a decrease in spending on police, prisons, jail guards, etc.

presidents need to stop signing budgets with garbage in them, just to get the stuff they need. keep sending that sucker back-you have veto power, use it!
and what we need most? term limits!! how much wasteful spending occurs because senior members of congress have the power to send money back to their states as a way to guarantee future voting? 'look what i got for our state. you'd lose all that if i lost the next election'. bull. that's wrong, it's wasteful, it needs to end.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I would start with a state of the union where I would announce that I am going to be doing some things that may be very unpopular with some people including some withing my own party.

The first order of business would be to put the social agenda issues on the backburner so that we could concentrate on the economy and not be distracted. (of course if I were elected the forces that helped me get elected would have a lot different outlook than the current administration)

Then I would order my financial team to start drawing up plans to allow the crippled institutions (Banks, AIG, GM, Etc) to go away (via some sort of controlled bankruptcy) and stop being a drain. Naturally I would encounter resistance but I would put my foot down and make it happen. The bleeding would stop, there would be no nationalization and the assets of these companies that are still worth something including the physical assets would be auctioned off with some sort of federal incentive for buying. The so called toxic assets would be eaten by the govt. if we are going to wind up paying for the entire thing anyway i would rather draw down the life of these companies, take the hit and start moving in the right direction. I'm sure that it wont be as simple as this but this is theoretical.

I would lower govt spending and eliminate wasteful programs and projects. Not talk about it and do the opposite like what is being done now. The artificial attempt at propping up job creation through govt is scary because we all know that very little govt ever goes away especially if it means losing jobs. If Bush had reduced spending as well as cutting taxes his plan would have worked much better. The environmental lobby would be told that there will be no cap and trade or other token programs that will simply be window dressing. Any changes that they wish to implement will need to be done slowly and on a small scale. If they want the bone of no off shore drilling to continue, I would give them that.

I would also try to keep the dollar strong which will help our businesses and consumers as the rest of the world struggles as well. This of course is a little trickier but steps would include the above reduction in govt spending to keep from having to print more money to pay when the US treasury market stalls. A tick UP in interest rates would probably be needed also. Not much but the almost free money being offered right now has less appeal to business because of the lack of tax incentive to get and use this money. The relative strength or weakness of the dollar is tricky in its effect but i believe that a strong dollar would help the consumer and strictly US based business in a positive manner.

I would give some radical tax breaks to certain segments. The current, non default home owner would get a special, one time tax credit of significant value, not $250 dollars or something like that. They are the backbone of the housing market and responsibility should be rewarded especially since we will almost assuredly have to do something for those in default. I would also give new home owners a sweetheart deal of some sort as long as they meet certain financial standards. I would run the risk of Dems calling me for the 'rich' and other bunk but forcing home ownership on the poor is a major reason why the housing market imploded regardless of how Barney Frank tries to deflect attention away from his actions. In order to stabilize the housing market, we need new, solid ownership and increased buying. Allowing and rewarding responsible consumers to upgrade their housing while the market is depressed and they can get a great interest rate (despite my inching up of rates) helps everyone except those who defaulted.

Wall street would need help but they also need supervision. I certainly wouldn't implement wage caps. This is a purely political move that can only serve to push the really strong minds to other sectors. Getting rid of mark to market accounting is one thing that would need to be done. I would have my justice dept draw up strict regulations that will deal with fraudulent practices and predatory lending. The tricky thing is that lots of regular people depend on the health of wall street for thier retirement accounts and with that in mind we will walk a fine line between regulation which will be enforceable and effective and punitive punishment which will add to market depression.

Unions would not like me.

I would reverse the stem cell policy of the previous administration just as Obama has done.

I would refrain from doing anything on iraq or Afganistan until I fully understood the situation as opposed to the general public's view.

I would begin to take steps to simplify the tax code. This would have to be done over an extended period and since my plan would work I would have at least 8 years.

I would increase the retirement age to begin to deal with the Social Security and medicare problem.

I would increase defense spending especially in areas where the modern warfare that we currently fight are strengthened as opposed to simply buying more nuke subs. Also included is a substantial pay raise for those already in the military. Why don't we pay these people more? If we are going to subsidize the lazy of our society, why not do the same with the brave? Defense spending is almost a 100% investment in American business and job creation. I would also create a program whereby recently retired police officers (many who are in their 40's or early 50's) are brought into the military and used to create a Military police that can be used more effectively than regular troops in places like Iraq in policing the population and specializes in teaching the forces of these areas to police themselves more effectively when we leave. Our soldiers are taught to kill not police.

I would absolutely NOT tax American income overseas as the research has shown that American firms overseas investments not only strengthen their domestic businesses but increase employee compensation. This goes hand in hand with the strengthening of the dollar strategy.

Infrastructure spending would be necessary not only as a job creation function but because our country needs it.

I'll have more later

The Coffee kicked in...
Yesssss.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Then I would order my financial team to start drawing up plans to allow the crippled institutions (Banks, AIG, GM, Etc) to go away (via some sort of controlled bankruptcy) and stop being a drain. Naturally I would encounter resistance but I would put my foot down and make it happen. The bleeding would stop, there would be no nationalization and the assets of these companies that are still worth something including the physical assets would be auctioned off with some sort of federal incentive for buying. The so called toxic assets would be eaten by the govt. if we are going to wind up paying for the entire thing anyway i would rather draw down the life of these companies, take the hit and start moving in the right direction. I'm sure that it wont be as simple as this but this is theoretical.

This may be exactly what will happen if the banks are Nationalized.
This is almost exactly what happened in a case (hi im god presented
in the form of an audio in an earlier post) during the Savings and Loan crisis in the 80's were one institution was indeed Nationalized. It turned out to be
a controlled bankruptcy even though that was not intended.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

forcing home ownership on the poor is a major reason why the housing market imploded

Based on what I have read,
this is just not true.

The mortages that were written up
where shameful. And then the way
they were hidden amongst other good
loans was criminal.

This is the major reason it is so difficult
to ascertain the value of a mortage "packages"
sold as investments. Toxic mixed with clean.
And one of the reasons Bush/Volcker
failed in righting the ship.

Originally Posted by Danzig

prostitution too.

Holy monkey out of the cage Batman...

The demand for divorce court lawyers would
boom. We could trace the bastards errrr... Horn dogs.

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I'm curious.....do tell..

You are President...and I know it will be tough..but what would YOU have done in your first six weeks as Prez...

And I want specifics...stuff that will turn this country around..And lastly, pleeeeze don't say what you wouldn't have done...that's easy..

To start work with the SEC to fix Mark to Market rules especially prior to giving any money to any financial entity. This will solve any decent financial institutions problems. Some of them just made bad decisions, but the good ones are being pulled down by an accounting problem. Want to see the dow have record gains?

Give tax breaks to business who hire new employees in the US. Doesn't job growth and lower unemployment mean more $ to the economy and more tax revenues?

Provide a tax credit of a minimum of $10k to any person paying taxes in the us for buying a new primary residence with no phase out for income. You want to stimulate the housing market.

Finally Slow down! If these problems didn't happen over night then they can't be solved that quickly. Stop trying to do everything at once.