Economic Survival Plan (ESP)

[homeless]

Simple, short and effective. Every Canadian Citizen, will, for the next twelve months, receive a $2000 monthly payment. If you make more than $35,000 per year, it will be progressively taxed to ensure it gets to those whom need it the most. Simple.

This programme will run for one year only. Short.

As the lower income earners all know, this money would enter the economy almost completely, as there is little or no room for most to squirrel away their money. People could spend this money to buy a car, thus bailing out the auto industry. Or they could choose to spend it on housing, thus bailing out the housing industry. Or they may decide to invest in more education and go back to school, thus bailing out the education sector. What matters here is that the PEOPLE would decide where to put OUR hard earned tax dollars. The politicians would then be able to see where we chose to put our money and they could then craft legislation to reflect these investment choices made by Canadians. Effective.

Fine print...this offer requires that in order to be eligible, Canadian Citizens would have to register to vote and include proof of this in their application for the programme.

[James Younger]

My ESP would be to follow the German lead of using Canadian technology to advance their economy. They are building and installing solar technology on roof tops. Thus creating jobs and producing 15% of the countries power needs. While in Ontario where the developer of this technology resides they are building another nuclear power plant to produce more power.
Something is wrong with that picture.

[homeless]

Excellent idea James! You could spend your $2000 monthly payment on solar technology. That is the great thing about the plan, you decide where you spend your money. Then after a year, the politicians will look at the data, GST etc.. and see where We have put OUR money. They will be in a new position of actually following the patterns of choices displayed by the electorate.

[Smokey©]

Sounds like a revival of Social Credit.

[riverrat]

I like the idea for its stimulation of the movement of monies.
I would ask, though:

1. Wouldn't tax relief have the same effect?
2. Should the government let consumers model how government money should be spent? If the consumers all go out and buy a bunch of Chinese-made knick-knacks, how does this guide the feds in deciding what to do with tax-payers' money?

[James Younger]

48 grand for a young couple with kids earning meager salaries might be there only hope of ever owning a house and stop paying rent. That is a great down payment for a couple.
Maybe just a few knick-knacks.

[homeless]

River rat, If the majority of Canadians want to spend their money on low wage made junk form overseas, so be it, that is democracy. I would hope that this would not happen, but if it did, I would work harder to learn ways to develop a mindset amongst the country that supports Canada. I can only hope that the public would consider their choices very carefully and things like healthy local foodstuffs, green technology and education might be high on the list. Tax relief has been given to the large corporations for decades and this is where we are, recession!

Smokey, no social credit Government ever gave this kind of a plan consideration, none. They cut back deeply and harshly in areas such as medical, education and social assistance. This is a new way of thinking.

Karl Marx felt that the underclass, the majority, would need the direction of the Party during the first stages of the revolution. I have turned this on its head and called on the population to direct the Governments policy. Canadians would have to start thinking about their collective desires and dreams and engage in responsible political behavior, voting to start with, wise consumer choices to follow.

Everyone needs to see how we are are interconnected and that it sometimes makes better sense to work together to achieve benefits not attainable as individuals. We are one people. 'Canadians' is just a political term defining us in the larger world stage. In order for policy to work for the betterment of our country, it must work towards the betterment of the global community. If their not happy, we're not happy.

[riverrat]

I like where this is going - the identity of the Canadian, our psychology and engagement with our own politics.

I love the idea of the couple receiving $48,000 from the government for a down payment on a house. But it sounds too expensive - 33,000,000 Canadians, getting even a FIVE thousand dollar payment from the feds, would amount to a $150,000,000,000 bailout. That's a hunnerd'n'fifty billion dollars for 5k / citizen.
I do understand that paying the people means that the money doesn't necessarily get lost to the nation, but...
I imagine it's pretty complicated.

[yogi bear]

Sounds like a revival of Social Credit.

Where's Major Douglas and "Bible Bill" Aberhardt when you need them? : )

see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Credit

Cheers,
Al

[Smokey©]

Smokey, no social credit Government ever gave this kind of a plan consideration, none. They cut back deeply and harshly in areas such as medical, education and social assistance. This is a new way of thinking.

My reference to Social Credit was to the original concept, not the policies adapted by a political party nor government. This is not a new way of thinking but a twist on a concept older then I am.