What would be a better way to spend the $700 billion (that would also help ward off a depression)?

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[kansasblue]

1. if the money went right to the home owners...paid their debt then....

they would keep their homes, banks would get their money.

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2. So that would kill 2 birds with one stone

[endthewar]

19. There you go again, solving problems.

:rofl:

[magellan]

3. Plow it into national healthcare, infrastructure, public schools, alternative fuel r&d, etc

....and by doing so reap the added benefit of creating new jobs.

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5. And people could then pay their mortgages

[magellan]

9. Exactly. You have to attack the root cause of the problem

A good doctor doesn't just treat symptoms; s/he diagnoses the illness and treats the disease.

[mattvermont]

4. how about a new deal "CCC"

the gov. could put a million people to work rebuilding the infrastructure. I bet the housing crisis would disappear quickly.

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6. It's amazing how many great things were built and great works were done by the CCC

[avaistheone1]

7. It is estimated that the housing debacle is 200 billion. I think the other 600 billion dollar

is to cover the shell game of derivatives and credit swaps. Quick. Quick. Cover the empty accounts before the FBI gets here.

[ThoughtCriminal]

8. 20 million electric cars

Just to put it in some perspective (~$35k/vehicle).

[MrsCorleone]

10. Daily Kos article on Norwegian 1988 Financial Crisis. Paulson, et al = ass backwards.

Why the Norwegian Bank Crisis of 1988 is Important!

Full post: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/23/82912/0254/906/607270

[HawkerHurricane]

11. Give every man, woman, and child in the country a $2000 gift card

Good for buying stock. That'll give the market a boost, and the people would then own it...

[RB TexLa]

12. The best would be to not spend it. We have a debt.

[avaistheone1]

13. Why not create a government run bank with sound regulations with the 700 billion dollars?

It would keep credit moving for credit worthy individuals that troubled financial institutions will not lend to for homes, autos, school loans and businesses?

The big threat Paulsen says is that credit is not moving.

[bicentennial_baby]

14. Bingo

Temporarily (as in for a few years) nationalize the troubled banks, and institute hard regs. Once everything's stable and functional, let them re-privatize on a conditional basis, a la Sweden in the 1990s.

[avaistheone1]

18. I like it. If Paulsen is being candid with us I imagine this solution could work.

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15. Send this to Obama and Biden ASAP.

[Swamp Rat]

16. Rebuild our levees

If it keeps on raining levee's going to break
If it keeps on raining levee's going to break
When the levee breaks have no place to stay

Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
Got what it takes to make a Mountain Man leave his home

Oh, well; oh, well; oh, well.

Don't it make you feel bad?
When you're trying to find your way home you don't know which way to go?
When you're going down south and there's no work to do
And you're going on to Chicago

Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good
Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to go

All last night sat on the levee and moaned
All last night sat on the levee and moaned
Thinking about my baby and my happy home

Going - going to Chicago
Going to Chicago
Sorry, but I can't take you

Going down - going down, now
Going down - going down, now
Going down
Going down

[razors edge]

17. Change the locks on Fort Knox.

and the treasury, hire security for all who work there, and cut the (Non)Federal (Non)Reserve completely out of our system.

Back the Dollar by a minimum wage. One hour of manual unskilled labor equals $15.00 minimum pay.

You can't build a house without a foundation.

Edit: No income tax below $100,000.00.