That's it. I'm asking for a bailout.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

Dear Congressman McGovern:

The economic downturn has affected us all, and it has affected some of us more significantly than others. Because of the shrinking economy I am unable to find employment for the past five months. Likewise, I have not been able to find an affordable place to live and must remain at home with my parents, a situation that none of us particularly relish. Finally, I am mired in expenses; student loans, automotive loans, and medical expenses threaten to overwhelm me. Without help I will cease to be economically viable. Thus, I turn to my government for help. I hereby request $130,000 in public monies to help make me a more productive member of society.

I understand that my request may appear somewhat unusual. However, all programs currently enacted to aid the unemployed American are simply insufficient for one to remain viable in these unusually harsh economic times. Likewise, I understand that you would like to know what plans I have for any monies allocated to me in such a bailout, especially since I am not a financial institution nor do I have Saudi shareholders. Rest assured that I have a plan, which enumerates as follows:

• $30,000 will be repaid to Citigroup for the discharge of yet unpaid student loans accumulated at Fordham University while pursuing post-graduate education.
• $15,000 will be repaid to the United States Department of Education for the discharge of yet unpaid student loans accumulated at Providence College pursuing tertiary education.
• $10,000 will be repaid to Eastern Bank of Massachusetts for the discharge of an automobile loan.
• $50,000 will be used to provide and furnish a one bedroom apartment in the greater Boston area and pay the rent for one (1) year plus security deposit.
• $20,000 will be used to cover various cost-of-living expenses during the duration of my job search. These expenses include, but are not limited to: food, medical expenses, clothing, education and retraining, and utilities.
• $5,000 will be repaid to various debtors for miscellaneous expenses related to my job search.

A more detailed version of this proposal can be furnished upon request.

My proposal benefits not only myself but also our nation. As a consumer I am the driving force behind the economy which has been carefully crafted since the 1950s. The economy relies on me to function. If I am not able to spend freely, then the economy suffers greatly. The other institutions which you have helped (or considered helping) cannot make that claim. The financial industry has proven to be too unstable to use government monies in a responsible manner, and the so-called “Big Three” of Detroit do not appear to know how they would revitalize our economy. Clearly, the way to save the American (perhaps global) economy is by empowering the consumer, starting with me.

I ask you to present my case to your peers in Congress and will avail myself to appear before the Congressional Finance Committee for further comment if given sufficient notice.

Thank you for your time.

[KansDem]

1. Say, can I borrow your letter?

It would make for a good template for my needs. I'd have to adjust the amounts a little but I could get in line, too (behind you, of course).

[Wapsie B]

2. Just think of what would happen

if instead of giving bailout $$$ to the same crooks that got us into this mess it's given to the people? Pay off mortgages, credit card debts, and for those with neither give them a lump-sum payment to invest.

[Initech]

5. Hell yes.

That's how you stimulate the fuckin' economy!

[closeupready]

6. No, no, no - that would never work. How would bankers make their money then?

:D

[truedelphi]

3. You have to include enough money amounts in your original requests

To allow for "greasing the skids" across both aisles of Congress.

Life inside a Banana Republic in never a cheap life.

And the more money you plan on being offered, the more money you need to keep everyone happy. (I'd be glad to offer my services in your re-write of this proposal - I would think that my services would only add another 40 to 50K to your costs.)

[CoffeeCat]

4. Can I plagiarize?

I'm aching for a bailout. I need to write a letter like that. Smart thinking!

I owe about 56k in student loans. We pay $1,500 monthly. They wanted to put us on some rinky-dink
payoff plan, which would have had me paying off my student loans with my Social Security checks!

We're aggressively paying it down, and hope to be done in 3 years.

If I had the money...I would personally bail you out.

You deserve it. So many "Main Streeters" deserve it.

Where's our love...huh, Congress?

Paulsen could give us each a million and he wouldn't even feel it!

:)

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

7. Haha. Sure, go for it.

I'm probably going to send this in as a letter to the editor to a few of the papers around here and see if they'll print it.

[Thickasabrick]

8. LOL....but you haven't presented your case as to how you will

pay it back. Every bail out is suppose to be paid back - I know...like that's going to happen

[haele]

10. You will pay it back with the taxes you will be paying as a productive

member of society. :)

That's how I'll put it. The sales and services taxes I'll be able to pay with the increased ability to spend that money I'm now not paying to the banks will jumpstart the economy. The property taxes I'll be able to pay since I can now look to afford to buy a home because I'm not forking out the outrageous interest on those loans. Not to mention the stability of income that will allow me to pay the mortgage on that home because I'm not throwing hundreds of dollars monthly at whatever loan shark now has my student loan. Not to mention less stress because thats (fill in the number) less loans hanging over my head every time I try to get ahead in life.

Haele

[Thickasabrick]

11. Sweet.....good answer

[wtmusic]

9. Hey go to the end of the line

no cutties!

[Pakhet]

12. What would happen if we sent this t ype of email out

en masse? who should it go to? kinda like a petition, but more personal...

[CrispyQ]

13. We should each personalize this & send copies to our

reps & senators. If you can snail mail it, even better. Encourage all your friends & family to do it too.

There is always money for the corporations, but nothing for We the People, & yet, corporations don't go hungry, they don't get cold, they don't have medical bills. We have put the needs of artificial entities that exist only on paper above living, breathing human beings. Corporations are tools that we should use to better our society, not tools to exploit the poor & enrich the rich.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

14. I put it up on my blog, but I also emailed copies to my senators and the aforementioned rep.

If anyone else would like to do the same, you have my permission to use it. Just change the numbers to make them more relevant to your life.