Birk Bunk

Perhaps you too have recieved this email:

The Birk Economic Recovery Plan

  I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

  Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in
  a We Deserve It Dividend.

  To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000
  bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.

  Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman
  and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..

  So divide 200 million adults 18+  into $85 billon that equals
  $425,000.00.

  My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a
  We Deserve It Dividend.

There is more, I’ve included the rest of the email below. Simply stated the Birk plan is bunk. All you need to know the truth of its bunkiness is to do the math. As I wrote in an email to the last person who sent this to me:

So please do, pass the work, show that Birk is Bunk. Kill off this numeric meme.

The rest of the bunky Birk email …

  Of course, it would NOT be tax free.
  So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

  Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
  That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

  But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
  A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

  What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
  Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
  Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads
  Put away money for college - it'll be there
  Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
  Buy a new car - create jobs
  Invest in the market - capital drives growth
  Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves
  Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

  Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+  including the folks
  who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company
  that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed
  Forces.

  If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of
  trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that
  is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

  If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult
  US Citizen 18+!

  As for AIG - liquidate it.
  Sell off its parts.
  Let American General go back to being American General.
  Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut
  it up and clean it up.

  Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

  Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."

  But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

  How do you spell Economic Boom?

  I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion
  We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in
  Washington DC.

  And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5
  Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

  Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.
      Kindest personal regards,

      Birk

Bah!