Giveth Then Taketh Away
Keep in mind, when reading this posting, that I was a music major in college. I can play an F# minor scale on a clarinet like nobody’s business and run my little corporation with at least a modicum of fiscal responsibility. Math, however, was never my strong suit. So, the following is more a search for answers than a dissemination of useful information.
The economic stimulus package is on its way to a final vote and probable narrow-margin passage in the Senate later today. The price tag according to the New York Times yesterday is $827 billion. Let’s see…that’s $827,000,000,000—is that enough zeros?
An astute IRB resident recently posed the question: How much is that per person? I love a good challenge, so I set out to calculate it.
Let’s see…the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimate for 2008 is 304,059,724.
My crusty, trusty handheld calculator from the Stone Age didn’t get it done. Not enough zeros. So I was finally forced to figure out how to use the calculator on my computer…which was somewhat beneficial.
The current $827 billion economic stimulus package, when spread evenly between every man, woman and child in the U.S. comes to $2,719 per person. Is that correct? Will we be permitted to apply our $1,000 tax credit check to this amount, so that we only need to come out of pocket a little over $1,700?
Take comfort in the fact that the $700 billion bank bailout plan didn't quite double your tab--it added only another $2,300 per person...a real steal (no pun intended.)
Realizing that stimulus money should do just that—stimulate the economy—I’m assuming that it will put an influx of enough cash back into the kitty to bring each person’s share of the rescue down to something doable? But what if it doesn’t?
When is an IRB bailout plan in the offing? How much will each of our 5,167 residents be responsible for when the rubber meets the road, spending hasn’t been cut and our tax revenues are down significantly? (And again, nothing on tonight's commission meeting agenda dealing with that subject.) While it’s not as many zeros to manage, the principle (not to be confused with “principal”) is the same.
Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB
(Note: If you'd like to comment on this posting, simply click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of the article and follow the prompts. You may comment anonymously if you'd like. Or, you can always e-mail your comments to irbeheard@cmdinc.net and we'll post them for you!)
Keep in mind, when reading this posting, that I was a music major in college. I can play an F# minor scale on a clarinet like nobody’s business and run my little corporation with at least a modicum of fiscal responsibility. Math, however, was never my strong suit. So, the following is more a search for answers than a dissemination of useful information.
The economic stimulus package is on its way to a final vote and probable narrow-margin passage in the Senate later today. The price tag according to the New York Times yesterday is $827 billion. Let’s see…that’s $827,000,000,000—is that enough zeros?
An astute IRB resident recently posed the question: How much is that per person? I love a good challenge, so I set out to calculate it.
Let’s see…the U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimate for 2008 is 304,059,724.
My crusty, trusty handheld calculator from the Stone Age didn’t get it done. Not enough zeros. So I was finally forced to figure out how to use the calculator on my computer…which was somewhat beneficial.
The current $827 billion economic stimulus package, when spread evenly between every man, woman and child in the U.S. comes to $2,719 per person. Is that correct? Will we be permitted to apply our $1,000 tax credit check to this amount, so that we only need to come out of pocket a little over $1,700?
Take comfort in the fact that the $700 billion bank bailout plan didn't quite double your tab--it added only another $2,300 per person...a real steal (no pun intended.)
Realizing that stimulus money should do just that—stimulate the economy—I’m assuming that it will put an influx of enough cash back into the kitty to bring each person’s share of the rescue down to something doable? But what if it doesn’t?
When is an IRB bailout plan in the offing? How much will each of our 5,167 residents be responsible for when the rubber meets the road, spending hasn’t been cut and our tax revenues are down significantly? (And again, nothing on tonight's commission meeting agenda dealing with that subject.) While it’s not as many zeros to manage, the principle (not to be confused with “principal”) is the same.
Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB
(Note: If you'd like to comment on this posting, simply click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of the article and follow the prompts. You may comment anonymously if you'd like. Or, you can always e-mail your comments to irbeheard@cmdinc.net and we'll post them for you!)
3 comments:
The problem with socialist is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.
IRB can afford to spend for the Library, Art Center, landscaping, etc. All these things make our town better.
All we need to do to pay for it is get rid of some of the cops that sit in their cars all day long (there is no crime in IRB--check the papers on Sunday), relax the codes to increase the tax base, install parking meters on the beach accesses, and raise some fees.
Why complain, this is paradise.
No need to complain anymore. The stimulus package passed. We’ve been saved. When are the checks going to be mailed out?
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