The Everyman Economist

It’s time to start thinking “outside the box.” We live in a country where the most popular gift is a gift card and the time has come to use this important tool to stimulate the economy. We all know that the new stimulus package is designed to get us to spend the checks we receive on real goods, even if I personally believe that the money should be used to pay off debt. But if we’re destined to follow the government’s leadership and spend on “stuff,” let them at least send us all gift cards instead of checks. The gift cards should have an expiration date in the not too distant future, which would assure that the economy gets an immediate stimulus. Since people use gift cards to buy things, they are almost certainly not going to use the cards to pay off debt, which is music to the government’s ears. And as added bonuses, we get 2 more benefits. First, studies show that when people use gift cards, they often spend a lot more than the value of the card and that would cause a mulitplier effect for the economy. And second, the banks that issue these cards on behalf of the US government would be assisted in this troublesome period of their lives. So in the final analysis, if it’s right to give Everyman money to spend, gift cards are the way to go. And for additional emphasis, our sister company - www.coinland.com - will contribute $5 to Uncle Sam for every $100 Gift Card used to buy US coins and coin supplies on its website. If we can enlist more US companies to do the same, there would be a siginificant partnership between the US government and the private sector in an effort to boost the economy. So let’s start using the proven tools that work best and we will all help bring prosperity back to the Everyman.

Let me preface this entry with the contention that I am neither a Republican nor Democrat and I have no axe to grind. My only political interest is in the ability of our leaders to serve the people. In that regard, I am a loyal Everyman in the Realist party. That’s the party comprised of like-minded Everymen who believe that reality rules over dogma and that life events can cause mind altering change.

Pick an issue - the economy, Iraq, illegal immigration, social security, etc. Now who among us believes that any of these issues remain stagnant and that the opinions we had on any of the above in 2001 are exactly the same in 2008? If YOU do, then the Republican or Democrat parties welcome you as a non-flip-flopper. But if you’re like me, then welcome to the Realist party where the technology boom and the housing bust are different breeds of economic conditions, where WMD now stands for “wild men doomed,” where illegal immigrants are not only our factory workers but our housekeepers as well, and where the social security lock-box is now a Nobel Peace Prize.

In 2004, the Republicans spent oodles of money telling us that John Kerry was a flip-flopper, punishable by political death.  In 2008, you can be sure that they will spend even more money reminding us of Hillary’s failed health care initiatives in 1994. But in 2008 there’s no problem with Mitt the Flip, Huck the Unstuck or Mac the Retract. All of their opinions “changed” and in case you haven’t heard, change is ”IN” this year. Now this is all very fine and dandy, but it’s also a whole lot of nonsense. In the Everyman’s world, things happen and opinions change and if we don’t adapt to the turning tides, we are doomed to be washed out to sea. So let’s start giving our elected brethren the room they need to represent us. If we’re ever going to have a government that is “by the people and for the people” then we need more Everyman leaders in the Realist party. We may like leaders that have the strength of their convictions, but we must also have leaders with enough intelligence to change direction when there’s an oncoming train heading straight for them.  

How good does Everyman feel when he opens his mail and finds a check for hundreds of dollars, no strings attached? Pretty darn good I imagine and that’s what the Bush stimulus plan is really all about. It’s a feel good plan that will stimulate Everyman’s mind, so that he does not sink into an economic depression and help make a poor economy that much worse. Will it work? To some extent yes, but it certainly won’t fix all of our economic woes.

The government wants Everyman to spend his windfall on something, but don’t you dare pay off any debt. Instead, Uncle Sam wants you to buy American products, which is certainly a noble idea, but very hard to execute. Go into any store and try to find American products. Good luck! Most everything these days comes from another country, so any purchases you make will ultimately be funded outside of the USA. Right now China is our biggest benefactor, which is why we have the largest trade deficit in the history of Everymankind with our Asian neighbor. It’s all a never ending circle without any plan attached and that is exactly what’s at the heart of our economic problems. Show me a man or woman now running for President with a plan to reduce our dependence on foreign goods and currency and I’ll show you Ron Paul. Now maybe his plan is rather extreme, but it’s a plan nonetheless and we have to give him credit for that. He’s thinking like an Everyman with a problem, and he’s actually looking for a solution. Wow!

So enjoy your stimulus checks and please consider paying off some debt. It’s the only real way we can bring health back to our economy and we need to show the White House how it’s done. It’s about time for the Everyman to lead the way.