A better use for 700 billion dollars

[Stormthorn]

Its a consumer economy right? Why give 700 billion to the bank when you could give it to the consumers to spend? People could pay off their loans, which would give the banks back their money too. Thats a lot of money if you exclude anyone who is superich (lets say, top 1% of america, or a seven figure yearly income) and any children.

[Jack Squat]

Inappropriate Topics
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[DraPrime]

Assuming there's about 200,000,000 adults in the US that works out to be only about $3,500. That's not that much, and this would jack up inflation like crazy.

[Copacetic]

70 New Hubble telescopes.


7 New nternational Space Stations.

The Entire Hungarian Economy for the next two years.

[Flickerdart]

Well, if the OP edits it to be a "what would be a good use of $700 billion?" it'd be fine, right? I mean, it's just a figure. Any relation to real life is unintentional. :smalltongue:

Also, a castle built out of 700 million loonies. I want one now.

[Collin152]

Well, if the OP edits it to be a "what would be a good use of $700 billion?" it'd be fine, right? I mean, it's just a figure. Any relation to real life is unintentional. :smalltongue:

Also, a castle built out of 700 million loonies. I want one now.

Let us reject the original post and pretend this is what he said.

[Ego Slayer]

Looks more like economics and silliness than politics, to me.



Also, a castle built out of 700 million loonies. I want one now.
Do want! :O
Would I have to move to Canada to have a loonie castle?

[TigerHunter]

Let us reject the original post and pretend this is what he said.
Unfortunately, that's not what he said.

And the parallels are too obvious even then. Lock inc.

[BizzaroStormy]

Yeah, just divide it equally among the US population and set up regulations on prices until people have had time to spend it.

[TigerHunter]

Yeah, just divide it equally among the US population and set up regulations on prices until people have had time to spend it.
That's $2,300 per person.

Aren't they already doing that?

[chiasaur11]

I saw a suggestion to buy the country of Turkey and cover it in bacon for a giant open faced club sandwich with this kind of money.
I support it.

I think it came from here (http://the-iss.com).

[Talya]

Looks more like economics and silliness than politics, to me.


Huh, wait a sec... Politics = Economics + Silliness

700 billion dollars?

I could put begin my evil genius assault on the world, and demand 700 billion dollars (*pinkie to her mouth*) in return for not unleashing a dozen more "unscripted reality television" shows into primetime, or some other similar attrocity.

[wadledo]

Huh, wait a sec... Politics = Economics + Silliness

700 billion dollars?

I could put begin my evil genius assault on the world, and demand 700 billion dollars (*pinkie to her mouth*) in return for not unleashing a dozen more "unscripted reality television" shows into primetime, or some other similar attrocity.

No you b@stards, you killed them all.:smalleek:

[EvilElitest]

I could buy my soul back with that much money. Or at least part of it
from
EE

[TigerHunter]

I could buy my soul back with that much money.
Funny, I was considering doing the opposite.

[EvilElitest]

Funny, I was considering doing the opposite.

Very few souls can fetch such a price, i could set you up with a dealer for 10% through :smallbiggrin:
from
EE

[Lord Tataraus]

Looks more like economics and silliness than

Unfortunately its not economics, its politics, pure politics. If anyone actually listened to the economists we would have never got into this mess in the first place. That's the depressing thing about economics, once you learn it you quickly learn that no one will ever listen to you again.

[BizzaroStormy]

That's $2,300 per person.

Aren't they already doing that?

No they arent, all they gave the people was $300. Thats not even a month's salary. Plus, theres other things you have to factor in.

Like...
Send it to people who make less that $100,000 per year.
Only send it to people who are legal US citizens.
Send it only to people age 18-65.

That would put a crapload of money into the economy. Sure people wouldn't be borrowing money from the banks for a while, but then almost everybody would be able to pay back what they owe to the bank.

[EvilElitest]

Unfortunately its not economics, its politics, pure politics. If anyone actually listened to the economists we would have never got into this mess in the first place. That's the depressing thing about economics, once you learn it you quickly learn that no one will ever listen to you again.

well there was the massive cutting of restrictions and reliance of the invisible hand that led to this problem and i'm getting into a politics, ok back to being silly


if i had that much money, honestly, i think i'd just spend a fraction to buy all the amusements i'd ever need, secure a house, and pay for college, donate 600 billion to charity, and keep the rest in a bank in case of emergencies.
from
EE

[Talya]

That's the depressing thing about economics, once you learn it you quickly learn that no one will ever listen to you again.

Ain't that the truth.

[Collin152]

No they arent, all they gave the people was $300. Thats not even a month's salary. Plus, theres other things you have to factor in.

Like...
Send it to people who make less that $100,000 per year.
Only send it to people who are legal US citizens.
Send it only to people age 18-65.

That would put a crapload of money into the economy. Sure people wouldn't be borrowing money from the banks for a while, but then almost everybody would be able to pay back what they owe to the bank.

As someone who is not-quite-18, I'd be inclined to say that plan falls perfectly in line with the typical worldview of "sticking it to Collin"

[valadil]

Sometimes I really wish we could have a political discussion here. The posters are intelligent but not jerks about it. That's become exceedingly rare on the internets. I've even considered asking the mods if we could get one lone dedicated political thread, but I'm fairly certain the answer would be no. Even if people didn't discuss politics outside of it there would still be grudges that carried over. Maybe the playground is so nice and innocent because we keep it nice and innocent. No, I'd rather not spoil that with politics.

I would settle for an anonymous poll though. Kinda hard to grudge anyone for an anonymous vote.

[BizzaroStormy]

As someone who is not-quite-18, I'd be inclined to say that plan falls perfectly in line with the typical worldview of "sticking it to Collin"

I wont be 18 until tuesday but i suppose it does sound a bit biased. Even if they did decide to impletment it today, the time it would take our govern...group of important old people in suits, to set it up would be well outside 6 months.

[valadil]

Lemme try and keep this mathematical instead of political...

Regarding a $2300 tax break, I don't think that would even cover the gas increases over the last 8 years. In 2000 I was paying $20 to fill up my tank. Now I pay $35-$50. Let's just call it $35. That's a $15 increase. If I fill up once a week, that's $750 a year or $6000 over the last 8 years. Giving $2.3k back does not make up for $6.0k, let alone what else has happened to the economy.

[Talya]

Sometimes I really wish we could have a political discussion here. The posters are intelligent but not jerks about it. That's become exceedingly rare on the internets. I've even considered asking the mods if we could get one lone dedicated political thread, but I'm fairly certain the answer would be no. Even if people didn't discuss politics outside of it there would still be grudges that carried over. Maybe the playground is so nice and innocent because we keep it nice and innocent. No, I'd rather not spoil that with politics.

I would settle for an anonymous poll though. Kinda hard to grudge anyone for an anonymous vote.

I'd go for that, but it would be turned down flat.

At the risk of accidentally offending some of you on another forum, might I suggest a fairly friendly (though not moderated like this place) forum for such a thing? It's a community that arose from the old Everquest "Ranger's Glade" website. The site crashed completely recently and we needed to find a new home for it, but it's alive and well still. Nobody there plays EQ anymore, and the current incarnation of the board is mostly real life discussions of various things. It's certainly not stagnant, and though new blood is a little unusual there, they tend to welcome outsiders. It has a forum specifically for controversial topics. It's also a fairly strong gaming community in general. You can find it at: http://gladerebooted.boardzero.com/forum.html

[EvilElitest]

yeah politics here aren't going to work out
from
EE

[BizzaroStormy]

Lemme try and keep this mathematical instead of political...

Regarding a $2300 tax break, I don't think that would even cover the gas increases over the last 8 years. In 2000 I was paying $20 to fill up my tank. Now I pay $35-$50. Let's just call it $35. That's a $15 increase. If I fill up once a week, that's $750 a year or $6000 over the last 8 years. Giving $2.3k back does not make up for $6.0k, let alone what else has happened to the economy.

Read my above fix to that plan. Also it wouldnt be a tax break. It would be simple tax-free money that would be handed out to stimulate the economy. Hopefully moreso than the little $300 drop in the ocean.

[Mr. Mud]

I read somewhere than one can purcahse square acres on Mars, legally. Not a joke, you literally own part of the planet... So a Little math:

Okay, so on average, one acre will cost you aboutttt $17-$22. . .
There are roughly 2481177600 ft² = 56960 acres... So...

You get the Planet Mars for about... Oh, a tiny $10,1392,000 (+ Shipping and Handling :smallconfused:?). That seems like chump change, put next to the bailout. . . We could have like 70 Planets. Take that Russia! :smallcool:

And what if we took all the minerals and metals out of Mars and Undercut the market 100 fold! :smallbiggrin:

**Math may or may not be accurate. Just like I may or may not be 100% awake right now...

*yawns*

@ EE: Amen!

[EvilElitest]

can we get off real world politics please and focus on jokes
from
EE

[BizzaroStormy]

That sounds like a pretty good use of money. Get a couple thousand people together after my stimulus plan goes into effect and the entire planet of mars will be privately owned. Suck on that NASA.

[doliest]

can we get off real world politics please and focus on jokes
from
EE

Quite, espicially since $700 billion can buy a whole lot of cornetos(sp?), or alternatively a castle built out of PS3, which would finally put those things to good use.
Spoilered for politics and oh god I hope I don't get banned for this:
I liked the economic bailout:smalleek:

[Talya]

That sounds like a pretty good use of money. Get a couple thousand people together after my stimulus plan goes into effect and the entire planet of mars will be privately owned. Suck on that NASA.


I can sell you property on Mars! You have to provide your own transportation though.

[doliest]

Oh, and a good place for moderated political discussion?

http://www.cracked.com/forums/forum/we-saved-hitlers-brain

[Mr. Mud]

I can sell you property on Mars! You have to provide your own transportation though.

DING! Another Idea. We could Finally use all the funds I've embezzelled from the forums over the years, and put into The Zeppelin industry! Who needs the 'aut-omo-bile'* :smallbiggrin:

*Cookie to anyone who gets the movie reference :smallamused:.

[Lord Tataraus]

No they arent, all they gave the people was $300. Thats not even a month's salary. Plus, theres other things you have to factor in.

Like...
Send it to people who make less that $100,000 per year.
Only send it to people who are legal US citizens.
Send it only to people age 18-65.

That would put a crapload of money into the economy. Sure people wouldn't be borrowing money from the banks for a while, but then almost everybody would be able to pay back what they owe to the bank.

Unfortunately most people don't realize one key element of the current economy. Take a $1 bill, what do you think that represents? Most people would say it is a representation of a fraction of the national GDP, or a certificate of a certain quantity of commodities, but in actuality a $1 bill represents roughly $9 of debt. One of the major factors of the Great Depression was that debts were at a record low and that causes the value of money to spiral into nothingness since money is debt.

[Collin152]

DING! Another Idea. We could Finally use all the funds I've embezzelled from the forums over the years, and put into The Zeppelin industry! Who needs the 'aut-omo-bile'* :smallbiggrin:

*Cookie to anyone who gets the movie reference :smallamused:.

Reminds me of LXG...

[Stupendous_Man]

70 New Hubble telescopes.


7 New nternational Space Stations.

Remember to adjust for inflation.

[BizzaroStormy]

Remember to adjust for inflation.

Ok...70,000 Inflatable Full-Size Hubble Telescopes

[puppyavenger]

DING! Another Idea. We could Finally use all the funds I've embezzelled from the forums over the years, and put into The Zeppelin industry! Who needs the 'aut-omo-bile'* :smallbiggrin:

*Cookie to anyone who gets the movie reference :smallamused:.

Shanghai knights?

[Stormthorn]

Just to be clear, im not talking, politics. Im talking economics. I dont htink thats on the list.

And i only think we need 5 ot 6 Hubble telescopes.

and $3.5K would make me happy.

[charl]

Exchange it for 100 Euros. :smallbiggrin:

[Mr. Mud]

Shanghai knights?

Close... I think it was Shanghai Noon? :smallconfused:.

Either way I ate your cookie :smallbiggrin:. http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/2875554/2/istockphoto_2875554_chocolate_chip_cookie_crumbs.j pg

[Destro_Yersul]

Hey, I wonder if we can buy the moon. It's closer than Mars, and then I could fulfill my dream of having a moonbase with a giant laser on it.

"What's that, fellow being? You don't like me?"
*pushes button*
"There. Now you can start not liking your lack of a head."

[Boo]

Close... I think it was Shanghai Noon? :smallconfused:.

Either way I ate your cookie :smallbiggrin:. *SNIP IMAGE*

I think it was both. The end of Noon, the start of Knights.

[Mr. Mud]

Ah okay Blue. I didnt like Noon Much... :smallannoyed:. Anyways, Destro, I think you actually can buy land on the Moon. . . Just give ole Neil Armstrong a ring :smallbiggrin:. (But Seriosuly, I think one square acre is around $15. And If you need transport, I'll make a big airway for my zeppelins to the Moon :smallcool:.)

[charl]

Hey, I wonder if we can buy the moon. It's closer than Mars, and then I could fulfill my dream of having a moonbase with a giant laser on it.

"What's that, fellow being? You don't like me?"
*pushes button*
"There. Now you can start not liking your lack of a head."

The Moon is in accordance to the Outer Space treaty signed by the USA and Russia (and possibly others) international territory, similar to international waters in status. The treaty also specifies that the Moon can only by used for peaceful purposes, therefore banning military installations and the use of weapons of mass-destruction on its surface.

Then again, if you placed it on the far side of the Moon or in a shadowed crater, who would ever notice?

[BizzaroStormy]

Does that mean drug deals are legal on the moon?

[Mr. Mud]

Then again, if you placed it on the far side of the Moon or in a shadowed crater, who would ever notice?

Pink Floyd. :smallbiggrin:

@ v: HELLO!? MY ZEPPELINS?! :smalltongue:

[charl]

Does that mean drug deals are legal on the moon?

*envisions a space casino/Amsterdam-style coffeshop, decorated like the Star Wars cantina.*

Dude, that is awesome. We really have to get civilian spaceflight going.


Pink Floyd. :smallbiggrin:

No, that album was called the DARK side of the Moon (awesome album by the way). That term doesn't however mean anything as the Moon actually doesn't have a permanent dark side. There is a side that we can't see from Earth, but it isn't actually (always) dark. Hence, the use of the term "far side", though that isn't technically correct either.

[Destro_Yersul]

It's usually dark though. Besides, it's not a military installation, and I wouldn't tell them it had a superlaser. Lasers are invisible anyways.

Also, I'd install said cantina and a hotel and become the first of the great moon-businessmen.

[charl]

It's usually dark though. Besides, it's not a military installation, and I wouldn't tell them it had a superlaser. Lasers are invisible anyways.

Also, I'd install said cantina and a hotel and become the first of the great moon-businessmen.

Yeah, but "the mostly dark side of the Moon" doesn't sound very good at all.

I could work for you in the cantina. As a bartender or card dealer or uh... drug dealer.

[Spirit300064]

Seems kinda a low job to take. How about you spend your life starting bar fights?

[Roland St. Jude]

...Maybe the playground is so nice and innocent because we keep it nice and innocent. No, I'd rather not spoil that with politics...

Sheriff of Moddingham: Me too.