Mr. Bush says:
Letting Americans keep more of their own money should increase consumer spending and lift our economy at a time when people otherwise might spend less.I read that as "Here's some money, paid for by our children, to help out the already rich companies. Please, buy useless things to take some heat off me".
Here is the Patriotic Rebate proposal - lets spend the money on things that will help educate ourselves, better our life, better our children's life, and better America. If Washington DC's answer is to throw money at us, we might as well use it to stop this needless cycle of economic slavery and ignorance.
I'm not even proposing spending all of the $600. If each person only spent around $250 of this new money on specific things, we would be so much more educated and better off.
- Become a Personal Finance Master
The Total Money Makeover
Dave Ramsey teaches you how to eliminate debts, budget for your expenses, and escape the trap of over-spending.
- $16.49
The Millionaire Next Door
This book shatters the myth of the extravagant millionaire lifestyle, and shows you how you can be much wealthier than you ever thought.
- $10.20
The Wealthy Barber
This is the first personal finance book I ever read, and provides the best overview of turning your financial life around. It's an easy read.
- $11.20
The Bogleheads Guide to Investing
John Bogle started the Vanguard mutual fund company specializing in low-cost mutual funds. This book is a terrific introduction to cutting investments costs and maximizing what you can make - highly recommended.
- $16.47
Total cost to be well educated on personal finance: $54.36 - Do what's in these books, and you'll be on the road to living debt-free, actually saving for retirement, and you'll understand how to budget your personal money.
- Cut your Need To Buy Buy Buy
Your Money or Your Life
This is a very practical guide to changing the way you think about why we are a quest to make more money, and how it affects our daily life.
- $10.20
The Joy of Simple Living
Most Americans simply have too much "stuff." It's either just a bunch of junk sitting around in closets or boxes, or an endless todo list. It all affects our minds, and this book gives you more than 1500 tips to simplify your life.
- $27.95
Total cost to break the cycle of buying crap you don't really: $38.15 - Part of getting wealthy is to cut expenses. With the tips in these books, you can stop buying things you won't use, and understand what's really necessary in your life.
- Understand the Social Implications of Money and Consumerism
Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture
Our kids are going to be paying for this economy stimulus package and the rest of our federal debts. This book sheds light on how mass consumerism if hurting our younger generation.
- $10.88
It Pays to Talk: How to Have the Essential Conversations with Your Family About Money and Investing
Good investment advice mixed with plans on how to get your whole family involved and talking about staying financially well-off.
- $11.66
Total cost to understand how we all fit together in the economic world: $22.54
- Understand What's Going On in the Economy
Many people write off "the economy" as this abstract idea that they have no part in. Based on how the federal government spends, it often feels that me. Fact of the matter is that much of the economic problems we have are related to America's obsession with spending money we don't have, while the people in charge send the bill to our next generation. It's a pretty complex mess that has been building up for decades.
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
John Perkins pulls no punches in describing his role to make other countries economically dependent on the US.
-$16.47
How The World Really Works
A shocking book. Alan B. Jones finds common threads in a dozen important works that explains some of the background manipulation going in the US.
-$15.00
People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present
Ever wondered about the hidden stories of what's going on the background of the US? Howard Zinn explains our hidden history better than your history textbooks ever dared.
-$11.37
Total cost to understand America's global economic positions: $42.84
- Start Making More Money and Enjoy Your Life
What Color Is Your Parachute? 2007: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers
This is a long-standing classic about employment. It will help you stop working for money, and working for something you like.
-$18.54
The 4-Hour Workweek
Tim Ferriss is a god among men. This has been the most inspirational book I've ever read about taking charge of life, figuring out what's important, and blazing my own trail.
-$11.97
Total cost to start enjoying the process of making money: $30.51
- Make an Actual Difference
Individual Americans gave a record 245.8 billion dollars to charity in 2006. We are the most charitable nation in terms of donation - now is not the time to stop that. Giving $50 to the charity of your choice would help immensely AND it feels great.
Instead of buying TVs from China, how about we clean up old landmines, help the Iraq war veterans families, or help stop animal abuse? Whatever you find important in your life, there is probably a charity for it. 100 million Americans all donating $50 would send a loud message.
Cost to Help Make a Difference: $50
Total cost of the Patriotic Rebate proposal : $238.40
That leaves $350 per person to help pay off debts, invest, or start an emergency fund. If you buy the books used or on eBay, you could save around $80 too. There's also the library or PaperBackSwap to read these books for free.
If America does this, we will get our country on the right course by starting with ourselves.
