Comments on: Fixing the Economy: “Ordinary” Folks Weigh In

By: D C Grear

D C Grear — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:28:51 +0000

Reparing the economy is a no brainer…Take $1,ooo,ooo,ooo and give every household $1oo,ooo.This will have an trickle up effect…D. C. Grear

By: November Commenters

November Commenters — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:40:28 +0000

[...] Miranda – Fixing the Economy: "Ordinary" Folks Weigh In [...]

By: Miranda

Miranda — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:17:02 +0000

You are right that “bailout” mode seems to be rather prevalent. I agree that we do need to help those offering solutions, rather than just chucking money at the problem and maintaining the status quo.

By: Dave Miller

Dave Miller — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:52:10 +0000

I read David Colander’s plan, but i would like to see us break out of the “bail out” mode, i.e if GM has a failing business model, give them a choice. Change and modernize and the government will help you with the technology and retooling thru loans, or keep the current course and fail. In the same way the government could offer loans(or guarantee) to me at twice the interest there getting from the banks fix my costs, I’ll even put 20% down. The banks are sitting on there hands while the housing market screeches to a halt. My 401 is going nowhere, I want to buy houses. The best thing for someone facing foreclosure is seeing the value of their home increase. Supply and demand, get houses selling while we still have jobs.

By: miranda

miranda — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:14:36 +0000

Interesting thought, Dave! I do agree that things should be done to help people who are not in trouble yet. After all, the various “fixes” the government is coming up with only kick in after payments are missed — rewarding deliberately risky behavior. Another interesting idea is this one, of foreclosure vouchers: http://banks.com/blogs/mortgages/2008/11/20/are-foreclosure-vouchers-the-answer-to-the-mortgage-market-mess/

By: Dave Miller

Dave Miller — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:41:59 +0000

Bull doze down all bank owned homes. Im not serious about that of course, but the effect would be to reduce the home inventory and make my house worth more. That seems to be the basic problem, getting home prices to increase. The fed needs to raise interest rates to fight the devaluation of materials used to build a home. and FHA and HUD should make loans directly to people like me with great fico scores, and good jobs. Instead of waiting for the bailout money given to banks to trickle down, bypass them and loan directly to the people 3% fixed $500 closing costs. I would buy a distressed home at a bargain and hire people to fix it up. Jobs created, home prices increasing, economy fixed.

By: miranda

miranda — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:02:05 +0000

An interesting idea. Transportation costs certainly are cutting into budgets. While I disagree with you (I think that this would prolong our dependence on fossil fuels, which would cause other problems for the economy down the road), it is certainly an intriguing idea — and one that would also affect grocery prices (by bringing down transport costs).

By: Marv Lancaster

Marv Lancaster — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:28:11 +0000

I have an idea what would help turn the economy around in a hurry before it affects holiday shopping any more than it has too. Take the 700 billion dollar bail out package & subside fuel. If we cut fuel prices to $1.00 a gallon nation wide for at least two years it would give people more money in they’re pockets & start spending again. The economy would change and would help the auto makers sell vehicles. This is from a business owner’s perspective. This is a quick summary of my idea.

By: miranda

miranda — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:34:37 +0000

Thanks, Jean. While there are plenty of people who don’t do what they’ve been taught, I do think that some sort of financial literacy would at least be a good start — it might do some good, even if only a few of the kids put the principles into practice.

By: If Baby Boomers Ruled the World, or How Would YOU Fix the Economy?

If Baby Boomers Ruled the World, or How Would YOU Fix the Economy? — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:24:06 +0000

[...] Miranda Marquit (from Yielding Wealth) and other “ordinary” Americans were asked their opinions on how to fix the economy. Miranda has a sound bite of these interviews from NPR. [...]