YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE

The current economic situation is not going to be solved with a quick fix.

We need to put together a long term plan.

Most of the people making the decisions that led us into this situation were in office when we went through the same thing with the Savings and Loans

We need to learn from our mistakes and not allow ourselves to get into this situation again.

The following are a few suggestions.

Many are pretty simple but it appears that the complicated solutions haven’t worked to well so why not try simple.


Can You Hear Me Know?

For years we have been relying on the same experts and look at where that has gotten us.

The internet is a fantastic tool one only has to look how our candidates have used it to raise money for their campaigns.

Why can’t the current administration use it to solicit advice?

Get some ideas from outside the box.

While many of these ideas might not worth the e-mail they are sent on why do we think that the brain trust in Washington is the only with an intelligent thought?

For too long the intelligence of the American public has been ignored.

They have only been looked upon as a source for campaign contributions not ideas.

It is time for a change.


Everyone is aware that job losses are only going to increase. At the same time funding for service programs are also going to be cut.

Many people are going to be forced to retire and we all know the condition of a lot of retirement plans and 401 K plans

Many are going to retire with much less than they expected and almost all will not have medical benefits.

Here is our plan to address that portion of the population.


Volunteer for Medical Benefits

Many new retirees will be retiring with many of the job skills that service organizations currently have to fund through grants.

As we know the first thin cut will be government grants.

Our recommendation is that we ask retirees to volunteer 20 hours a week at local not for profits.

This will provide the not for profits with the skilled staff that they will be losing due to budget cuts.

In return the volunteers will have a portion of their medical benefits paid for from a fund set up by the government.

In the long run the cost will be significantly less than what has been paid out in previous grants.

As we bring more people into the program the cost of the coverage will also decrease.

(We have submitted this idea to both our State and Federal Senators and are awaiting feedback)


Measure Twice Cut Once

Too often decisions have been made right after a disaster out of necessity.

Too often these are band aid solutions and not clearly thought out.

One only has to remember what happened in Mississippi and Louisiana after Katrina.

Billions of dollars of supplies never got to their intended recipients.

For example contracts were given to questionable companies and we still have people living in government provided trailers with formaldehyde as insulation

FEMA has shown time and time again that they need to recreate the wheel with every disaster.

Many areas of the country are prone to natural disasters (floods hurricanes etc).

We need proactive plans that include a census of the people in these areas so that we will be prepared for the next disaster.

In the long run we will save billions by planning ahead and making contacts with local non profits in advance.

(We are currently developing a plan where Staten Island schools will adopt schools in disaster areas. Direct contact between these schools will be established in advance and Staten Island schools will collect needed supplies and materials for their adopted school in the event of a disaster)


Fool Me Once Shame on You……..

Year after year the same companies are granted no bid or questionable bid contracts.

Hundreds of billions of dollars are paid out to companies affiliated with current or former elected officials.

One only has to do an audit on what was spent on the current war.

And track back to the people getting these contracts.

But these audits need to have some teeth to them and the results should be made public as should be how the recommendations were met or not met.

We look forward to your ideas