thomas plahn
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thomas plahn commented on Why Say Yes! To the Detroit Big Three. on November 18, 2008, 11:25 PM
taichizen- I hope you will read my idea stimulating auto sales. Consumers need a fair shake in any bailout. Maintaining confidence in the free market system is equally as important. I do agree with you than action is required.
The automobile industry is in a real mess without a doubt. Some of this is due to missteps taken by the big three, but one cannot deny that the current financial crunch is a major factor. The big three have come to congress asking for help, but is it congress place to pick winners and losers? I think not. Not doing anything, however could leave the United States and for that matter the world in an even greater economic downturn.What I am proposing is that the government stimulate the auto industry as a whole, rather than specific companies. This is sort of a bottom up approach as opposed to curing the problem top down by making direct cash infusions into failing companies. Here it is in a nutshell: Give U.S. citizens a direct rebate of $1000 for the purchase of a new vehicle before Dec. 31, 2009. The rebate would apply to U.S. manufactured vehicles. To avoid the legislation being considered protectionist, allow for a $300 rebate for the purchase of foreign vehicles, provided that another $700 is matched by either the country of origin or the manufacturer. Large cars would get the same rebate as small ones, which would actually create an incentive for the smaller car in terms of the percentage cost of the vehicle. Example 1000 divided by 10000 is 10% whereas the same 1000 divided by 30000 is only 3.33%. Remember small cars help us fight imported oil.This plan is designed to stimulate the industry as a whole and not pick winners and loser or micromanage the industry. The estimate I am making for the cost of this plan is approximately $20 billion based upon 20 million sales times 1000 purchases. This plan would benefit consumers as well as the industy While $20 billion seems like a lot, the cost of a failed industry would be even greater. I welcome your comments and suggestions. … Read More
November 18, 2008 |
thomas plahn commented on big idea, but where do I go from here? on November 15, 2008, 11:55 AM
Have you read up on the patent process. I'm thinking that you want to have your idea published in a trade journal, in order to show that in fact you came up with this idea. This would show that you originated the idea, by at least the date of publication. I am no expert on this, so I recommend that you do your own search. It sounds like your idea is easily copied, so make sure that you produce the best possible product, so that someone does not patent an improved version.
thomas plahn commented on Can a complex global economy exist without money? on November 12, 2008, 5:54 PM
This is actually a good question. In theory I suppose the answer would be yes, as anything is possible.The great difficulty I am having with this proposition is that we seem to be on our way to find out out the answer, and it is likely a resounding, "N O"Perhaps we could replace in our minds the $ sign with a help sign, like the one you for much software "?". The question mark is the dollar, for what else is money good for if it cannot provide help$ If you have no money and would like others to help you, then you will think of "?" How can I help others$ You see money is a question or quest for help. Unfortunately we do not always receive the help we are questing. I hope this helps. :)
thomas plahn commented on The Late Great Country of The United States on November 24, 2008, 12:37 AM
The federal reserve board is unconstitutional and not a part of our government. They print money and control the money supply. If anyone is to blame for the economic contraction it is Ben Bernanke. Noone wants to point the finger at him. The housing crisis began a couple of years ago, but the fed has yet to loosen money supply enough to keep the bottom from falling out of the economy. It really isn't that difficult to see the impact that falling housing prices would have on the economy. Rotchschilds would be a good guess. Did they pull their money out of the economy? Are they manipulating the markets? Oil perhaps? Stocks? Everything happens for a reason, just a matter of knowing who and why.