This was shocking to me as a WA resident who has been watching this story, and as Ken points out, it's not true. They've been mulling it over. USA Today is crap.
To clarify, there's a claim making the email rounds that if the AIG bailout was divided among the estimated 200 million taxpayers, it would be 425,000...when in fact that math was way wrong, and included 3 too many zeroes.
Also, while the 3500 bucks may not be as desirable, if each citizen got that as a check in the mail, I would think they would pour it back into their credit balances, make mortgage payments, and buy products. The money still funnels to the rich bankers, without the temptation for them to just pocket it, and leave us debtors in the dark. The Paulson plan is to simply hand them the cash.
Uh yeah, sorry. That was from someone claiming the same thing on the AIG bailout. I estimate 200 million voters divided into 7 billion to be about 3500 before tax, if they tax. Sorry again, long day!
You'd think planes could land themselves, what with Mac and Micro battling it out while competing with Google. I had a pilot buddy once offer me a ride in his Cessana if I agreed to either take off or land it. I passed, because I didn't believe his assertion that both are actually quite easy.
That soap/gun story always reminds me of the Woody Allen movie "Take the Money and Run" where he attempts it during a rain storm, ending up with a handful of bubbles.
Also, while the 3500 bucks may not be as desirable, if each citizen got that as a check in the mail, I would think they would pour it back into their credit balances, make mortgage payments, and buy products. The money still funnels to the rich bankers, without the temptation for them to just pocket it, and leave us debtors in the dark. The Paulson plan is to simply hand them the cash.
While just about every role was wonderful, I have to say my favorite is Henry Gondorf in The Sting. The card game on the train? Just classic.