Making America Recession-proof

Recessions and depressions have shaped this country more significantly than wars, it seems.  Some brought on wars or were the aftermaths of wars.  I believe I might be able to prevent future recessions.

I believe the economic system of this nation needs to be changed.  I would use a system I call Applied Capitalism.  It would make the government and citizens economic partners for success. 

Congress would make every member a “bounty hunter,” if they chose.  If Senator A knew that a program wasn’t needed and could be removed from the budget, he could have it removed.  If that saved $10 billion in new spending, he would be rewarded with 0.1% of the money saved.  The $10 million could be used in whatever way he wanted it to be used.  He might even use it for campaigning purposes.  If enough elected officials saved us billions, we would have more balanced budgest and more money available for needed programs that are being underfunded.  If they won’t do it for the people, appeal to greed.

The government could start a company and invest in it, but it could never hold more than 49.9% of the stock in it.  Experts in the industry would run the company and do what is needed to make it succeed.  People who invested in the company would first pay a 10% commission to Washington and when the investor wants his money back, maybe after a dozen yers, he would pay Washington another 10% commission on the profits earned.  The investor would be making money.  The company would be making money.  And Washington would be making money. 

There would be investment bonds that people could purchase that may range from $10 starter bonds that uncles might give to their neices and nephews for their birthdays to $1 billion bonds that someone like Donald Trump might take out to finance a building. 

Each bond would be initially worth the amount on the face.  But it would be invested either through the government, or privately, or a combination of both to produce the maximum profit.  Each bond could be held indefinitely and would start paying dividends after it is worth twice its face value.  A $1000 bond might be worth over $10,000 after 20 years and could be passed onto a relative.

The American people often exhibit genius.  To reward them, the government would sponsor a suggestion contest.  If a person had a suggestion that saved the government $1 billion, he would receive between $10 million and $100 million TAX FREE.  That should be enough incentive to have millions of Americans send off suggestions that might set them up for life financially.  The government in turn may save tens or hundreds of billions of dollars.  And the payoff would be for one years which means the government could benefit from then on thanks to the suggestions.