Bailing-Out Americans

[Sky1968]

I work for a small civil engineering and land surveying firm and the future of us having a job by this time next year comes up quite a bit. So we came up with a “plan” and I am seriously thinking of writing to the government myself. The plan is that the government shouldn’t bail out the banks and Wall Street but the average Joe American citizen. Think about it, if you had all your debt wiped clean, including your mortgage, and some extra cash to spend on things you need, that would put us all in a better position to buy groceries, put money in the bank, invest etc…thereby re-stimulating the economy. It would definitely trickle upward helping the banks and mortgage companies and Wall Street.

Sample Letter

Dear Secretary Paulson
Since President Bush passed the Bail Out Bill I am writing to you to officially ask for a bailout. I have attached copies of all my bills, our last 3 months of paycheck stubs, 3 years worth of tax filings and our monthly household budget for your review. As you can see, we have more going out that is coming in and we are paying over 30% of our income for housing. And please know that we have tried extensively to work things out with our mortgage company to no avail.

All we are asking for is $150,000 to pay off our mortgage $20,000 to pay off our credit card debt $10,000 for the sleepless nights, mental anguish and blood pressure medicine & anti-depressives we have had to take to keep from having a stroke worrying about our bills and the economy
$30,000 to purchase my husband and I a new hybrid vehicle so we can continue to afford to drive to work (we will continue to carpool)
$50,000 to help our 3 daughters with college tuition and expenses
$30,000 to fix up our property since we haven’t been able to afford to - you know, nothing elaborate, just get the deck fixed, new paint, new carpet etc. Maybe even get some of those solar panels put up on the roof! Also, since we have not been able to afford new furniture or to go on vacation for several years that would be a nice extra too, if it isn’t too much to ask for.

So basically just about $300,000.00 after taxes would dramatically improve our bottom line. With the amounts you are now paying out to banks right now that should seem like a real bargain to you. You see Sir, by helping me, you will also be helping out the banks and the mortgage companies and Wall Street more than by just handing them some money. By helping me, the effect will trickle up and help the economy and get this great nation back up and running to its full capacity again.

And besides helping the economy, in return for the $300,000 you will get a happier, more productive and responsible citizen that will be able to continue to work and pay taxes and live the American Dream as promised to us by birthright. And don’t you worry Sir, I will never again be trapped with a mortgage I cannot afford to pay, go on any really expensive posh vacations, start buying designer clothing or use credit cards ever again. From now on if I don’t have the cash to pay for it, I won’t buy it!

Thank you, Sir for your prompt attention to this important matter. I prefer to have my bail out money sent to me via direct deposit. My bank account number is…

[Jade8217]

I love you.

[Dan Bailey]

I would be happy with just the 150 to wipe out my mortgage.

[cactus77727]

I think you've got better odds with Powerball. Save the stamp and buy a lottery ticket.

[Cali5]

This is very well written. Like what Cactus said, we all know the government wont be bailing us out anytime soon. This letter brought a good laugh and a smile to my face that I so well deserved after always worrying how I can save our HOME. Thank you for this letter. It summed up how all us Americans are feeling. Although we know nothing will be done about it. The only one time I heard the government bail someone out is when that 90 year old lady shot herself when her house was foreclosed on. Thank God she survived. The good outcome is Fannie Mae gave her house back all paid for.

[Sky1968]

Thanks for the responses. I am glad I was able to at least bring a smile to your faces. And yes, we play the lottery every week too, but only spend a $1 or $2. I know this will probably go no further, but what if thousands or hundreds of thousands of Americans started sending letters like this? To Paulson and Bush and whomever we can think of? It would be as effective (I think) as marching on the Whitehouse in great numbers but without the expense and possible tear-gas and incarserations. Besides, like you, I have already sent copies of all my bills and budget to my mortgage company umpteen times, it would be nothing to send it out again.

Seriously though, has anyone actually read the entire bill that Bush signed? Do you HAVE to be a BANK to ask for a bail-out?

I know I am grasping at straws, but like most of you, it's all we have left at this point!

[schwefls]

OMG, this is great. Keep us posted on the response.

My idea is to take every frigging mortgage in this country fix it at 5-6% for 40 years. If you wanna pay it off sooner be my guest.

This will put more money in the consumers pocket. The consumer will start shopping again, this will jumpstart the economy. This is my bailout plan for the american people.
However, no one is listening because my home does not have a Wall Street mailing address.

[schwefls]

I think this letter should be put in the toolbox and we should all send it to washington

[faith]

[QUOTE=Sky1968;38366]I work for a small civil engineering and land

Sky1968,
How high can you jump, ha, ha, ha?

Can I add $500,000 more of your request of $150,000 to make it $650,000
that will be enough for me, I paid off the two school loans of my children which is about$150,000 and be able to purchase a dream house fully paid by this bailout, I wish, what a dream?

Maybe we should all petition Pres Bush and Paulson and all loansafe.org members write a petition to bail out all of us. That will be nice, Moe will be in the news all over the world.

Dream on, there's nothing wrong on dreaming, or shall I say, When you wish upon a star no matter who you are and now the end is near, I see all of us being bailout. May our wish and dreams all come true.

Thanks for a nice letter, I was really laughing hard.


Faith

[TXHomeowner]

I love it Sky!! GREAT letter!!

-TX

[bluetechseeker]

Oh my gosh - I LOVE it! And, a side benefit, pumping more money back into the economy would have to affect the job market positively, bring back more employment opportunities for those unable to find work (like my hubby). This could really be a win-win for everyone!

[cactus77727]

Do you HAVE to be a BANK to ask for a bail-out?

OK SKY! Now you are talking!!!
We all get together and form our own bank. Then bail ourselves out.
PS: If I win the Powerball, I'll put up the cash to start that bank.

[wags1022]

I think your letter is awesome! I agree I think everyone should send a letter to all branches of the government. I have sent one via email to my state Senator but haven't heard anything back. No Surprise there since I really don't think the politicians care about the people who live on Main Street. All talk and no action.

If WE the taxpayer can pay for the executives to take a SPA vacation and pay $150,000 for food alone, I see no reason why they shouldn't pay our mortgages.

Everybody try to get out this weekend and enjoy!

[PBROOKELKLND]

Loved your letter! I agree it should be posted on the website and we should all make a copy and mail to the president, preferrably all within the same week. Maybe it would at least make the news

[Sky1968]

I hope everyone had a great weekend. It was just beautiful here in Kentucky. I was thinking over the weekend that maybe I would also send an email to our 2 presidential candidates outlining my Bailing-Out Americans proposal. I will let you know if I ever get a response.

[kitkat40]

I totally agree with you Sky and have been saying the same thing all along. Instead of giving money to the banks - in the hopes that it will trickle down to the rest of us, why not start with us on main street and let it flow up. Would we all have extra money to pump into the economy? Heck yah!! I understand the bailout extravaganza in theory but...when they talk about the credit market and being able to loan people money for a car or a home equity loan?????? Who in the heck has any equity in their home and who has a decent enough credit score left after going through this hell to save our homes? Please - I wish they - King Henry Paulson etc would just be honest and say what they're doing - screwing over the little people again. I could go on but....again, sign me up for the letter campaign!

[cactus77727]

Kind of gives you pause doesn't it. It is hard to comprehend the numbers that are being tossed arround in the news.

A billion here, a trillion there. "Pretty soon, you are talking about serious money."

[revcarrie]

Sky1968
I for one agree with your letter and see know reason for not sending it. I am a firm believer in these hot shots being human (though maybe not act like it). If we, the general public, don't write these things and MAIL THEM, how are the hot shots going to know what is really happening down here on Main Street, USA? Remember, most of these people "in charge" don't even drive themselves to work or clean their own houses. Our Senator in Oregon just lost his job in the Senate and has to come home to the only mansion in this town in Oregon! He doesn't maintain his own mansion or help clean his own mansion or mow his own lawn. He lives up on "snob" hill and owns a multimillion dollar food packing company here. I won't get started on WHO he hires. I wrote to him on his e-mail and got a personal letter back by snail mail in three days! Now, I write to him all the time and let him know what things are REALLY like here....of course he is probably packing up his office now but I will get to know our new Senator in the same fashion.

This Paulson character needs to hear from us. I will be writing a letter this morning. The more he gets, the better.
Rev. Carrie

[elpjohnson]

sky....

Wonderful letter!!! I could use a bailout myself.....I'm actually thinking of sending this letter as well. Thanks so much for the contribution!

[revcarrie]

Has anyone here noticed in the last few days that the bailout money is indeed coming to us through our mortgage companies ....granted it wasn't so loose until the theat of legislation but HEY we will take it anyway, right? Some companies have NOW realized that yes, they can go under too and past practices have not been favorably looked on by the general public. Now, some have been very coopreative and we need to give them credit where credit is due. Others are learning. If everyone copied the letter and filled in their own numbers ......well, anyone have an address for Mr. Paulson?
revcarrie

[gray517]

We should all use the letter posted above, change the circumtances and financial information and bombard washington with our letters, I copied it, changed the particulars and I am going to send it to paulson and anyone else I can think of, what do we have to lose, the people on the hill, making policy need to be helping us, not companies like aig that use bailout money for "posh training seminars" or banks that hoard it to help pay thier investors dividends. We "john q" homeowner and consumer are the ones paying for this bailout, we deserve our share, left up to the banks and mortgage companies to do the right thing, yeah right! thats how most of us got in the mess we are in now by banks "doing the right thing" if you want to call screwing the consumer the right thing. I am sending my letter as soon as I find contact info.

[melissasue44]

COUNT ME IN FOR THIS ONE! I will definitely write this letter with my own financials added. We need to start a post and set a date for everyone to send in right after Christmas is over before the new year, or better yet right before the inauguration. This is the only way they will quit dilly dallying around and go straight to the root of the problem, and give us a piece of mind for the new year!

And then we need to plan a rally or march that will get wide spread attention. Sometimes I think this is our only hope for a quicker resolution!

[mzwelch07]

Originally Posted by Sky1968

I work for a small civil engineering and land surveying firm and the future of us having a job by this time next year comes up quite a bit. So we came up with a “plan” and I am seriously thinking of writing to the government myself. The plan is that the government shouldn’t bail out the banks and Wall Street but the average Joe American citizen. Think about it, if you had all your debt wiped clean, including your mortgage, and some extra cash to spend on things you need, that would put us all in a better position to buy groceries, put money in the bank, invest etc…thereby re-stimulating the economy. It would definitely trickle upward helping the banks and mortgage companies and Wall Street.

Sample Letter

Dear Secretary Paulson

Since President Bush passed the Bail Out Bill I am writing to you to officially ask for a bailout. I have attached copies of all my bills, our last 3 months of paycheck stubs, 3 years worth of tax filings and our monthly household budget for your review. As you can see, we have more going out that is coming in and we are paying over 30% of our income for housing. And please know that we have tried extensively to work things out with our mortgage company to no avail.

All we are asking for is
$150,000 to pay off our mortgage
$20,000 to pay off our credit card debt
$10,000 for the sleepless nights, mental anguish and blood pressure medicine & anti-depressives we have had to take to keep from having a stroke worrying about our bills and the economy
$30,000 to purchase my husband and I a new hybrid vehicle so we can continue to afford to drive to work (we will continue to carpool)
$50,000 to help our 3 daughters with college tuition and expenses
$30,000 to fix up our property since we haven’t been able to afford to - you know, nothing elaborate, just get the deck fixed, new paint, new carpet etc. Maybe even get some of those solar panels put up on the roof! Also, since we have not been able to afford new furniture or to go on vacation for several years that would be a nice extra too, if it isn’t too much to ask for.

So basically just about $300,000.00 after taxes would dramatically improve our bottom line. With the amounts you are now paying out to banks right now that should seem like a real bargain to you. You see Sir, by helping me, you will also be helping out the banks and the mortgage companies and Wall Street more than by just handing them some money. By helping me, the effect will trickle up and help the economy and get this great nation back up and running to its full capacity again.

And besides helping the economy, in return for the $300,000 you will get a happier, more productive and responsible citizen that will be able to continue to work and pay taxes and live the American Dream as promised to us by birthright. And don’t you worry Sir, I will never again be trapped with a mortgage I cannot afford to pay, go on any really expensive posh vacations, start buying designer clothing or use credit cards ever again. From now on if I don’t have the cash to pay for it, I won’t buy it!

Thank you, Sir for your prompt attention to this important matter. I prefer to have my bail out money sent to me via direct deposit. My bank account number is…

I love this! we need to all join our forces...there is strength in numbers! And really...with the sc*#wing we are all getting...WE SHOULD BE GETTING PAID BECAUSE I FOR ONE AM NOT ENJOYING IT!

[DMKBMN]

Amen to that, Melissa!

[melissasue44]

I lost my job on Oct 6th of this year! I worked their for 22+ years, and got 3200.00 in a severance package. woo hoo!! So now I am facing starting school in Jan, losing my home, for the second time! (I lost my home 7 years ago to arson), and more or less starting all over again at the age of 44. I am ready to actively fight this mess in every shape form and fashion. Time is just about all I do have.