Maybe it's time for the US Government to have a bake sale.

Sara Sue’s Big Bake Sale

Do you remember that old bumper sticker that said, “It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need, and the air force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber?”

I can’t remember how old I was the first time I read that bumper sticker, but it must be pretty old, because I’ve been thinking about it for a very long time now. What kind of bake sale would the government have to have to make enough money to pay for all the stuff they buy?

Last Friday, the $700 billion Wall Street bailout bill was approved and I’m thinking its time for our government to have a big bake sale!

I was going to wait to unveil my plans to pay down the deficit when I run for the Presidency, but since that’s at least four years out, I might as well give away my secret plot to save the US economy. Hee, hee, I’m joking here, well sort of.

But seriously, why can’t the government put on a bake sale?

My family plays this game called, “Do you wish you could have given the sermon or directed the movie or answered one of the questions from the Presidential Debates?” We play this game every Sunday after church or after date night when we’ve seen a movie. It’s a chance to express your opinion. Everyone takes a turn saying how he or she would have changed the outcome. It’s a great game to play if you like to debate issues.

So, last Friday, September 26th, 2008, after watching the United States presidential election debates that were moderated by Jim Lehrer our family played the game. I asked my parents if they wished they could have answered Mr. Lehrer’s questions regarding the on going financial crisis.

Big Charlie was in Maine fishing with his Dad, brother, and cousin. My parents were helping me take care of our four kids.

My Dad said, “Yes, I wish I could have answered all of the debate questions.” Between you and me, I think he daydreams of being the President of the United States too.

Of course, I won’t bore you with my Dad’s answers, but I will tell you how I would have answered Mr. Lehrer’s financial questions. Two words… bake sale.

Yes, a good old fashion bake sale, just a tad bigger, and a bake sale sounds a whole lot better than more taxes!

Here is what I would do. Look, Americans love to go shopping. I, myself, shop at four different grocery stores every week. Don’t tell my husband. I just got the, “we need to crack down on spending,” lecture and the grocery bill was one of them.

What did President Bush say after 9/11? Go shopping. Well, at least, that is what I heard. And apparently, so did the rest of America because household debt rose from about 50% of GDP, (gross domestic product) in 1980 to 100% in 2006. Americans love to go shopping!
So, why not have them buy down the debt by giving them goods and services to buy? Or said another way, Americans can pay down the deficit by consuming items they already spend money on like Starbucks.

If I were the President of the United States, I would go to Hersey's and ask them to make a special chocolate bar celebrating the United States of America and when we, the consumer, buy that chocolate bar, a portion of the money goes to pay off the deficiet. Then I would go to the next “All American Company” and ask the same thing. I would ask all of the companies from home building to the automakers to create a special product for Americans to buy. We could actually buy down the deficit. Businesses can sell more stuff and the US Government can pay down the deficit. It would be awesome!

Let’s do the math! For this calculation I’m going use rough estimates. Let’s assume that there are 300 million US citizens and the US deficit is $10 trillion. That means every American would need to buy $33,333.33 worth of product! I think some people are going to have buy more than others.

If you divide the $33,333 by four years, you get $8,333 and that's how much every American would have to spend during one Presidential administration. Reality Check... in my household there are 6 members, that means we would pay about $50K per year and that's a whole lot of money to spend, even if it's on items that we already spend money on. The bake sale would need to be spread out over several years during many administrations and its something we should get started on sooner than later.

Think Susan G. Koman for the Cure, only bigger. Sprinkle in  Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and make the golden ticket worth 33,333. Whoever finds the ticket will then have the opportunity to keep the money or give it Uncle Sam and be done with his or her patriotic pledge to help America in her greatest time of need. Now that's what I call a patriotic dilemma!

Are you buying it? What do you think? Should we get started?