| Several million dollars will be spent during the | | | | supplement their investment of a million dollars. |
| upcoming Presidential inauguration ceremonies in | | | | This way the capital will continue to grow and the |
| January 2009. As a naturalized citizen of this | | | | annual interest generated by the capital will also |
| country, I question whether such ceremonial | | | | continue to grow. |
| spending is appropriate at a time when such funds | | | | I do not know how many millions will be spent on |
| can be put to better use. I also have an idea for | | | | the upcoming Presidential inauguration ceremonies. |
| using the money to help poor families that are | | | | But I am sure that the amount spent will be |
| struggling to make ends meet. | | | | about 30 to 50 million dollars. If the amount is |
| Each million spent on the inauguration can help a | | | | closer to 50 million dollars, here is how I think it |
| family of four from losing their homes. Here is | | | | should be spent. One family in each of the 50 |
| one way that a million dollar can be used to save | | | | States in the country should be selected and |
| a family of four from being thrown out of their | | | | given a million dollars each with the stipulation that |
| homes. Let us assume that a family of four is | | | | the money be invested in a relatively safe |
| given a million dollars tax-free. If the family | | | | interest bearing security such as treasury bonds |
| invests the million dollars securely earning just a | | | | or an FDIC insured interest-bearing bank account, |
| four percent rate of return, the family can earn | | | | or some other secure investment. |
| $40,000 per year for every year that the million | | | | The fifty families can be selected based on need |
| dollar stays invested. | | | | by lottery. Fifty families can be elevated out of |
| After paying taxes on the earned interest, the | | | | poverty and be given the means to becoming |
| family can still have enough money to pay rent | | | | productive citizens of the country for a long time |
| and buy groceries, and lead a reasonably decent | | | | to come. |
| life. As members of the family start working and | | | | I definitely think this option is better than spending |
| earning more money, they can continue to spend | | | | millions on an inauguration ceremony that lasts a |
| some and start stimulating the economy. They | | | | short time and produces a few temporary jobs |
| can also start adding a portion of their earnings to | | | | that lasts a few days. What do you think? |