A cool 10 grand

Democrats have made a hot mess of the so-called “stimulus bill.” They refuse to do nothing, but doing nothing is preferable to what has been hammered out in conference. If Democrats are unwilling to adopt some Republican proposals to create jobs and stimulate the economy, please toss the ball to the American people. We certainly can’t do worse!

Congress should throw this greasy pile of pork into the grinder.  Instead, give every American household a $10,000 stimulus check to spend as we please. With approximately 100 million households nationwide, we hit that magic number of $1 trillion. This, along with a two-year moratorium on capital gains taxes, will get the economy off life support.

{mosads}It’s really not all that crazy. Washington is not philosophically opposed to this idea, having already given many Americans $600 checks to stimulate the economy.

Instead of condoms, green golf carts, mouse habitats and government-run healthcare, Americans would spend based on individual priorities, thus spurring competition, resulting in higher-quality goods and services. Good banks succeed; bad banks fail. Well-priced, quality automobiles hit the streets; lemons fade away. Capitalism lives to fight another day and the greatest country on Earth narrowly survives its near-death experience with socialism.

A cool 10 grand is a down payment on a home for many Americans. It can prevent countless others from facing foreclosure, as well as fund home improvements or refinancing.  More Americans could afford health insurance that accommodates their actual needs, rather than those of government bureaucrats.  Parents forced to send their children to failing public schools can pay for private school tuition, and many families can send a kid to college who otherwise might have missed out.

New cars, retail shopping, travel and tourism rebound. Macy’s may pull back on those recently announced 7,500 layoffs, and vacations will be enjoyed by average Americans, rather than by failed fat-cat CEOs living it up on our dime. The increase in sales taxes from consumer spending will help swell the state coffers, funding infrastructure and other priorities. Vegas sees a comeback, and there’s an uptick in charitable giving as people give to organizations of their choice, rather than tax dollars being funneled to community-organizing groups with left-wing political agendas (cough — ACORN — cough).

And that two-year moratorium on capital gains taxes? The investor class will provide a shot in the arm to Wall Street. Yep — even the “evil” wealthy get a $10K check. If the capital gains tax pause benefits them more, so be it. They will use it wisely, helping our economy.

Now, a word to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and President Obama: You’ve already blown your chance to claim you cannot push this through Washington in a matter of mere days.  Just three weeks ago you were poised to ram your bill through Congress so Obama could sign it into law just hours after his inauguration.  But a funny thing happened on the way to the White House. Americans learned what was in this massive hunk of sausage, and you had to back down and come clean.

So here’s a challenge for every member of Congress — or more accurately, a dare: Ask your constituents what they would do with $10,000. Compare their list to the stimulus bill. Then see who has the best ideas for spending $1 trillion.

Cheri Jacobus, president of Capitol Strategies PR, has managed congressional campaigns, worked on Capitol Hill and is an adjunct professor at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.  She appears on CNN, MSNBC and FOX News as a GOP strategist.