My tweets

[jeriendhal]

• Mon, 13:30: Oh, ouch . Best of luck on her recovery. http://t.co/c2r43yei
• Mon, 14:28: A Fun Way to Disrupt the US Economy http://t.co/UIaDqngb
• Mon, 14:53: whoops, GOod point. Okay, nix that idea.... http://t.co/BUHl5sTi
• Mon, 15:41: Halfway through and trying not to LMAO at work. Shirtless Thor FTW. But Coulson/Clint?! Ah well. It's wonderful anyway. http://t.co/9IRN8EUe
• Mon, 15:56: I would have figured Coulson/Steve and Clint/Fury myself. Shrugs . http://t.co/op7hqbWd
• Mon, 18:58: Will no one stop gangs of classical musicians from terrorizing our streets? http://t.co/6QwCc24X
• Mon, 21:25: Important things to remember when playing video games. http://t.co/jtGlWxsi
• Tue, 03:25: Haven't the faintest idea, but it's sure pretty. http://t.co/FfAOUFuy
• Tue, 04:24: Forty Days of Flash Fic: Day Twenty-Eight http://t.co/8885VZrP
• Tue, 09:15: Well, she will get help. Kinda. http://t.co/9Nd3ucih

Comments

[lilfluff.livejournal.com]

While there were some math issues with the "Fun way to disrupt the economy" post, there's still some possibility to it.

Let's make some back of the envelope math:
* US Population 309 million in 2010 (Source: Wolfram Alpha http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Population+of+the+United+States)
* Of which 206.8 million are in the 18-65 demographic (http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Number+of+people+over+18+in+the+United+States)
* With a quarter billion you could only give a $1.20 to each *but* you have other ways to distribute
** You could give 5,000 people $50,000 a piece
** You could give 25,000 people $10,000 a piece
** You could give 250,000 people $1,000 a piece

OR

Invest the $250,000,000 and draw off 3% a year or $7.5 million a year (I got 3% annual withdraw somewhere as a number where you could expect long term to have an investment account hold a steady balance -- no idea on the source anymore and Google is failing me on that). Each year have your staff contact people and offer to pay off up to $10,000 in debts that can be shown to have existed prior to 2012. Assuming you pay out all of it every year that's a minimum of 750 people who get stuff paid off. By requiring documentation that it existed prior to this year and making it clear that you will *not* be advancing the cut off date, you avoid the argument that you are encouraging people to spend in the hope you'll rescue them.

Actually I'd say to target it to a single state. Start calling charitable groups in the state to help you find the worst off. Offer checks for $10,000 so long as they also agree to spend some time with financial counselors who you'll also pay for. Won't give everyone a check, but you could make a huge impace in one area.

Or pick a city and offer every high school graduate a scholarship to the college of their choice.