Last May I wrote President Bush concerning the setting of a goal of 2015 for the US to become energy independent. I think this is doable and necessary for the US to maintain itself as the leading world economy and innovator.
Nothing should be left off the table from offshore drilling to every type of energy source from Nuclear to Hydro and everything in between.
I am an advocate for Nuclear in all forms, shapes, and sizes. If we can power submarines for over 50 years with small reactors why not Trains, Planes, and Automobiles besides our homes.
Not drilling wherever possible, as long as there is oil to be found, is idiotic and shortsighted and the NIMBYs and special interest groups that prevent it need to pushed aside in favor of the entire country. When the caribou and the moose get the vote then we should allow them to stop drilling in places like ANWAR.
The US has the ability to accomplish what needs to be done we just need to have the priority of the government and industry to meet the objective and the ability to fund the process either through direct monies or tax and other advantages for investment.
There are energy alternative methods that I am aware of that can generate anywhere from 1 KW to 1 Megawatt through scaling and need funding to prove the technology out.
From what I know about at least two of these $10 Million would provide more than enough to prove the technology and begin commercialization and if the upside worldwide for these technologies is anywhere near what I think the $10 Million could be repaid 10 fold over the next ten years if not sooner.
Lets put out the word that the government is open for business in this arena and set-up a council to review plans and have the ability to award dollars for commercialization with the caveat that REPAYMENY of at least three times the investment within ten years is doable. The goal would be FIVE TIMES the investment or a percentage of the profits for ten years after the first sale of the technology to a consumer wherever in the world that happens whichever is HIGHER.
THis type of policy and goal will not only stimulate new technoliges but the economy as a whole since infrastructure to the grid and manufacturing of plant and equipment will be required.
Bruce Rubin
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
New Economic Package and the Future
The new economic package needs to address the MASSES and not the few. The few can be addressed at a later date.
Also any package must include a fix for Social Security, Energy Independence Program, Infrastructure Improvements, Reducing the National Debt Over Time, and Financial Market Reform.
None of this is earth shattering news BUT unless a package includes all of these areas the house of cards will fall.
Below is a Social Security Plan I suggested in 2005 and believe it is still relevant and worth looking at.
October 12, 2005
Mr. President:
I believe that the Social Security systems needs to addressed and I also believe that the plan submitted by you will not pass the Congress, and that is not acceptable.
I think with the events of the past months from Iraq to Katrina, Mr. President you need to start leaving a positive legacy for your Presidency, and solving Social Security would be a great start.
You came into office as a Compassionate Conservative, and solving the Social Security issue with more Compassion than Conservatism would be a great service to the American people even though the plan I am suggesting below might make the “hair on the back of your neck stand up”, it is the right thing to do.Mr. President my plan maybe the beginning of what is finally passed by Congress and signed by you and obviously needs to be more than a page long but as they say “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.
So here is my outlined alternative to the situation, and also state that there is a private account system that already exists, in my opinion, and that is the 401K.
1) Raise the limit of income for the FICA tax to $250,000 immediately and then over five years to $750,000. Raise the total tax paid by company and employee by a total one-quarter percent every five years through 2025. Higher or longer of computer simulations determine that is needed
2) Eliminate payments to all people who an estate of at least five million dollars or an annual income in excess of $50,000 until the age of eighty.
3) After age seventy there would be no taxes paid on any withdrawals from a 401K, IRA, or other savings fund if the total worth of the estate is less than five million dollars.
4) Insure that all employers (more than three employees) have a 401K or similar plan established for all employees. And insure that all workers contribute a minimum of three percent into the plan.
5) All companies with more than ten employees must contribute a minimum of one and one half percent of each employees gross earning to the plan annually. All employees over the age of thirty must join a plan at the minimum level that would equal the company contribution.
6) Anyone earning less than $25,000 (unless signed as a second income) must choose a fixed income option for their 401K.
7) Anyone whose final income is under $30,000 annually at age 65 would not pay any taxes on their 401K.
8) Continually increase the age for maximum payments of Social Security based upon the life expectancy tables established by the US government. The age would be ten years below the life expectancy table indications and would different for both men and women. This provision would be effective in the year 2010. The dates would not go below the present provisions.
In my opinion these steps when put through the appropriate computer programs would show how much a person who is making the present minimum wage and assuming no wage increases, and a three percent interest level would have available at age 70 as a nest egg in addition to Social Security.
I also believe the increases in income to the fund and the reduction in payments would allow the fund to be solvent well beyond the dates now projected.
Look forward to hearing from you concerning my plan and the opportunity to discuss it with you further.
Bruce Rubin
1201 Oak Circle
Lansdale, PA 19446-6074
215-699-8422
Also any package must include a fix for Social Security, Energy Independence Program, Infrastructure Improvements, Reducing the National Debt Over Time, and Financial Market Reform.
None of this is earth shattering news BUT unless a package includes all of these areas the house of cards will fall.
Below is a Social Security Plan I suggested in 2005 and believe it is still relevant and worth looking at.
October 12, 2005
Mr. President:
I believe that the Social Security systems needs to addressed and I also believe that the plan submitted by you will not pass the Congress, and that is not acceptable.
I think with the events of the past months from Iraq to Katrina, Mr. President you need to start leaving a positive legacy for your Presidency, and solving Social Security would be a great start.
You came into office as a Compassionate Conservative, and solving the Social Security issue with more Compassion than Conservatism would be a great service to the American people even though the plan I am suggesting below might make the “hair on the back of your neck stand up”, it is the right thing to do.Mr. President my plan maybe the beginning of what is finally passed by Congress and signed by you and obviously needs to be more than a page long but as they say “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.
So here is my outlined alternative to the situation, and also state that there is a private account system that already exists, in my opinion, and that is the 401K.
1) Raise the limit of income for the FICA tax to $250,000 immediately and then over five years to $750,000. Raise the total tax paid by company and employee by a total one-quarter percent every five years through 2025. Higher or longer of computer simulations determine that is needed
2) Eliminate payments to all people who an estate of at least five million dollars or an annual income in excess of $50,000 until the age of eighty.
3) After age seventy there would be no taxes paid on any withdrawals from a 401K, IRA, or other savings fund if the total worth of the estate is less than five million dollars.
4) Insure that all employers (more than three employees) have a 401K or similar plan established for all employees. And insure that all workers contribute a minimum of three percent into the plan.
5) All companies with more than ten employees must contribute a minimum of one and one half percent of each employees gross earning to the plan annually. All employees over the age of thirty must join a plan at the minimum level that would equal the company contribution.
6) Anyone earning less than $25,000 (unless signed as a second income) must choose a fixed income option for their 401K.
7) Anyone whose final income is under $30,000 annually at age 65 would not pay any taxes on their 401K.
8) Continually increase the age for maximum payments of Social Security based upon the life expectancy tables established by the US government. The age would be ten years below the life expectancy table indications and would different for both men and women. This provision would be effective in the year 2010. The dates would not go below the present provisions.
In my opinion these steps when put through the appropriate computer programs would show how much a person who is making the present minimum wage and assuming no wage increases, and a three percent interest level would have available at age 70 as a nest egg in addition to Social Security.
I also believe the increases in income to the fund and the reduction in payments would allow the fund to be solvent well beyond the dates now projected.
Look forward to hearing from you concerning my plan and the opportunity to discuss it with you further.
Bruce Rubin
1201 Oak Circle
Lansdale, PA 19446-6074
215-699-8422
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