Is it time to put my money in my mattress?

Like many Americans, I do worry about the state of this country. Will it even be around when I get old enough to retire or is the better option really migrating to Canada? If so we should do it quick, before they make it harder to jump the border... and pack a parka.

While I am encouraged by what happened this past November, I'm still not sure the fat cats (democrat or republican) on capital hill are really in touch with what us normal people struggle with from day to day. So I've decided to help them out with what I call: "The Poor Man's Plan to Turn Things Around."

Expense 1: What do I spend money on? After Advil and Dr. Pepper, my largest expense is simply putting a roof over my head. I know the investors are pissed the markets are crashing like Grandma driving in a snow storm, but for us normal people, who pay through the nose on wasteful rent money, prices coming down is good news.

Why is the real estate market tanking? Geeeeeee.... I wonder. Maybe because rich upper class investors pumped so much into the real estate markets and ballooned the average price of housing so far above what most people can pay, that they don't have anyone to sell their house to. When people can once again afford to buy a house on what they make, not on what they can borrow, the housing market will be in better shape. That might take a while. But just think about how much money I'd have to stimulate the economy with, if I wasn't putting most of my check into a place to sleep every night.

Expense 2: Energy. Whether it's gas for the cars, heat for the homes, electricity to run my fajita maker, energy is one of the largest expenses that kills our montly budgets. If you would have told me when I was in high school that I'd be paying more a month to fill my car with gas, than the payment for the car, I'd have shot you dead. That's just how I was back then.

So how do we solve it?

Step 1: Invest in solar energy. Just think. If every parking garage in LA, NYC, SF, Miami, Vegas, Dallas, and any other large metropolitan area installed solar panelling over the top floor, we'd not only have covered parking, but self sustained energy. It would cut energy costs in those buildings and allow power companies to better serve residential neighborhoods. Saving on energy would allow companies to expand in other areas and create jobs, create income, and allow people to buy things.

Step 2: Here's an idea. The companies that build and install all those solar panels, should be based in the United States. Wow!!! Manufacturing products in the US? Yes, I did just take a hit off the bong. But it does create jobs, creates income, and allows people to buy things.

Step 3: I know the banks are dying and they don't want to hear this but... put a cap on credit card interest rates. Do they really need to charge 23% interest, even on those of us who make our payements on time? I don't think so.

That's just the start. I'm sure there are other things that need to be done, but that's why we elected Barack in the first place.

If you have any thoughts I'd love to hear them. Unless they are stupid, then keep them to yourselves.