How would you fix the economy?

[From an email making the rounds. Don't know if it's true but an interesting concept....]

This is from an article in the St. Petersburg Times newspaper on Sunday. The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?" This guy nailed it!

Dear Mr. President,

Please find below my suggestion for fixing America's economy. Instead of giving billions of dollars to companies that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.

You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan: There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force. Pay them $1 million a piece severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed!
2) They MUST buy a new American CAR. Forty million cars ordered. Auto Industry fixed!
3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage. Housing Crisis fixed!

It can't get any easier than that!

[signed] AMERICAN TAXPAYER

P.S. If more money is needed, have all members in Congress and their constituents pay their taxes! Mr.President, while you're at it, make Congress retire on Social Security and Medicare. I'll bet both programs would be fixed pronto!

H/T to Mom