In its effort to stimulate the economy by rejuvenating the credit system, the

government has pumped hundreds of billions of dollars into the banking system.
Well, if you asked me, I would have to say that even if this fixed the credit
system, money would not flow until the pump is primed; like still water money will
not flow through the system without it first being primed.

In order to bring the U.S. out of its economic malaise, there must be a stimūl-us
not a stimūl-them program. To prime the economic pump, money needs to be put into
the economy close to the bottom, not at the top; unlike liquids, money flows up
not down. Money injected at the top fosters consolidation and constraint; money
injected near the bottom fosters innovation and fuels growth. This means money
must get into the hands of risk takers as quickly as possible and not wait for the
credit system to grow balls.

It is estimated that the projected eight hundred and seventy-five billion dollar
stimulus package will produce three million jobs; this is approximately $250,000
dollars per job. I recommend that a portion of the “stimulus package” be devoted
to investment in invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Take fifty billion
of that money and put it into the hands of the risk takers who create the products
and methods at the cutting edge of production and job creation.

With this plan, an injection near the bottom will support the efforts of 200,000
entrepreneurs on the front line of job creation. It will infuse cash into the
banking system from the bottom, which can provide leverage for struggling young
businesses and start-ups to obtain credit. The bulk of the funds will be spent
directly on payroll, business services, materials and equipment acquisition; it
will have an immediate effect on economic activity. Straight away, employment
will be provided by many of these ventures, while also contributing to the
preservation of the workforce through purchases at other vendors that supply
materials and services; in some cases this spending will even expand the vendor’s
job footprint. Also, this bottom up stimulus spending will create a multiplier
affect, as the money circulates within the economy on its way to the top, thus
amplifying job creation.

A stimulus program of this type can also provide an opportunity for the American
people to have a direct participation in the distribution of the funds and feel a
direct link to the economic stimulus. Through the use of the Internet, a free
market approach can be adapted to bring the American public into the selection
process. A site could be constructed were the public will evaluate and rate the
inventions, innovations and small business proposals to determine their viability;
these proposals can be distributed geographically so the whole nation can share in
the potential prosperity. In this way, with the American people involved in the
selection of the frontrunners, a sense of participation in the recovery process
will be nurtured; it will also provide a connection to the products and businesses
generated, further insuring their success.

The candidates for these funds will be required to have a patent, or provide a
business plan for a new venture, or expansion for an existing business. As in all
risky enterprises there will be some losers and some winners, the diversification
inherent in the selection process will provide some balance. In exchange for the
stimulus grant, the entity receiving the funds will be asked to donate ten percent
of their profits to a not-for-profit organization of their choice, after the first
fifty thousand dollars is earned as yearly income.

This reciprocating approach to distributing the funds will further stimulate the
economy; while at the same time take some of the pressure off government to
provide for societies needs. This is a win, win, win, win proposition; the banks
win by getting credit flowing, the government wins by shifting demand for services
to the public sector, the people win by the influx of jobs in the economy, and
society wins by adapting a partnership with government and industry that will more
efficiently provide for its charitable needs.