AIG Bailout Math

Another reason you can't believe everything you read. Here is an excerpt from an e-mail gaining a bunch of circulation on the web:


I'm against the 85 billion dollar bailout of AIG. Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend . To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18 years or older. So divide 200 million adults into $85 billon that equals $425,000. My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.

Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't. Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work." But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party ! How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.


Great Idea. Here's the problem: If you take 85 billion and divide it by 200 million you get $425 not $425,000.

Whether or not the bailout of AIG was the right move is certainly up for debate but whatever your position your math should always be correct, not $424,575 per person off the mark.

Thanks for the heads up Al.