by Ann Hunter

Created on: October 20, 2008

I do not have a background in economics, nor am I a scholar of political science. I do, however, posses something that seems to be disappearing in the world today...common sense.

After watching the news the last few weeks and also dealing with an aching jaw (it happens after repeated drops to the floor) I believe I know what needs to be done to solve the economic crisis. Let me introduce you to Joann Six Pack.

Joann is a middle class, hard working and an occasional beer drinking woman. She believes in God, family and friends. She has watched in disbelief as gas prices have soared and her retirement has tanked. She sits in amazement as she listens to CNN report on Billion dollar bailouts, while she's trying to trim extras so she can have more to spend at Krogers. With four people in her family, two being growing teenagers, Joann is finding herself cutting coupons and anxiously looking for those BUY ONE GET ONE FREE offers. She has allowed one hundred ninety dollars a week for food..needless to say by the end of the week her cupboards are bare.

With the prices of everything out of control Joann is even more careful about the finances of her family. When she needs a pair of pants for work she strolls Goodwill instead of Macys. Platos Closet has become the destination for the kids. She has even been looking for websites on money saving tips (yes, she has internet...dialup) Most of the tips she finds are either for the rich (trying to recoup their losses), or people who are in large amounts of debt (thankfully this is not Joann) She is just wanting some tips on how to stay a float .

There was something that Joann was taught years ago that will benefit and she still believes in something that many people have no clue about...a budget. Every month she makes a list of incoming money and out going bills. She absolutely despises doing this tedious task, but if she didn't she would likely over spend and not have enough for the bills.

Starting over with a clean house would be first on Joanns to-do list. She has never understood what makes a person deserve millions of dollars a year to do their job (a poor job at best). She thinks that If the job is that daunting, cut the salary in half and hire two people to do it. Unnecessary spending would be out the door. Four-hundred thousand dollars for a retreat. Honestly, have these big wigs never heard of a "leave the light on for you" and pizza ?

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