With all this talk of the government spending and bailout packages, I'm sure you--like me---have heard some pretty outrageous numbers being thrown out there. Inconceivable numbers for those of us who have probably never thought past "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" (ooooh! me! me!). Well, some guy got on Google Sketchup to help illustrate just what some of these numbers being thrown around look like.
First comes our familiar old buddy, the $100 bill.....
------------------------------------------
Next comes the 1/2" thick stack of $100's equaling $10,000.....
---------------------------------------
I thought a million dollars would look more impressive, but I could easily shove it into my big, red purse and hit the town...
-----------------------------------
$100 million (or as Bill Gates calls it "what I made at lunch") is starting to look like something serious--there's a pallet involved anyway. (oooh! and a pallet means there's also a forklift involved. I wanna drive it!!!)
---------------------------------------
And now $1 billion dollars (I think the government is now calling this amount "change for the tip jar".....)
-----------------------------------------------
And though no one seems to be able to give us the final number, I know the cost of the bailouts is somewhere between 5 and 8 TRILLION dollars. Want to know what a trillion dollars looks like? Look hard for the little man......
This is $1,000,000,000,000:
Hey! It's your money. And your children's. And your grandchildren's.
Perhaps we would be wise to listen to the words of Benjamin Franklin, who's picture is all over that sea of money:
"We stand at the crossroads, each minute, each hour, each day, making choices. We choose the thoughts we allow ourselves to think, the passions we allow ourselves to feel, and the actions we allow ourselves to perform. Each choice is made in the context of whatever value system we've selected to govern our lives. In selecting that value system, we are, in a very real way, making the most important choice we will ever make."
Just something to think about this Monday.
............and just so ya know, though I'm very *pro* making good, honest, informed decisions---I'm also still all for being a millionaire ;).
30 comments:
I have a lot of mixed feelings about these trillion of dollars. I know we must spend money to get things rolling again. But what disappoints me is that the bill is full of pet projects. Full of them. I wonder if anyone even knows the full accounting of things that have nothing to do with the economy. And isn't there such a thing as a line item veto?
Oh man, it gives me a tummy ache. I wish we could elect an economist that would rank between the president and vice president. Politicians are out of control. And I'm talking about both sides of the aisle.
I stress over this. Seriously. How are we ever going to recover?
I saw this email a couple of days ago, and it blew my mind. I don't know what can be done to fix our country right now. But looking at it this way makes it sting even more.
I love your quote from Benjamin Franklin.
That's an impressive picture! Love the quote. Hate the debt :-)
Checks and balances? Anyone? Politics make me crazy.
Hope you had a good weekend.
Yeah, I'm afraind that as an American people, we are getting the Royal Middle Finger from our elected officials. Does anyone else feel helpless to stop it all?? Where is the common sense??
Good luck on being an millionaire. We're all in deep doodoo. They're just gonna print up all this money and make the rest of the money worthless.
I don't know how I feel about the stimulus bill, but I do know that I could definitly haul a million bucks around quite easily. I'm sure the load would lighten throughout the day too. :)
i'm ALL for being a millionaire!
That makes me sick in a -we-just-sold-our-children-into-bondage kind of way. Ugh. And some people are talking about another stimulus package.
Very interesting :-/
SO how are you going to make your million? AND... what would you do with it? My daughter and I love this game... she would buy like a thousand Nintendo DS's (I'm not sure what she'll do with all of them?).
I get troubled by this and then I have a feeling of relief when I remember that these corporate geniuses still get to keep their million dollar bonuses! I mean, THANK HEAVEN! Right!!!???? NOT!
Um, yes, I will take one of the one trillion dollars please. And I will spend it way more wisely that Obama--the retail industry will thank me. Maybe I will win an Oscar for shopping. Yes I will.
Oh yeah, and don't you think all those richies could be a little bit less greedy and SHARE already? Not with drunks or druggies, but with people like us that would put it back into the economy via home improvement, construction (to build the new closet), decorating, and tons of clothes (and shoes)?
Oh, and I would for sure be buying myself a red purse. No doubts there.
It just looks unbelievable when you put it like that!!
Wow. Kind of puts it in perspective, doesn't it? Do you want me to add you to my blog as an author, or just email me your post? No pressure. J/k :)
I ate this post up with a spoon. I'm all about the picture learning. Wow. That's so much money.
Wow! Impressive! We are in sooo much trouble huh? CALGON---take us away :) Wish it were that simple :( LOVE your ABBA music playing :)
This makes me lose sleep...seriously. My great-grandchildren, Lord willing, will still feel the effects of this.
And...
I am so sad. SO SAD. You know why.
Thanks for putting it in picture form. But it scares me way too much!
That's really an eye-opening way of looking at, isn't it?
wow I knew a trillion dollars was alot of money but WOW!!!! I didin't realize it was that much. wow wow wow. i'm in shock. Love the post thought I would settle for being a millionaire as well:)
Oh wow! Is THAT what a $100 bill looks like?!?!
;)
(I did have to look hard for the little man in red...yikes!)
How about a trillion pennies?
http://www.kokogiak.com/megapenny/
Wow! I can never imagine what a trillion dollars would be like, until I saw the graphic for a trillion dollars. If I could only have just 1 percent of that I would be a happy camper!
First time reader and love reading your blog!
Ugh....this never leaves my mind for long. We're in for it....whatever "it" finally ends up being....
Here it comes.
I love the quote by Benjamin Franklin! Sean used to tease me that I had a crush on him because I love him so much and can not get enough of reading about him and quoting him!
You are great! Also, have fun on your exciting adventure!
Wow, that is a lot of money. Maybe I should lobby my senator for the beds I am wanting for Emma's room. Lobbying the husband has been ineffective, but two measly little beds would be a drop in the bucket. And maybe while we're at it a new buffet, a china cabinet and antique secretary. I'm sure we could work it in.
Post a Comment