Why is it that we can't solve the homeless situation?  Because, quite simply, there is not any money to be made from that segment of the population.  The government doesn't have the resources because it's mired in paperwork that effectively hides its financial situation.  Government contracts are handed out and not properly policed by "desk jockeys" whose only job for their 6-figure salary is to sign and authorize the disbursement of money, with no knowledge of where it goes or what it buys.

    This is why the United States is buying $195 hammers (the same ones you can buy at Home Depot for $7) and $489 toilet seats.  What are these toilet seats made out of that they cost so much?  The answer is: these are the same seats you can buy for $15 at any department store, but this is the government they're selling to---you know, the people with all the money.  Many of the government contracts being serviced today were not even obtained through bidding.  They were the result of Senator So-And-So knowing someone who knew someone who could get him a home at reduced cost, a car, vacations, even women in exchange for being the "official government provider" of widgets or gimlets. 

   If a Senator or Congressman decides he and his family, along with an entourage of friends, needs a vacation, there is always someone who owes him a favor and provides the accommodations, but guess what?  At the conclusion of the trip, the legislator can present a detailed list of the money "he" spent on this junket, and he gets fully reimbursed.  This rebate comes, of course, out of tax money, which you and I paid.  

   There have been, over the years, many "perks" available to government officials, such as free haircuts and clothing, no-cost housing, free meals, and government-supplied cars for members of the officials' families, not to mention gas credit cards that are paid for by the taxpayers.  

   Can you begin to imagine what good all this misdirected money, which can surpass $20 billion a year, could do if it was applied to useful things?  How many homeless people could be housed, clothed, and fed with that money?  How many more police officers could be hired with that kind of cash?  

   The answer is simple.  Let's look at the changes we can make.  The President has a salary of $400,000 plus a $50,000 non-taxed expense allowance.  The Vice-President makes $192,600 plus a $10,000 non-taxed expense account. These are the two major titular heads of the government, and compared to what some people are making in the private sector, it sounds like they're underpaid, but as you'll read on another page, that would change too---without increasing their salaries.  

    Now we come to Senators and Representatives.  Each of these people makes $150,000 a year.  If this person is the majority or minority leader, he makes $166,700, and the Speaker of the House gets $192,600.   We don't need a minority or majority leader OR a Speaker.  These guys and ladies can speak for themselves.  This section of government is overbloated by figureheads.  We need to trim the fat in the following manner: 

    Each state will, under my restructuring plan, get three Senators and three Representatives to assure no single state's vote is a tie (abstentions will not be permitted).  Right there, that reduces the number of officials to 300 from 535, realizing a savings of $32,250,000 per year.  The other 235 members?  They can go hunt for a job, just like you and I do.  In the original plan of our founding fathers, serving in government was voluntary and carried no pay until you reached the two highest offices.  By the way, if the representatives decide to not show up to vote (medical reasons will be exempt), they will lose their jobs.  

   When the government needs something, it will make that knowledge public, and will accept open bidding for the necessary supplies---not necessarily taking the lowest bid, but rather the lowest one that will meet the quality needs of the service or product.  A five member Acquisitions Commitee will oversee all government purchases and pay for them, making sure the price remains as originally stated.  All senators, representatives, and their families will pay for their own housing, travel, and cars.  

   A national lottery will be started, and every week a national prize of $1 million will be awarded, along with a winner in every state of $10,000.  All winners will register when they win, and national winners will not be allowed to play again for a period of five (5) years, thereby increasing the winning odds for all involved players.  Excess monies will be kept in an account used to help pay for a national medical insurance plan.  No state lottery's prize money will be allowed to exceed $500,000 a week.  Excess monies reaped in by the states after paying off winners will go towards paying state expenses.  

    More on how to solve our financial problems can be found on the "Financial Solutions" page.