“A Bailout for the People: Dividend Economics and the Basic Income Guarantee” presented at 8th Congress of the U.S. Basic Income Guarantee Network. Available as PDF.
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In January 1986 Cook became the first NASA official to testify publicly on the space agency's prior knowledge of flaws in the solid rocket booster O-ring joints that destroyed Challenger and took the lives of its seven astronauts. He told his story in the book Challenger Revealed, published in 2007. Publisher's Weekly wrote of the book: "Easily the most informative and important book on the disaster."

You suggest:
“But when, by contrast, the ‘gap’ is viewed as an opportunity to further democratic ideals, it can be monetized through public control of credit and issued as direct government spending, a citizens’ dividend, or low-cost credit.”
Why not both? Why not a citizens’ dividend AND low-cost credit for business — or better yet a ‘grant’ for new business investment? Or do you mean low-cost credit for consumers? Either way, I think both a guaranteed dividend for consumers and democratically controlled investment for business is possible through the means you suggest. Some might consider this “unAmerican” or even “Socialist”. But how “American” is enslaving our decendants indefinitely to the shackles of debt to a small handful of loan-sharks?
Nice new Web site, sir. Very nice. I was just reading along here and realized I had an opportunity to be the first to post a comment. Hope you don’t mind.
Best of luck with what you’re doing. This nation needs all the help it can get from great people like you.
Comment by David Kendall on January 28, 2009Hope you get a chance to present your Cook Plan to Obama sooner rather than later! Nice new website. I’m revamping ours as we speak!
Comment by Sonja Henrici on January 29, 2009Dear Rick:
A fabulously good presentation of the most important ideas of our time, and the least discussed. I have (almost) given up hope that Obama will listen. He’s backing the Keynesianism of the Banksters, at least so far. I recall a remark of Dr. Johnson’s to the effect that if you unwind the first 100 feet or so of a ball of thread and it is cotton you do not expect the next hundred feet to be gold. But I earnestly pray that you will get a hearing in high places, as you deserve to. I get more than $1,000 a month from SS (am 85 this year); it is an unfunded payout of fed govt. and it helps buy our groceries. Fancy what would happen if the millions of oldsters were to be shorted this payment! Why should the banksters get away with charging interest on federal funding? Sovereignty lies entirely with the power to issue money. Onwards! Your new site is great. Tom
Comment by Tom White on February 18, 2009Dear Mr. Cook,
I hope that the American Monetary Act is introduced in this Congress and soon. God knows we need it badly. And I do hope that it contains everything in it that you have written on. I do hope that President Obama brings you in to get insight on how everything can be worked out.
All my best,
Donna Gaddis
Comment by Donna Gaddis on March 24, 2009Dear Richard Cook,
Your insights and knowledge are greatly appreciated in these uncertain times. Credit as public utility connects people with people, countries with countries, and humans with nature. The dream we are all created equal because we are all individually unique rings true in your words. How could we not want to give to each other through our imaginations, words, and efforts in a system that is fair and prosperous. The financial elite are not the only one’s entitled to prosperity. All living thinking creative beings are.
Thank you for representing. Your hard work and courage are inspirational,
Comment by Stuart on March 31, 2009Stuart Wyers.