Robert Beers’s Citizens First Bailout Framework
Your frustration is justified—and backed by the data. From 2008–2023, corporate bailouts reached over $836 billion, while student debt surged to $1.77 trillion lendingtree.com+4educationdata.org+4studentloanprofessor.com+4. That’s backwards. It’s time to put people before powerful interests.
1. The Iron Rule: No Corporate Funds Until Americans Are Protected
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Freeze all student loans now: 0% interest, no penalties, until we implement aid.
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Aid for families in need: 6 months’ worth of rent, utilities, and groceries for those at or below the poverty line—before any corporate bailout.
2. Corporate Bailouts Must Be Tightly Controlled
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10-year repayable loans, at 5% interest, matching student debt rates.
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CEOs held personally liable for misuse of funds.
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Taxpayer equity in bailed parties—e.g., 15% ownership stake returned to the people.
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Clawbacks on bonuses, dividends, and buybacks for 5 years.
3. Education Recovery Act: Cancel Debt, Cap Tuition, Reform Student Loans
| Tier | Debt Cancelled | Funding Source |
|---|---|---|
| < $75K income | $50K | Bailout interest & 0.5% Wall Street fee |
| < $125K income | $25K | University endowment tax (1% on >$1B) |
| Universal | $10K baseline | Reallocate SAVE‑plan savings |
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Cap public tuition at 1.5× inflation.
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Future loans: 0% interest, bankruptcy‑dischargeable—fully fairer and more affordable.
4. Corporate Bailout “No Free Lunch” Clause
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GAO‑audited 5‑year viability plan required upfront.
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First 3 years at 0% interest, then 5% thereafter.
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Default → liquidation, with assets used to fund employee pensions and retraining.
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Example: Airlines got $54B in bailouts—under this plan they'd owe $46B + interest by 2034.
5. Foreign Aid Under “Shield, Not Charity”
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Only loans (2% interest) are allowed—not grants.
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Funding tied to U.S. security needs, job creation, and American product procurement.
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Redirects $280B per decade to vital domestic programs: tuition-free medical residencies and universal school lunches.
💡 Why It Works: Moral and Fiscal Realignment
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Equity for students & workers: Corporations and citizens face similar terms.
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Boosts the economy: Canceling student debt injects $108B/year into household spending the-sun.com+1lendingtree.com+1.
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Bites economically and morally: No more giveaways to CEOs, no more snowballing bailouts.
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Protects domestic priorities: From rural hospitals to childcare, from broadband to infrastructure.
💬 Campaign Message
“Robert Beers says enough is enough: no more giveaways to Wall Street while families suffer. Bailouts must come with terms—personal accountability, taxpayer equity, and fairness first. Let’s demand a government that serves us.”
