What is a Billion?

With all this talk of billion dollar bailouts and resuce plans, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the concept of what a billion is. My hubby sent me this email, so I thought I'd share it with you. I don't know who the author is, but this is certainly eye-opening.

The next time you hear a politician use the work 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicans' spending YOUR tax money.

-A billion seconds ago, it was 1959.

-A billion minutes ago, Jesus was alive.

-A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

-A billion days ago, no one walked on earth on two feet.

-A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

For another prospective, LA Senator, Mary Landrieu asked Congress for 250 billion dollars to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Interesting number, but what does it mean?

-If you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman and child) you each get $516,528.

-Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans, your home gets $1,329,787.

-Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.00

Now, take a look at all the taxes we have to pay: Accounts Receivable, Building Permit, CDL License, Cigarette, Corporate Income, Dog License, Federal Income Tax, Federal Unemployment, Fishing License, Food License, Fuel Permit, Gasoline, Hunting License, Inheritance Tax, Inventory, IRS Interest Charges, IRS Penalties, Liquor Tax, Luxury Tax, Marriage License, Medicare, Property Real Estate, Service Charge, Social Security Tax, Road Usage, Sales Tax, Recreational Vehicle, School, State Income, State Unemployment, Telephone Federal Excise, Telephone State and Local, Utility Tax, Vehicle License Registration, Vehicle Sales, Watercraft Registration, Well Permit and Workers Compensation.

Just think, not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had no national debt. We had the largest middle class in the World. And Mom stayed home to raise the kids.