Having tens of millions of dollars already in your pocket makes it easy to suffer through a year on ONLY a dollar.

How about getting a little more philanthropic with this trend? Let's auction off the top management positions of the failing banks and auto industry to any (seemingly) qualified rich person who wants to be a hero to his country and show his leadership skills! This is the Ebay generation for chrissakes!!! You just know Sarah would approve!!

Companies in superior financial shape (payday lenders, repo men, foreclosure agents, etc.) could advertise on what I'd bill as a large scale version of The Apprentice, and contestants (high bidders) will be judged on the ability to bring their businesses back from the brink. There is no financial prize for the winners since these are people who have no need for money in the first place and are now only driven by a desire to experience the adulation of the masses for now and leave a legacy in their names for the future.

Between the revenues from the positions bid for, and the ad revenues from the show, we're half way home to solving the problem. Personally, I'm hoping that Richard Branson has as much interest in bidding on a position in our failing businesses as he does in flying balloons.

Enjoy.