I think its just a promise and once a person get elected she might forget about this one. WE shall see.


WASHINGTON (AP) – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Friday that every child born in the United States should get a $5,000 "baby bond" from the government to help pay for future costs of college or buying a home.

Clinton, her party's front-runner in the 2008 race, made the suggestion during a forum hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus.

"I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time, so that when that young person turns 18 if they have finished high school they will be able to access it to go to college or maybe they will be able to make that downpayment on their first home," she said.

The New York senator did not offer any estimate of the total cost of such a program or how she would pay for it. Approximately 4 million babies are born each year in the United States.

Clinton said such an account program would help Americans get back to the tradition of savings that she remembers as a child, and has become harder to accomplish in the face of rising college and housing costs.


She argued that wealthy people "get to have all kinds of tax incentives to save, but most people can't afford to do that."

The proposal was met with enthusiastic applause at an event aimed to encourage young people to excel and engage in politics.

"I think it's a wonderful idea," said Rep. Stephanie Stubbs Jones, an Ohio Democrat who attended the event and has already endorsed Clinton. "Every child born in the United States today owes $27,000 on the national debt, why not let them come get $5,000 to grow until their 18?"

Britain launched a similar program in January 2005, handing out vouchers worth hundreds of dollars each to parents with children born after Sept. 1, 2002.

Earlier this month, Time magazine proposed a $5,000 baby bond program.

I like it! Look at the mess we have left for these little ones. Wouldn't it be a good idea to do something nice for them instead.

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How many babies are born in the US each year??? Just wondering how much this wil add to expenses.

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Well, gee...I like the idea, too...Ain't going to happen. They already give $ to newborns, in political speak - it's called a deduction for having a kid.

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That is one of the most irresponsible, horrible, STUPID ideas I have ever heard!!!! Oh, brother!

It sounds nice, sure, but for one thing, $5,000 is not going to just appear on a tree somewhere. There were 4.1 million births in 2004 according to the CDC. So that would total $20.5 BILLION that everybody has to pay just for the privilege of being born for ONE year? Most people recognize that being born into the US is already a leg up over most of the world.

Then, how are we going to make sure this money is spent on a new house, education, whatever and not drugs or some other frivilous pursuit? Who is to define what it is to be spent on and what is frivilous? How do you make sure it is invested for the children's future and not spent by the parents? What kind of bond program are we talking? Could you take out the money and invest it in a better program? If they can't obtain it until they are 18, or whatever age, how will it be funded/invested? Then, what happens to the children that die? Do their parents inherit the money or does it go back into the treasury?

That is definitely a hair brain idea if I have ever heard one. Definitely NOT what the country needs: another entitlement program. Give me a HUGE break!!!

Unfortunately politicians rely on people's greed, so many people will just hear "free money for me...GREAT", without being wise enough to realize that it has to come from somewhere. I can never get over people who talk about FREE money...it's never free...it comes from somebody somewhere.

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Oh, I know. It drives me CRAZY!!! I have to point it out! I felt the same way about the Bush tax credits, too, but it was MINOR in comparison to this possible fiasco!! It will make the national debt look like a spit in the bucket as my grandma used to say!

hmmm, what did you guys think about the "rebate" check that King George passed out in the beginning of his term. I was a big skeptical about that one.

Doesn't Canada have a "baby bonus?" If they don't now, I know that did at one point in time.

BTW: Bonds aren't sold at face value.

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Just think, we were on the way to having no national debt when Clinton was in. We're a far cry from that now.

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I agree, that this is a terrible terrible terrible idea. SHe would really have to clarify all the before posted questions, before I would even THINK about thinking it was a decent idea. Geez.....what's next.