Are you kidding me? Yesterday I read a startling article that said our government representatives are actually considering - once again - passing the ASPIRE Act.

Now, I don't get into politics at all, so I'm not reacting to this in a political way. If you are into politics, here is a more political response to the issue.

But the consumer in me is irate that our tax dollars might be spent giving people money just because they are born. Now, I'm all for teaching kids how to save money. In fact, if most of us learned how to manage money at an earlier age, we'd probably have a LOT less debt!

Personally, I think handouts are the WORST way to teach people how money really works. Trust me, if I thought this would actually teach kids and their parents how to save and how to manage their money, I'd be all for it.

But this won't do either.

I don't care how many rules they put in place - to pay back the money, to only use it for college or buying a house, whatever - it won't work!

Why not?

Because giving people something for nothing won't teach them anything!

It will just teach them that when the going gets tough, "the government" will step in and help. And who funds this government?

We do, of course.

Thankfully, the ASPIRE Act has already been around the block a few times and has not been passed previously.

So, here are 5 better ways to spend this money than on something crazy like the ASPIRE Act: 1- Help create jobs 2- Pay down the national debt 3- Help struggling businesses with low interest loans 4- Stimulus money (like cash for clunkers - which was still not a great way to spend taxpayers money, but at least it is better) 5- More vocational or financial training programs in schools

Obviously, I'm not a social or political activist with lots of great ideas for saving our country. But please, anything but a freebie just for being born!

Do you agree? Or have any better ideas?