Why can’t the United States government print up and distribute all the money it wants so everybody can be equally well off? What would happen if, tomorrow, the United States government printed and sent to every American a legal $100,000 bill? With that $100,000 bill, would poor Americans still be poor? If so, why? If not, why doesn’t the United States government simply print and distribute the money?

Question

Why can’t the United   States government print up and distribute all the money it wants so everybody can be equally well off? What would happen if, tomorrow, the United States government printed and sent to every American a legal $100,000 bill? With that $100,000 bill, would poor Americans still be poor? If so, why? If not, why doesn’t the United States government simply print and distribute the money?