Archive for May 2011
Groups Who Should Not Vote For Republicans
Groups Who Should Not Vote For Republicans
by Dave Bradley
Republicans are in control in state houses around the country. Through legislation and cuts in the budget for certain segments of society and public pronouncements, voters get a clear picture of just who Republicans are and especially who Republicans are NOT working for. Many of these have a lengthy history that has been reported on very little.
So let’s create a so-called ‘enemies of the Republican state’ list:
- Women, especially those of child bearing years. Defunding clinics that specialize in women’s reproductive health care and all access to abortion.
- Public workers at all levels. These folks are seen as a drain, as leeches on society. The vitriol has been expressed in both legislation and speeches.
- Teachers – a special subset of public workers. One would almost think that teachers are little more than glorified baby-sitters who do little and have few skills. The hate aimed at teachers is astounding.
- Unions – The hatred for unions is long standing. The hatred for any unions of public workers has become the stuff of legendary hate.
- Social Security and its recipients – Alan Simpson's description of Social Security, “a milk cow with 310 million tits,” gives a pretty good idea how Republicans feel about SS and its recipients. Social Security has been a target of Republicans since its inception, with GW Bush spending his “political capital” on turning it over to Wall Street 6 years ago.
- Medicare – Well Paul Ryan authored the Republican budget that would eventually render Medicare worthless. He had apparently figured those worthless public school teachers had not taught Americans to add and subtract and reason.
- Small businesses – Republicans continue to fight legislation that would give tax breaks to small businesses and other legislation that would help small businesses.
- Farmers – Changing bankruptcy rules under George Bush has had a great effect on true family farms. Combined with the effects of the Republican depression, family farms have been crushed.
- The poor of course – the traditional whipping group for Republicans. They continue to take away all safety net aid and also do all they can to take away any programs to help either find a job or a better job. Many of this nation’s poor work full time jobs that pay little.
- Cities – Michigan is leading the way in dismantling democracy where you live. Small dictatorships should never be part of America.
- Students – besides the assault on their teachers, Republicans are cutting funds for public education and giving it to the privatizers. Soon enough we will be back to the era of only the rich can afford education. And the textbooks that they want to promote teach Americans what no other country accepts, such as creationism.
- Gays – this would be the proverbial ‘like chickens voting for Colonel Sanders.’
What it all boils down to is that there are few groups that Republicans have not cut out or are working on cutting out. Essentially the Republican Party has proven Joseph Stiglitz’s words of about a month ago ring very true:
In case you don’t know who the 1% are, they are the ones that control most of the wealth of this country.
Many people vote Republican because they believe one day they will be part of the 1%. Logic would tell you that it is not possible. They are the 1% because only 1% ever get there and openings are reserved for their children. It has almost become America’s royalty. Most Americans understand that royalty has no place in America.
Dave
Bradley
E-mail Dave here
Dave Bradley is a self-described
retired observer of American politics “trying to figure out how we got
so screwed up.” An
Iowa City native currently living in West Liberty, Dave and his wife
Carol have two grown children who “sadly had to leave the state to find
decent paying jobs.“
Memorial Day 2011
Memorial Day 2011
Iowa is currently experiencing its largest deployment since World War II, with about 2,800 Iowa soldiers in Afghanistan alone. It’s a powerful reminder this Memorial Day that freedom comes at a cost.
Here in Iowa, we’ve become a national leader when in supporting our veterans, soldiers and their families. The Iowa Veterans Council called a recent legislative session the best for Iowa veterans and service members since the 1950s. And last year, Iowa became the first state to approve 10 measures that the U.S. Department of Defense says would do most to improve the quality-of-life for our military (www.usa4militaryfamilies.dod.mil/).
We built on those successes this year with several new measures, including:
Injured Veterans Grant program: SF 402 allows a veteran who previously received an injured veterans' grant to be eligible for an additional grant for a subsequent serious injury received in the line of duty.
Avoiding unnecessary fees: Under SF 399, anyone who charges a fee to help veterans file benefit appeals must disclose that these services are provided for free at local veterans’ affairs offices.
Protecting our troops: HF 484 will help protect our troops by stopping Iowa tax dollars from being invested in Iran, the chief state-sponsor of international terrorism, according to the U.S. Department of State.
Preventing “stolen valor”: SF 397 makes it illegal to impersonate a decorated military veteran in an effort to achieve monetary gain, such as a job, promotion or political office.
Tax-exempt pay: HF 652 makes pay for active military service exempt from Iowa state income tax.
Purple Heart Day: HF 474 makes August 7 “Purple Heart Day” in Iowa. State and local governments—and ALL Iowans—are encouraged to observe the day in a way that honors the sacrifice of those killed or wounded in enemy action.
Supporting veterans’ services: HF 651 establishes new Iowa license plates honoring recipients of the Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, Air Force Combat Action Medal and Combat Medical Badge. Proceeds benefit the Iowa Commission on Veterans Affairs.
Posthumously conceived children: When a service member is deployed to a war zone, injury or death could prevent them from conceiving a child. HF 245 ensures that a child conceived using the genetic material of a parent who has died will be considered a legitimate child.
These are just a few small ways we can extend our appreciation to those who’ve served and defended our country. On Memorial Day and every day, I join all Iowans in saying “thank you.”
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Memorial Day in Iowa
Memorial Day in Iowa
“A soldier feels a sense of
connection to his country that is like few other things. That connection is to
current events, but to the lives of past soldiers as well. Being a
soldier can be a form of living history.”
When
I left the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry, and the Robert E. Lee Barracks
in Mainz-Gonsenheim, Germany, I returned my service revolver to the
arms room and never looked back. It was with a sense of duty, family
tradition and adventure that I had entered the post Vietnam Army. My
enlistment was finished, I resigned my commission and like many soldiers
turned civilian, my main interest was in getting back to “normal,”
whatever that was.
A
soldier feels a sense of connection to his country that is like few
other things. That connection is to current events, but to the lives of
past soldiers as well. Being a soldier can be a form of living history.
For example, many of us are familiar with Lieutenant General George
Patton from the movie starring George C. Scott. When I stood at Patton’s
grave in the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial there was a
personal connection. I learned a history I had not known. He died in a
car accident after the war and his life seemed visceral, real…he was one
of us. His actual life story, considered among the American soldiers
laid to rest in Luxembourg, was real in a way no movie ever could be.
Words
seem inadequate to describe the feeling I had when visiting the
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer in France.
I was traveling with some friends from Iowa and we went to Omaha Beach
and Pointe-du-hoc, where the United States Army Ranger Assault Group
scaled the 100 foot cliff under enemy fire. It is hard to believe the
courage it took for these men to make the assault that was D-Day. The
remains of 9,287 Americans are buried at Normandy. What moved me was
that so many grave markers indicated deaths within such a short period,
buried at the site of the battle. The lives of these men embody the
notion of devotion to country.
The
Andersonville, Georgia National Cemetery is where some Civil War dead
are buried. This cemetery is active with veterans and their dependents
continuing to be interred there. Andersonville is a part of our history
that is often forgotten. Some 45,000 Union soldiers were confined at
Camp Sumter during its 14 month existence. More than 13,000 of them died
from “from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, and
exposure to the elements.” It was an ignoble death for a soldier and
emblematic is the large number of graves marked “unknown” at
Andersonville. It saddens us that citizens activated to serve the cause
of preserving the union ended up this way. It seems like such a waste in
an era when we have knowledge that proper public health procedures and
basic sanitation could have prevented many of these deaths.
A
friend of mine in Davenport kept the bullet that killed a relative
during the Civil War on a “whatnot” in her living room. It was a
constant reminder of the sacrifices servicemen and women make when they
put on a uniform. It is also a reminder that defense of the common good
is no abstraction.
On
this Memorial Day, it is worth the effort to consider those who made
the ultimate sacrifice for our country and pay them respect. People and
organizations are decorating cemeteries with American flags, reminding
us that military service is not about images and speeches. It is about
the decision individuals make that there is something more important
than themselves and that from time to time it is worth giving one’s life
to defend the common good.
~Paul
Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend
editor of Blog for Iowa. E-mail Paul
Deaton
Iowa Get Ready for Fewer Restaurant Inspections
Iowa Get Ready for Fewer Restaurant Inspections
Four months into the Branstad administration, the character of our government is beginning to reveal itself. Blog for Iowa covered Iowa Department of Public Health Director Dr. Mariannette Miller Meeks previously and gave her the benefit of a doubt. Now, other departments are taking actions that can be reviewed.
When Rod Roberts was confirmed as Director of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) on February 18 in a 49-0 vote by the Iowa Senate, the appointment was seen as political payback for the former gubernatorial candidate and state legislator. In making his selection, Governor Branstad said Roberts “has a unique ability to work with individuals of all backgrounds and political persuasion, and has a great reputation throughout the entire state. This ability will serve him well in this new role as he will deliver a strict, but fair, style in this department.” Early on, Roberts' negated the “strict” part of the Governor's assessment.
One of the first actions Roberts took was to change the way restaurants are inspected in Iowa. Last year, the State Auditor found the DIA to be out of compliance with Iowa Code in the conduct of required inspections: not enough inspections were being completed. Seeking to resolve the deficiencies, Roberts moved the state to “risk-based restaurant inspections.” This system could reduce the total number of inspections per year, thus keeping the expense more in line with current fees schedules. When Governor Branstad took office in January, he took raising fees schedules off the table, so reducing the number of inspections seemed the only option.
Are less restaurant inspections a good or a bad thing?
Food Safety News, quoted Eric Bradley, president of the Environmental Health Association, “It is my fear that these requirements will slowly change to once in a 24-month period or once in a 12-month period. This is what is going on in many of the counties that use the current risk-based schedule. This is too much time between inspections to ensure food safety.”
On March 24, 2011, the Johnson County Board of Health considered the matter and concluded that they disagreed with DIA on restaurant inspections. Following is the entry from the approved meeting minutes:
Here is the problem. One of the key elements of making effective change is to get buy-in from stake holders. When Roberts implemented a risk-based restaurant inspection process, he did not have buy in from the Iowa Environmental Health Association or from the Board of Health in the county that has the highest number of licensed health professionals. Failure to get buy in, and allowing counties to opt out of the new process, shows a lack of discipline. In this example, it may create risk to public health.
Either risk-based restaurant inspections are adequate or they are not. If they are adequate, then the state should uniformly implement the process, disabling the opt-out option. If risk-based inspections are not adequate to protect the public health, then someone should call the DIA out on this and insist upon compliance with Iowa Code, which may mean more money be appropriated to cover the inspections.
For those of us who follow public health, the Iowa Government's pattern of cutting expenses by reducing inspections is not new. What is surprising is that by not requiring compliance with the new process, the state reduces the potential savings of the program. This raises the question: why make the change in the first place? Grade of C- to Rod Roberts and the Republicans on this one.
~Paul Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County. E-mail Paul Deaton
Muscatine Iowa and a Triple Bottom Line
Muscatine Iowa and a Triple Bottom Line
Grain Processing Corporation may have already received return on its proposed $75 million investment in a new grain dryer in Muscatine when Mayor Richard O'Brien said the company's plans should “make a tremendous difference on air quality in a short period of time. They're spending a lot of money and working very hard to make it better for everyone who lives in the city,” according to the Des Moines Register. Spending a lot of money and working hard are American values and this kind of favorable publicity, from a person with standing in the community, is something Grain Processing Corporation sorely needs. It comes only after a campaign of reputation management. Whether the mayor's assertions about improvement of air quality are accurate is another story.
In 2006, Muscatine County District Court Judge J. Hobart Darbyshire entered judgment against Grain Processing Corporation, “assessing a $538,000 civil penalty for air pollution control violations and requiring other measures to prevent air pollution in the future.” The judgment pertains, in part, to the company's violation of laws that regulate emission of particulate matter 10 microns in diameter or larger. A half a million dollar judgment would be a minor annoyance compared with the broader problem Grain Processing Corporation would have to face if they failed to bring plant operations into compliance with clean air regulations.
Judge Darbyshire's judgment occurred in the context of a tightening of regulations for particulate matter, with the new measurement being 2.5 microns. The company would have been required to improve emissions in any case, whether they stayed in Iowa or moved to another state. So this week's announcement, framed as a move on Grain Processing Company's part to improve Muscatine air quality, is a Pyrrhic victory, forced by appropriate and increasing regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
In the book The Triple Bottom Line, Andrew W. Savitz and Karl Weber frame what it means to be a sustainable company.
Grain Processing Corporation is a privately held corporation, and not required to release a financial statement, let alone a Triple Bottom Line. One presumes a company that can invest in new equipment and pay half a million dollar fines has adequate sales, cash flow and profit to make a return on investment for its owners. From an economic standpoint, they seem to be doing well.
From an environmental standpoint, Grain Processing Corporation, a habitual violator of air quality standards, with this week's announcement, appears to be seeking to comply with the law. In doing so, it was able to finance new equipment to comply with new air quality regulations. To the extent the company continues to comply with environmental regulations, they should be allowed to continue to operate. The better question is are the regulations adequate to protect air and water quality in Iowa? That is subject for a different post. Iowa needs well capitalized companies to operate here and contribute to the local economy. The environment should not be compromised when attracting them.
Where Grain Processing Corporation fell short was in managing their corporate reputation in the form of labor practices and community impacts. Blog for Iowa posted previously on community attitudes.
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 86D, whose members were locked out August 22, 2008, presents attitudes about Grain Processing Corporation on their web site, “contract negotiations broke down because GPC wanted the ability to outsource UFCW members’ jobs – at any time, for any reason.” This statement and others like it reflects a lack of trust between the company and the community and the weakest entry on Grain Processing Corporations Triple Bottom Line, if they were to keep one.
The point is, that neither should Grain Processing Corporation be vilified for trying to manage its business, nor congratulated, as they were this week, for “spending money and working hard.” Like all corporations, return on investment for the owners is a paramount consideration. Despite their success in reputation management this week, the company has a long way to go to bolster its reputation in the community. This is something money should not be able to buy, despite a company's new capital investments in the community.
~Paul Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County. E-mail Paul Deaton
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GOP: How Low Can They Go?
GOP: How Low Can They Go?
by Dave Bradley
I can’t think of a more odious statement in political life than that uttered by Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said Monday that if Congress passes an emergency spending bill to help Missouri’s tornado victims, the extra money will have to be cut from somewhere else.
“If there is support for a supplemental, it would be accompanied by support for having pay-fors to that supplemental,” Mr. Cantor, Virginia Republican, told reporters at the Capitol. The term “pay-fors” is used by lawmakers to signal cuts or tax increases used to pay for new spending. thinkprogress.org/2011/05/24/cantor-disaster-relief
You shouldn’t have to think about this for more than a second to realize how cold, callous, greedy and manipulative this statement is. Down in Joplin, Missouri, people have been devastated and Mr. Cantor is right there on Monday morning ready to score points with the Republican wealthy donor class making sure they will not pay one more cent in taxes.
This is the same Cantor who helped hold unemployment insurance hostage last December to get unpaid for tax cuts for the donor class. Now it is people devastated by natural disaster. And of course next month he will be heading the group that will hold the whole economy of the United States and possibly the world hostage over the debt ceiling.
It is long past time to say “ENOUGH” to these tactics.
I can’t imagine anyone could get any lower than this. One of the roles our government plays is to step in during the time of natural disaster to help put things back in order. This is done for many reasons, not the least of which is to keep things like disease from spreading.
Let us not forget that Republicans bankrupted the country under Reagan, Bush I and especially George W. Bush’s insane fiscal policies.
It is time for sanity and responsibility to be restored to our government. This government was not established to make rich people richer as it does under Republican rule.
As for me, I will be going to Eric Cantor’s website and let him know what I think and will also contact my congressman to let him know.
Republicans are on a roll, aren’t they? Cutting aid in time of disaster, trying to end Medicare, trying to end Social Security, union busting, denigrating public workers, standing in the way of meaningful legislation to avoid another economic collapse, using the unemployed as pawns, and of course the insane trickle-down economics that has turned our economy upside down. This is only a very partial list.
What a hell of a record to run on. If I was them, I would lie every time I opened my mouth too.
BFIA Attends Local Budget Meetings
BFIA Attends Local Budget Meetings
by Trish Nelson
BFIA editors went to our respective budget meetings last night hosted by our state representatives and senators. I went home afterwards even more depressed and had a couple of, not exactly nightmares but definitely what I would characterize as stress dreams.
At our meeting in Johnson County, about 35-40 people showed up, mostly Democrats. A self-identified “conservative” and someone who said he was “not a liberal but married to one” were there and of course, spoke up. The self-identified conservative property owner said that he found it very hard to believe that the Republicans could be so uncaring as to allow some of the cuts to occur that are in the works. Yes, well, we all find it a little hard to believe. This is part of the problem we are having, IMHO. We all need to get out of denial as to what is the true nature of the current Republican party in Iowa. Do they care at all about our state's people? Do they care at all about our state's future? If so, how does one account for their behavior? Everyone in the room, including the legislators, seemed equally perplexed.
Someone asked a question about high speed rail. The person was obviously not a Democratic party hack (such as myself), but couldn't figure out why Branstad and the GOP would oppose free federal dollars for this investment in Iowa's future transportation needs and a cool, timely project to boot. Welcome to the club, friend.
One person said it appears that the GOP only care about transferring wealth from the poor and middle class to the corporations. They want out of state corporations like Wal-Mart to not have to pay taxes. [For more on the giveaways to corporations while schools and local municipalities are being told they have to sacrifice, see Mike Owens' article in the CR Gazette, where he points out that 133 companies received over $45 million in "research credits" with $43 million of that paid out in checks — which means they also paid no income tax.]
Democrats pointed out that the Culver cuts have left the state with money in the coffers and that the state is not broke or in a financial crisis. In fact, according to our legislators, Iowa will have almost a billion dollars in the bank at the end of this fiscal year, June 30. One person in the room didn't exactly accuse the Democrats of lying, but asked them if they could prove this. Dems responded that the state treasurer will soon be travelling the state sharing the facts about Iowa's financial health. I would like to know: Is anyone asking Branstad to prove what he is saying?
There ensued the usual quandary regarding how people can be so misinformed.
Someone asked if Branstad could be recalled. Answer: No. Iowa has impeachment, not recall and there has to be malfeasance. Too late! We should have done our homework before the 2010 election.
Bottom line is this: The Iowa GOP want to spend the money on tax breaks for big corporations and Iowa Dems want to spend it on education, infrastructure, state parks, small business and working people.
The Democratic legislators seemed resigned. This is understandable. They are working hard and in good faith but there is no good faith coming from the other side. Call the governor's office. Call the House Republicans. This is what they are asking constituents to do.
May I say that yes, everyone should call Branstad, but it is hard not to be cynical about whether it will be worth the cost of a long-distance call.
Tonight, I will attend our local OFA 2012 strategy meeting. I'm hoping to find some spark of life there. Will keep you posted.
Branstad And Iowa GOP Want To Deny Iowa Passenger Rail Funds
Branstad And Iowa GOP Want To Deny Iowa Passenger Rail Funds
Branstad should lead on passenger rail
by Senator Matt McCoy of Des Moines
Governor Branstad, it is time to tell us where you stand on passenger rail and Iowa’s transportation future. Iowans are calling on you to recognize this opportunity and step forward to make it happen.
In October, Iowa was awarded $230 million in federal funds to establish passenger rail service between Chicago and Iowa City via the Quad Cities. The route is part of a long-term effort to connect Iowa City to Des Moines, and then connect to the national passenger rail system at Omaha.
Unfortunately, House Republicans want to reject this federal investment of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in Iowa railroads, Iowa jobs and the Iowa economy.
If we’re serious about reducing our dependence on foreign oil, the choice is obvious. The Iowa City-Des Moines passenger rail route is projected to result in 900,000,000 fewer vehicle miles traveled and about 11 million fewer gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel consumed. Those are long-term benefits to the Iowa economy and Iowa travelers.
If we’re serious about job creation, the choice is still obvious. According to the DOT, Iowa will receive $2.77 in economic benefits for every federal dollar. Passenger rail increases tourism and business opportunities. That’s why chambers of commerce across the state enthusiastically support this plan.
This is a one-time offer. Federal funds would cover about 80% of the start-up costs, and if we turn them down they are gone forever.
House Republicans claim that the estimated $3 million in annual operating costs is an expensive “subsidy,” while what they fail to acknowledge is that we “subsidize” all forms of transportation.
We spend hundreds of millions each year to build and repair roads, bridges, airports and bus stations. When you get serious about the dollars-and-cents, passenger rail is actually a more cost-efficient investment for the state.
Governor Branstad, you have yet to speak up on this issue and time is running out. Why not listen to your own transportation experts? Your choice to lead the Iowa Department of Transportation, Paul Trombino, believes that passenger rail is “a robust, diverse transportation system that meets the public need.” Former DOT Director Nancy Richardson also supports passenger rail.
Governor Branstad, this massive federal investment in Iowa’s passenger rail system means jobs and future economic growth for our state.
The author serves as chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee.
Website: senate.iowa.gov/democrats
Twitter: twitter.com/iowasenate
Facebook: facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats
515-281-5211
Rally In Des Moines Wednesday: NO FREE LUNCH For Fat Cats
Rally In Des Moines Wednesday: NO FREE LUNCH For Fat Cats!
WILPF.org Corporations vs. Democracy CampaignMoveToAmend.org
On Wednesday, May 25th Governor Terry Branstad is inviting a few of his closet friends (and largest contributors) to lunch to discuss Iowa's Energy Future.
The public is not invited.
The event is being co-sponsored by the Greater Des Moines Partnership (read.. big corporate interests in Iowa) and the Iowa Energy Forum. Branstad is also inviting Iowa Legislators to a free lunch that day, to hear what Big Business thinks about the future of Iowa Energy.
This is the 'top down' method of organizing that has consistently generated big wins for Corporate Rule… All the energy fat cats, big business power brokers and the legislators they regularly influence… will get together to 'normalize' their vision of what's best for Iowa.
The public is not invited. We just get to PAY for their vision….
The biggest corporations continue to sneak out of paying their taxes but insist on deciding important policy and calling the shots for the rest of us.
So We The People are organizing a press conference and rally OUTSIDE the Embassy Suites, on Locust Street in Des Moines at 11:15.
RALLY & MEDIA CONFERENCE
Wednesday, May 25th … 11:15am in front of the Embassy Suites Hotel, 101 East Locust St., Des Moines. The Public IS invited.
Help us remind the Governor, Big Corporations and Our Legislators: Energy Policy for Iowa should be decided by WE THE PEOPLE, not the wealthiest and most powerful Iowans.
ENERGY FUTURE IN IOWA …
If WE pay, WE should have our say!
Stop listening just to the big corporate interests.
We The People want GREEN Energy alternatives,
not the same old corporate fat cats dividing up our tax dollars!
Please attend. And tell your friends. And offer to co-sponsor (get out warm bodies).
Bring signs and stand with us!
We'll be assembling and inviting the media to listen to the other view of the future at about 11:15am.
Rally and Media Conference organized by Des Moines WILPF (Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, Des Moines Move To Amend, Iowa Move To Amend, and others.
WILPF.org
Corporations vs. Democracy Campaign
MoveToAmend.org
Repeal Corporate Constitutional Rights! End Corporate Rule!
“If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to one another.” – Mother Teresa
Debt Run Up By Rich Will Be Paid By Poor
Debt Run Up By Rich Will Be Paid By Poor
by Dave Bradley
Republicans throughout the country have been catching hell for voting in favor of the Paul Ryan budget which among other things contains a death blow for Medicare and certainly Medicaid. No matter how Republicans try to deny it, the Ryan budget ends Medicare. And Americans know it. And they do not understand why Republicans choose to kill one of their favorite programs in order to pay for tax cuts for the rich and corporate welfare of bailouts and unnecessary and illegal wars.
The poor, middle class and elderly have benefited almost zilch from the supply-side economics that have run up an astronomical debt. Now they are being asked to pay for it by giving up one of the two programs that help them live out their lives with some dignity. The other – Social Security – is also on the chopping block and has been since Bush II won re-election in 2004. The Republicans are trying to be quiet about Social Security.
Medicare and Social Security are self-sustaining programs neither of which have yet to cost taxpayers anything beyond the taxes designated to run them. And both could remain self-sustaining with some minor adjustments. For Social Security, raise the upper limit on income to be taxed for SS. For Medicare, make medications subject to price negotiations, rather than currently paying full price, as the bill that Republicans passed mandates.
Think of this: Paul Ryan wants you to give up Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in order to pay for the insane policies of supply side economics. All this while Wall Streeters, oil barons, CEOs, and those in the top 1% of earners whine that they are being mistreated and need tax cuts.
Let them know that you will not take this. The Republicans got us into this problem by changing the dynamics of the economy to greatly favor the rich. It is simply time to change it back to a common sense demand side economy where those who benefit the most from the society pay the most to keep that society intact. As I hear my friends on the right always say “freedom ain’t free.”
Here is a chart that gives an idea what damage supply side economics has done and will do in the future: http://www.cbpp.org/images/5-12-11bud2.jpg
What we really need to do first off is to reverse the decisions which have put us in this hole:
1) End the tax cuts for the rich and the corporate welfare. Those who have benefitted most from the rules should pay the most. You, I and most other Americans pay more than general electric, Exxon-Mobile and a long string of others. If they want to move their operations overseas, fine. It is about time we impose some tariffs.
2) End these insane wars. Think of this – how will we know when we have achieved our goals? And who do we negotiate with to end our commitments? It is long past time to go. And let’s downsize our military while closing foreign bases. Maybe then a president will be more reluctant to use the military.
3) End paying full price for drugs used by Medicare patients. That one provision is driving Medicare deeply in the hole. The VA negotiates prices. Medications cost substantially less through the VA than through Medicare.
Those 3 would basically be a roll back of Bush II policies. One more major policy fix would save the country as a whole huge, huge dollars. That would be to go to a single payer health care system. We pay almost twice as much per person for about half of the care as any other industrialized country. Are we really that stupid? We used to be the country that did the smart thing long before anyone else did.
That has sure changed.
Dave
Bradley
E-mail Dave here
Dave Bradley is a self-described
retired observer of American politics “trying to figure out how we got
so screwed up.” An
Iowa City native currently living in West Liberty, Dave and his wife
Carol have two grown children who “sadly had to leave the state to find
decent paying jobs.“
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