A Wasted Opportunity on Tax Day
Yesterday was "Tax Day". It was also a day of protest across the country. According to the media, there may have been as many as 700 Tea Parties. The organizers claim they are grassroots outpourings of outrage over government spending. But an objective analysis of who was actually running the show, points not to local grassroots organizers, but a group of ultra conservative and corporate public policy groups and lobbyists. The movement was not cheered on by independent media voices, but by the most vile collection of vipers from talk radio and Fox News.
Does this discount the discontent the protesters were feeling? I say no it does not. However they were duped into venting their anger in the wrong direction.
They talked about earmarks or pork as it is commonly known being wasteful government spending, but never once mentioned corporate tax breaks. In fiscal year 2007, earmarks were $17.2 billion dollars, while corporate tax breaks topped $120 billion dollars.
They talked about billions in corporate bailout money. But they never mention once the gutting of regulations and oversight that has happened in the last 30 years. Instead it was more of the same tired old conservative rhetoric about unfettered capitalism. Just a thought, but I am pretty sure unfettered capitalism got us into the mess we are facing today.
They talked about the $1.2 trillion dollars in stimulus money being spent after being quickly passed by the Congress. But never mentioned the nearly equal amount being spent to prosecute an unjustified and pointless war in Iraq. And they never mention that it was the thieves and charlatans on Wall Street and their lackeys in the investment banks that insisted it had to be done right now.
By looking at the signs people were holding in the rallies and the comments being made by speakers, it is clear this was not about government spending or taxes. It was simply a rally against President Obama and the Democrats in Congress staged by corporate and ultra conservative groups.
Next time they hold a rally to save America for future generations, I would suggest they look beyond the talking points of the right and take on what is really wrong with the political process in this country.
I suggest they talk about an end to trickle down economic policies. These policies have caused the average American to lose real wages over the last 30 years. In the mean time, the majority of this country's wealth has been consolidated into fewer and fewer hands. Just a brief history lesson, this same issue more than any other factor caused the collapse of the Roman Empire and history does repeat itself regularly.
I suggest they talk about the nest of vipers from K Street, the sponsors of yesterday's rallies. Corporate lobbyists have more power in Congress than any other group. And I am pretty sure they do not have the best interest of average Americans in mind. They do things like block alternative energy bills or fight higher fuel economy standards or say take down the barriers between deposit banking and the rest of the financial industry.
I suggest they talk about ending corporate personhood. This concept all but cut the American people out of the democratic process. The biggest donors to political campaigns are not people anymore but corporationgs and their lobbyists and PACs. And while they are at it, they should talk about reversing Ford v Dodge, which states the only reason corporations exist is to serve the shareholders. Corporations should first serve the interest of the people that allow them and then the shareholders. The corporations have long forgotten they exist because we allow them to exist not the other way around as they believe now.
I suggest they talk about the stranglehold the two major parties have on the electoral processes in this country. From ballot access to presidential debates, it is nearly impossible for anyone who is not a Democrat or a Republican, to get their message heard. So Americans do not get a chance to hear the full range of solutions to the many challenges we face and so can not make a fully informed choice.
I suggest they talk about average Americans from the left and the right getting together, agreeing to disagree on the culture wars, and start working on the really pressing issues this country faces. From our slowly eroding lead in technology to our place as an economic engine for the world to the massive environmental challenges we face as a world. The truth is these wedge issues from abortion to gay rights are being used by Republicans and Democrats to keep us divided and at war with each other. They know full well that if we are able set aside the culture wars and start working together, we will be coming after them and their corporate masters.
So I challenge everyone of those people who showed up yesterday to reach out to the rest of America and say only together can we change America. Only together can we make America about the needs and issues of Average Americans. Only together can we end the influence of corporate money in Washington and bring politicians to Washington who care about the rest of America and not the top 10% that control 90% of the wealth in this country. Only together can we protect the small businesses and farms that are the true engines of economic growth in this country. Only together can we take back this country for its people and become a government of the people, by the people, for the people once again.
Yesterday was "Tax Day". It was also a day of protest across the country. According to the media, there may have been as many as 700 Tea Parties. The organizers claim they are grassroots outpourings of outrage over government spending. But an objective analysis of who was actually running the show, points not to local grassroots organizers, but a group of ultra conservative and corporate public policy groups and lobbyists. The movement was not cheered on by independent media voices, but by the most vile collection of vipers from talk radio and Fox News.
Does this discount the discontent the protesters were feeling? I say no it does not. However they were duped into venting their anger in the wrong direction.
They talked about earmarks or pork as it is commonly known being wasteful government spending, but never once mentioned corporate tax breaks. In fiscal year 2007, earmarks were $17.2 billion dollars, while corporate tax breaks topped $120 billion dollars.
They talked about billions in corporate bailout money. But they never mention once the gutting of regulations and oversight that has happened in the last 30 years. Instead it was more of the same tired old conservative rhetoric about unfettered capitalism. Just a thought, but I am pretty sure unfettered capitalism got us into the mess we are facing today.
They talked about the $1.2 trillion dollars in stimulus money being spent after being quickly passed by the Congress. But never mentioned the nearly equal amount being spent to prosecute an unjustified and pointless war in Iraq. And they never mention that it was the thieves and charlatans on Wall Street and their lackeys in the investment banks that insisted it had to be done right now.
By looking at the signs people were holding in the rallies and the comments being made by speakers, it is clear this was not about government spending or taxes. It was simply a rally against President Obama and the Democrats in Congress staged by corporate and ultra conservative groups.
Next time they hold a rally to save America for future generations, I would suggest they look beyond the talking points of the right and take on what is really wrong with the political process in this country.
I suggest they talk about an end to trickle down economic policies. These policies have caused the average American to lose real wages over the last 30 years. In the mean time, the majority of this country's wealth has been consolidated into fewer and fewer hands. Just a brief history lesson, this same issue more than any other factor caused the collapse of the Roman Empire and history does repeat itself regularly.
I suggest they talk about the nest of vipers from K Street, the sponsors of yesterday's rallies. Corporate lobbyists have more power in Congress than any other group. And I am pretty sure they do not have the best interest of average Americans in mind. They do things like block alternative energy bills or fight higher fuel economy standards or say take down the barriers between deposit banking and the rest of the financial industry.
I suggest they talk about ending corporate personhood. This concept all but cut the American people out of the democratic process. The biggest donors to political campaigns are not people anymore but corporationgs and their lobbyists and PACs. And while they are at it, they should talk about reversing Ford v Dodge, which states the only reason corporations exist is to serve the shareholders. Corporations should first serve the interest of the people that allow them and then the shareholders. The corporations have long forgotten they exist because we allow them to exist not the other way around as they believe now.
I suggest they talk about the stranglehold the two major parties have on the electoral processes in this country. From ballot access to presidential debates, it is nearly impossible for anyone who is not a Democrat or a Republican, to get their message heard. So Americans do not get a chance to hear the full range of solutions to the many challenges we face and so can not make a fully informed choice.
I suggest they talk about average Americans from the left and the right getting together, agreeing to disagree on the culture wars, and start working on the really pressing issues this country faces. From our slowly eroding lead in technology to our place as an economic engine for the world to the massive environmental challenges we face as a world. The truth is these wedge issues from abortion to gay rights are being used by Republicans and Democrats to keep us divided and at war with each other. They know full well that if we are able set aside the culture wars and start working together, we will be coming after them and their corporate masters.
So I challenge everyone of those people who showed up yesterday to reach out to the rest of America and say only together can we change America. Only together can we make America about the needs and issues of Average Americans. Only together can we end the influence of corporate money in Washington and bring politicians to Washington who care about the rest of America and not the top 10% that control 90% of the wealth in this country. Only together can we protect the small businesses and farms that are the true engines of economic growth in this country. Only together can we take back this country for its people and become a government of the people, by the people, for the people once again.
stoothman:
cross posted from another site, so if you have already seen this my apologies.