Tax the rich? There would be no national debt if corporations paid their share of taxes and the US stopped its imperial wars ("This Modern World" by Tom Tomorrow). A third war overseas, and our congressmen have decided to increase the already-inflated defense budget. All told, over $1 Trillion will be spent on the U.S. military over the next year, while funds are cut from social services and education. With less federal support, state budgets are in the red. Local governments blame the unions and -- as in Wisconsin -- are peddling legislation to weaken our rights. Thousands of teachers will be laid off.
As we point out in our new documentary, Crossing the American Crises: From Collapse to Action, the nation’s priorities are skewed.
Inequality continues to rise. Homes are boarded up while homeless sleep on the streets. The sick are still turned away because of a lack of health care. The banks are bailed out, while the people are left to suffer. Hardworking Americans pay the bulk in taxes, while multimillionaires hide their assets abroad. Corporations are subsidized or encouraged to move their production overseas. We are gutting the American dream -- if there ever was one.
But there are answers. As The Nation pointed out last week, the Congressional Progressive Caucus has drafted a "People's Budget," which members, Representative Michael M. Honda (D-CA) and Representative Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) say, “eliminates the deficit, stabilizes the debt, puts Americans back to work, and restores our economic competitiveness.” More