Political Corruption:
Political corruption is a bipartisan issue, and informing voters is the only solution. If anything, the “values” voters should be more upset with it than anybody else. Our country must have an honest political system, but both parties have been corrupted by campaign cash and it may take a complete turnover of politicians before we can fix it.
It virtually doesn’t matter what your issue, follow the money and you’ll find a politician on the other end with a hand out. Privatizing our politicians is the worst type of privatization possible. The R’s have been corrupted by one set of contributors, the D’s by another. But both are corrupt.
Our politicians defend the transfer of campaign cash as being legal, and that large sums do not affect their legislation. The fat cats believe exactly the opposite, because they keep giving cash to influence laws. Which is right? I’ll bet on the cash givers, because they know that cash works.
Public funding of campaigns would cost $5 per taxpayer per year at the state level and would save $1300 per taxpayer per year in government giveaways, so that’s quite a bargain. Double that investment at the federal level, to $10, and $3000 per taxpayer per year will be saved.
There are only two kinds of money to finance elections, public and private. The choice should be clear. For more details go HERE.
Resources:
Are we having fun yet? — No matter what your issue, follow the money and you’ll find a politician at the other end with a hand out. Politicians trade taxpayer assets for campaign money, increasing taxes and virtually ensuring their re-election.
Time for political repair, or new politicians — Frankly, the latter is more doable. They just aren’t getting the message. They’ve got to go, but are voters smart enough to throw the bad ones out?
Political corruption is not a partisan issue — Conservatives rant against high taxes, but totally ignore the catalyst… our corrupt political system. What is it about money do they not understand?
Perpetuating a corrupt political system — Would you allow an employee to take money from vendors and give company assets in return?
Taxes:
Corporate taxes should be zero, at least for corporations whose CEO wages are within a 100-to-one multiple of worker wages. Higher than that should pay taxes based on revenues; not adjusted profits. And companies that outsource their manufacturing and send jobs out of the country, should be taxed heavily.
Otherwise, corporate taxes are regressive, as they are added to the price of the product and are passed to the consumers at the cash register. And besides, they account for only 8% of federal revenues anyway.
Instead, we need a value-added tax on luxury products and a more progressive personal tax plus taxes on all income, including from investments. The $97,500 cap on SSI and Medicare taxes should be eliminated, and Bush’s tax cuts should be rescinded. So should tax breaks for corporations who outsource jobs to other countries. This will make American companies more competitive in the global marketplace and more jobs will remain in the states.
I don’t buy the argument that if you tax the rich more heavily they will not invest. If that were the case why not eliminate all of their taxes so they can invest even more (and get even richer).
Resources:
Why zero corporate taxes make sense…. – Base the zero-tax rate on whether corporate CEOs and executives remain in the state and pay taxes, and don’t outsource jobs to other states or countries.
Sensenbrenner’s rant falls on deaf ears — Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner rants about pork barrel projects, but dips into the trough himself and refuses to clean up the political corruption that fuels them.
Tax and spend is bipartisan problem, campaign reform is the solution — Taxes result from government spending, and excessive taxes result from excessive government spending. But it all starts when politicians take cash from special interests that want government favors.
A stimulus by any other name — Earlier we needed a tax break for the wealthy… today it’s a tax break for the middle class to reverse the negative results. Both ostensibly to do the same thing. One will work, a little, when the other didn’t at all.
The Tax Policy Center provides a wealth of tax statistics and analysis.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities looks at issues of budget priorities and economic development.
Citizens for Tax Justice advocates for poor and middle-income families.
Responsible Wealth is the advocacy organization headed by Bill Gates Senior and Chuck Collins.
United for a Fair Economy is a group working to preserve democracy from the corrupting influences of concentrated wealth.
On the Middle East:
Who knows the real results of pulling out of Iraq? It could create a bloodbath or it could cause the bad guys to settle out and get involved in the political process. I’m not optimistic, and regardless of why we are there, whether rightly or wrongly, we are there. A careless departure could make things much worse. I hope we can resolve this smartly.
Iran? Bush is right. They are a terrorist state and we must encourage international sanctions to stop their development of a nuclear bomb. And we must pressure China and Russia to join us, or trade sanctions should be considered here as well. Bomb them? Israel will strike long before we get over the political hurdles. Let them be? When they have some zealots willing to take their own lives and those of innocent Iranian citizens too, all in the name of Allah? The U.S. is next on their list.
