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Health & Fitness

Let's Visit the Fiscal Cliff

Republicans have taught us that messaging is important. Repeating the message is equally important.

As if being bombarded by the longest presidential election campaign in history was not enough, now all we hear about is this so called fiscal cliff. Never mind that this is no fiscal cliff. We got here because in August 2011, our exalted members of the Congress and Senate passed legislation. This deficit-cutting gimmick was a bi partisan legislative effort. It was really a poison pill designed to bring pain on, presumably to them, but really to us. This is our 21st century dysfunctional government at work. A sham at its best. An insult to democracy, unfortunately. 

So, what do we the people do or what can we say about this. I see it this way. We are yet again witnessing another tactic by our elected officials to undo our democratic experiment. That experiment is supposed to be a government by the people, of the people, and for the people. What our politicians are providing us is nothing close to that ideal. We threw out the British monarchy over two hundred years ago and we are about to create an American style ‘corporatocracy’.   

We are yet again by-standers in another spectacle performed by the Washington politicians. At the very least we should be signing petitions, calling our elected officials, and writing letters to the editors of newspapers. At some point we need to consider a more visible approach. It is almost comical that it took Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart to put on a rally in D.C. that was reminiscent of the Pentagon marches against the War in Vietnam or the Martin Luther King speech at the Washington Monument. I applaud the Occupy folks for their efforts to exercise their 1st Amendment rights at Wall Street, in front of banks, and in support of the 99%. We Americans have very little say in the governmental processes in D.C. and state capitals across our Nation. It is time we, the people,  made our presence felt.

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Since the so-called fiscal cliff is part of every news program and most political discussions, a few things are worth thinking about. Obama is not going to stand up for ordinary Americans. We, not the wealthy elite, deserve to be our Country’s first priority. If he were up to the task, we would be hearing our President say some of the following:

 “Social Security changes are not acceptable. The deficit is in no way caused by the Social Security system. The Republican proposals will not reduce the deficit. It is only on the minds of Republicans because they hate that this earned benefit program exists. Too bad. When the Republicans or Democrats are worried about the solvency of that system, then they should vote to raise the level of income on which the taxpayer is required to pay a social security tax. In other words, tax the more wealthy folks like we tax ordinary wage earners.” 

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“If elected members of Congress want to reduce the deficit, then they should address the two areas of governmental spending that they have turned their backs on. Namely, the cost of medical care and the out of control Defense Department spending. It is time to let all Americans decide whether they wish to buy into the Medicare system. The Republicans talk about free choice, so let’s give Americans a real choice. Choosing among 5 or so major medical insurance companies that monopolize medical care is hardly a choice. This is neither an example of free market capitalism nor fair to ordinary Americans. It is time that our country joined the other industrial nations of the world that provide health care for all at a reasonable cost.”

“As for the hundreds of billions spent on our defense budget, it is time to bring it down to an acceptable spending reality. America spends almost as much money on its defense budget as all the rest of the countries combined. Our Congress approves spending on useless weapon systems, routinely overpays the defense contractors, and has wasted billions upon billions of dollars on pet projects. Congress has long ago ceased to provide informed, meaningful oversight on that budget. We can cut defense spending by at least 25% and remain strong. We should not measure our strength by the quantity of dollars spent, but by the quality of how we spend our dollars.“

“Finally, my fellow Americans, I wish to address income inequality. For the last three decades the wealthiest Americans enjoyed preferential tax treatment and constantly lower tax rates. The Bush tax cuts were the last well-known tax breaks. Over this time America has become the country with the most  wealth and income inequality of all the industrialized countries in the world. In 1980 the top 1% owned about 20% of the wealth in this country. Today they own above 40%. Wages have been flat for the average worker over the last three decades. The income of the wealthiest has increased dramatically. It is time to re balance the tax burdens. All income should be taxed the same. No more preferential tax breaks for capital gains or earned interest income. Why should a wealthy person pay at a lesser tax rate than a construction worker, an oil fields worker, a miner in a coal mine, or an office worker? The tax rates for the wealthy should return to the Clinton era level. Corporate taxes for companies whose owners receive less than $350,000 in income a year should have a lower tax rate than all those large corporations that tried to mask themselves as small businesses.”

“Once these measures are addressed, I will appoint a special commission made up of a majority of ordinary citizens along with elected representatives to address additional ways to bring our deficits into line.”

Republicans have taught us that messaging is important. Repeating the message is equally important. Our President, America’s leader, should discuss the fiscal issues in a coherent, contextual manner. Ordinary people need a leader who is a spokesperson. The Sheldon Adelsons, the Koch brothers, the Pete Petersons, the Jamie Diamonds, and the other super wealthy people already have too many paid spokespersons in Congress. The normal people-the young adults, the career-working folks, and the retired deserve to have the President and other elected officials speak up on behalf of us. We must elect representatives who serve for the greater good of all Americans, not just the 1%. If we want to preserve our democracy, we have a lot of work to do.

 

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