by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
May 4, 2011
Key # 1 – End the Empire – We need to close our (approximately 800) military installations in over 100 different countries, and bring the equipment and personnel home. We need to stop occupying Iraq & Afghanistan, cease our aerial bombings of Pakistan & Libya, and end covert operations in that whole region… ASAP. {As far as the killing of Osama Bin Laden, he could have been ‘taken out ‘in 2001 at Tora Bora. It seems that the puppet masters like to have an Orwellian Goldstein (please read 1984 ) out there rather than not}. Congress, meanwhile, must cut the military budget by at least 25%. This can be done under the auspices of discretionary spending, requiring only a simple ‘Up and down ‘vote. The savings would be astronomical, in the hundreds of billions. This is how we should use that money:
A) Save Our State & City Budgets – With billions of dollars transferred to each state, we can avoid the shortfalls necessitating cuts in needed programs and public service jobs. Remember, keeping one soldier in Afghanistan for one year costs taxpayers 1.2 million dollars. That money could pay the salaries of forty teachers, police officers, firefighters, street cleaners….
B) Creation of Community Owned Non Profit Mortgage Banks – Imagine going to a bank and securing a mortgage at a rate at simply the overhead. With nonprofit community owned and run mortgage banks, the rates would be, by today’s current standards, perhaps 1.5 – 2.0 %. You see the rest of our current mortgage rates go towards profit. Who needs it? Plus, with community owned and run mortgage banks, the mortgage paper stays in the community, not bundled and sold as junk securities.
C) Medicare for All Option – We don’t need some sellout health care reform law. No, all Uncle Sam needs to do is offer Medicare to anyone who wishes to pay in, charging the same as with the FICA Payroll Tax (7.5%). Even if the ceiling on the contribution was raised up to $ 100,000 a year in income, who would refuse to have Medicare cover them for $ 7500 a year? Under a private insurer the same coverage would be well over $ 10,000 a year… with a high deductible. Just leave the private health insurers alone. No need to legislate reform. The conservatives always talk of a ‘free market ‘. Ok, let private insurers compete with Uncle Sam.
D) Public Funding of All Elections – Do you want the lobbyists and special interests out of politics? Well, with total public funding of all elections, who needs lobbyists? They could no longer legally bribe politicians with campaign donations, because there would not be any private money allowed in campaigns! What would occur, by the way, is the demise of this current 2 party monopoly on elections. With public funding, more independents and 3 rd party candidates could get on the ballot and be heard. The airwaves, which by the way, we the people own, would be used to hold town hall meetings and debates for all candidates. You want real democracy? Well, there it is.
E) Independent Investigations into 9/11 and the Iraq Invasion – the public has a right to know what really went down along with those 2 towers, leading to our attack on Iraq. Too many unanswered questions regarding possible criminal acts by our leaders, and the cover-ups that followed. We can no longer trust either of these 2 political parties anymore. We need independent commissions to run thorough investigations. Too many lives were lost, and too much wasted taxpayer treasure squandered for Mr. Obama and his party to simply say ‘No more looking back… let’s move ahead. ‘
Key # 2- Surtax the Millionaires –The CEO of CVS Pharmacies earns over 40 million dollars (last year) while at the same time many of his customers cannot afford medication. It is time to hold the super rich accountable. We need a new tax law that issues a 50% Flat Surtax on all income over one million dollars per annum. No accountant’s cost cutting. Simply install a flat tax that sends the money right to the treasury. In 2007, there were over 16 million households with millionaires. Some of these folks, like that CVS CEO, earned tens of millions, even hundreds of millions a year. If we truly wish to nurture our small businesses, then why treat those who earn a couple of hundred thousand a year the same as the super rich millionaires and billionaires? I say leave the rates for the 95% of us alone, and surtax those with such excess wealth and the power that goes with it. You see, one failure of this Democratic Party is to think that a small businessperson or professional earning $ 300k a year is rich. Maybe in 1950 or 1960 or even 1970 dollars. Not now!
Key # 3- Nationalize Big Oil, Utilities & Weapons Manufacturing – As our friends and neighbors are struggling to fork over $ 4.00 a gallon for gasoline that costs them less than half of what it did a few short years ago, and Big Oil is raking in record profits! Gasoline is no longer simply a discretionary item. No, it is a necessity for many of us to get work, schooling, medical attention and food. The utilities are paying their CEOS and top execs record salaries and bonuses while many of us cannot afford the increased costs of electricity, heating and air conditioning. The weapons industry is charging Uncle Sam for what our government tells us is for our very defense. Why should we the people continue to allow these corporations to make profits on our necessities? We are entering a major economic depression. We need all the help we can get! Let the Congress and President Use eminent domain powers, due to the emergency we are in, and buy the assets of these corporations. There are plenty of experienced and creative administrators to run these businesses for a lot less in salaries and bonuses.
Well, one can go on and on with ideas on various issues to help save our republic. Perhaps what is suggested here is a great starting point. The greatness of a person or a country is measured in the ‘nobility of principles ‘. Without them, we become part of the problem, rather than the solution.
Philip A. Farruggio is son and grandson of Brooklyn NYC longshoremen. A graduate of Brooklyn College, class of ’74, Philip has been an anti war activist since the Vietnam War. Philip is now Volusia Cty spokesperson for the nationwide 25% Solution to cut military spending. Since the 2000 elections, he has written over 250 columns posted on various sites, including, most recently, Dandelion Salad, dissidentvoice.org and progressivepatriots.net, or at his own blog at http://www.opensalon.com. Philip can be reached at paf1222@bellsouth.net.
see
Chris Hedges: Injustices are Everywhere, So Resist!
The Imperial Mindset by William Bowles
U.S. Refusal of 2001 Taliban Offer Gave bin Laden a Free Pass by Gareth Porter
Chris Hedges: Cost of War and Path to Peace
Socialism Can Save Our Cities & Small Businesses by Philip A. Farruggio
George Orwell’s 1984 (must-see film)
Dandelion Salad 
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Yeah! Philip, I salute you. Common sense solutions. WE CAN DO THIS!
Let’s take back our country.
Seems we are at a crucial crossroad in human history.
We would benefit from reading articles just half this wise, and perhaps articles such as this one will keep the fires of hope burning for us who hope for a so much kinder and wiser world. Great article Phillip.
Great blueprint. It seems to cover everything in simple understandable terms.