Lasting Change
I don’t agree with the suggestion that in order to make lasting change, we need both a Democrat in the White House, as well as, a strong Democratic Majority in Congress. It’s true that some positive changes will occur, when a strong Democratic Majority takes control of the presidency and both houses of Congress. However, it will not be lasting change, because too many counterfeit Democratic politicians behave like Republicans by continuing to pander to special interests.
Real changes that most Democratic politicians haven’t consider include:
1. Lobbyist undermine democracy and need to be sent home. According to the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, from 1998 through 2004, lobbyists spent nearly $12 billion to influence legislation, and in many cases to write the language of the laws and regulations. Drug companies and energy lobbyist push through tax cuts and tax credits worth billions for the wealthy corporate elite. The IRS estimates that offshore subsidiaries and tax havens cost our treasury $70 billion a year.
In 2004, a record $2.14 billion was spent on lobbying members of Congress and federal agencies, which is nearly $6 million a day spent to influence our government. The military industrial complex, pharmaceutical industry, health insurance and energy lobbyist continue to ensure that they have the best government money can buy.
2. After 28 years with the C.I.A. Paul Pillar retired as the senior intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia from 2000 to 2005. He has proposed the creation of an independent office, modeled on the Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Budget Office, to assess the use of intelligence at the request of members of Congress. He suggested that the root of the problem is that top intelligence officials serve at the pleasure of the president.
3. To insure faith in America and that economic injustice will not occur again, all pay raises for members of Congress should require a corresponding percentage increase in the minimum wage. For example congressional pay raises totaling $35,000 for members of Congress, should at least require a $3.50 raise in the minimum wage for the most unappreciated Americans.
4. A not-for-profit health care plan must eliminate all for-profit insurers from all taxpayer funded health care. Most plans siphon our tax dollars into private insurance companies and these corporate enterprises don’t need to be there.
A truly cost effective universal health care plan would include all Americans; children, senior citizens, veterans, federal employees, our military, and most importantly members of Congress, the Supreme Court and the President.
Real changes that most Democratic politicians haven’t consider include:
1. Lobbyist undermine democracy and need to be sent home. According to the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, from 1998 through 2004, lobbyists spent nearly $12 billion to influence legislation, and in many cases to write the language of the laws and regulations. Drug companies and energy lobbyist push through tax cuts and tax credits worth billions for the wealthy corporate elite. The IRS estimates that offshore subsidiaries and tax havens cost our treasury $70 billion a year.
In 2004, a record $2.14 billion was spent on lobbying members of Congress and federal agencies, which is nearly $6 million a day spent to influence our government. The military industrial complex, pharmaceutical industry, health insurance and energy lobbyist continue to ensure that they have the best government money can buy.
2. After 28 years with the C.I.A. Paul Pillar retired as the senior intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia from 2000 to 2005. He has proposed the creation of an independent office, modeled on the Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Budget Office, to assess the use of intelligence at the request of members of Congress. He suggested that the root of the problem is that top intelligence officials serve at the pleasure of the president.
3. To insure faith in America and that economic injustice will not occur again, all pay raises for members of Congress should require a corresponding percentage increase in the minimum wage. For example congressional pay raises totaling $35,000 for members of Congress, should at least require a $3.50 raise in the minimum wage for the most unappreciated Americans.
4. A not-for-profit health care plan must eliminate all for-profit insurers from all taxpayer funded health care. Most plans siphon our tax dollars into private insurance companies and these corporate enterprises don’t need to be there.
A truly cost effective universal health care plan would include all Americans; children, senior citizens, veterans, federal employees, our military, and most importantly members of Congress, the Supreme Court and the President.
posted by Jim O'Leary | 1:08 AM
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