The problem with government is politics. What this country needs is true government for the people BY the people - not for the corporations by the corporations which is what we currently have. I would like to remind all of you that are bitching about the unions what they have brought to America. The unions are responsible for many of the common laws regarding labor regardless of whether you are union or not such as: the end of child labor, the 40 hour work week, overtime pay, vacation pay, weekends, minimum wage, safety standards. Without unions, we would not be experiencing these common benefits. At the time in our country when unions were established ( a long and bloody fight), the companies ran roughshod over people so that they could pocket as much money as possible at the expense of the people. Individuals banded together to form unions to fight for their rights and ultimately yours. Greed knows no era or end and is very much a player today. So, regardless of whether you are union or not how about going after the corporations like Exxon who made billions in profits last year and paid not a dime of taxes. Wall streeters and others of their ilk who aren't paying taxes, the very wealthy, who pay more to their tax accountants to hide their money than I make in a year. The middle and lower classes are paying their taxes - it's time for all to pay their taxes. Every corporation, every wealthy citizen needs to be paying up same as I have to. If that were done, the country and the states would have the money they need.
Personally, I'd like to know how much Walker paid in taxes last year. And how about the Koch brothers and their many companies - how much did they pay in taxes last year? The last year Cheney was in office, he received a tax refund in the area of $180,000. How many other politicians have received similar refunds?
In addition to taxes, if we were to charge tariffs for all the goods coming in to this country that companies are producing overseas (used to produced in our country) we would also add much to the coffers of the country. These tariffs would be paid by the company producing not the consumer. How long would it take then for those companies to move the jobs back to the US when they no longer made out like bandits by sending all our jobs overseas?
All of our lawmakers regardless of whether they are state or federal have very nice pay and cushy benefits. Do you see any of them saying they are willing to take a pay cut, give up some of the perks or benefits, or pay for their excellent health care coverage?
I'm really tired of hearing how the middle and lower classes have to keep sacrificing - I have nothing left to sacrifice - it's time for those that have been getting a free ride to start paying their share and then maybe we will have a more even playing field.
Lastly, grab a history book and read it. When countries allow corporations and the wealthy elite to oppress and suppress the people (this has happened before), the people usually rise up and the result isn't pretty. Much of what you see and hear today is misleading, non factual, and is a blatant effort to keep us commoners so busy just trying to survive that we don't really see what's happening. And, if that ploy should fail, they are trying to make sure that the masses are as uneducated as they can make them so that we don't have a fighting chance.
People, there is a plethora of evidence to support what I've said and much more out there. Don't believe everything you hear. Go get the facts and then get mad as hell that you are a second class citizen and your rights are being trampled and then get up and DO SOMETHING to help. "There but for the grace of God go I". If they break the unions, they will come after you and your minimum wage job next.
Showing posts with label taxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label taxes. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Food for Thought
This is America. We are supposed to be a leader in this world and yet there is an article in the USA Today that school kids can't get lunch because their parents can't afford it.
According to this article, many student's families cannot afford to purchase their lunch while in school and because they allowed them to go ahead and get a meal for a few days without paying, there is now a debt owed to the schools. So, now, a child can only charge a meal for a couple of days and then if the family can't pay - no lunch. In some schools, an alternative lunch was offered (cheese sandwich and milk) but then that was discontinued because the children were stigmatized by the difference in lunches. In Des Moines, schools are even resorting to collection agencies to pressure parents to pay the past due balances for charged meals.
We know that we have a huge hunger and homeless problem in this country; and, that alone should make us ashamed. We also know, that when it comes to education, we are far behind many other countries. Now, we are going to add to this problem by not feeding our children while at school. In spite of the fact that there are numerous studies out there that show that a well fed child learns better and is better able to retain and use that knowledge, we see that when it comes down to money, money wins. Everybody's equal as long as you can pay.
In this same edition of the newspaper, there is an article about earmarks (special funding)that our lawmakers have put into the national budget. There is $600,000 earmarked for the National Wild Turkey Federation (a hunting organization) and $350,000 earmarked to promote specialty meat in Wisconsin. These are not the only earmarks in the budget but just an example of the frivolities that our lawmakers have the audacity to even consider spending our tax money on.
Just those two examples represent almost 1 million dollars that could be used to fund school lunches. Now, how about those turkey hunters donate their kills to the schools and maybe the Wisconsin specialty meat producers could donate some of their product. (Think of it as real time marketing specialty meat people). We could feed a lot of children with this plan. Or, how about you let me at that budget. I've raised a family and put kids through college on far, far less than even one of those lawmakers earns in a year. Bet I could show you a lot of other junk we should take out of that budget and put it where it really needs to go.
So, we have school kids going hungry at school and schools hiring collection agencies to harass already overworked and underpaid parents and ruining what may be left of their fragile credit and I find this such a sorry and disturbing state of affairs. When the hell are we gonna get our priorities straight in this country.
Alas, it isn't enough to rant and point out the ugly truth. We must be willing to put the outrage to use. We must be willing to step up and do something. So let this be a call to action. Ask your self what you can do to change even a small part of this backward process. Band together and let our voices be heard but let our actions speak louder.
According to this article, many student's families cannot afford to purchase their lunch while in school and because they allowed them to go ahead and get a meal for a few days without paying, there is now a debt owed to the schools. So, now, a child can only charge a meal for a couple of days and then if the family can't pay - no lunch. In some schools, an alternative lunch was offered (cheese sandwich and milk) but then that was discontinued because the children were stigmatized by the difference in lunches. In Des Moines, schools are even resorting to collection agencies to pressure parents to pay the past due balances for charged meals.
We know that we have a huge hunger and homeless problem in this country; and, that alone should make us ashamed. We also know, that when it comes to education, we are far behind many other countries. Now, we are going to add to this problem by not feeding our children while at school. In spite of the fact that there are numerous studies out there that show that a well fed child learns better and is better able to retain and use that knowledge, we see that when it comes down to money, money wins. Everybody's equal as long as you can pay.
In this same edition of the newspaper, there is an article about earmarks (special funding)that our lawmakers have put into the national budget. There is $600,000 earmarked for the National Wild Turkey Federation (a hunting organization) and $350,000 earmarked to promote specialty meat in Wisconsin. These are not the only earmarks in the budget but just an example of the frivolities that our lawmakers have the audacity to even consider spending our tax money on.
Just those two examples represent almost 1 million dollars that could be used to fund school lunches. Now, how about those turkey hunters donate their kills to the schools and maybe the Wisconsin specialty meat producers could donate some of their product. (Think of it as real time marketing specialty meat people). We could feed a lot of children with this plan. Or, how about you let me at that budget. I've raised a family and put kids through college on far, far less than even one of those lawmakers earns in a year. Bet I could show you a lot of other junk we should take out of that budget and put it where it really needs to go.
So, we have school kids going hungry at school and schools hiring collection agencies to harass already overworked and underpaid parents and ruining what may be left of their fragile credit and I find this such a sorry and disturbing state of affairs. When the hell are we gonna get our priorities straight in this country.
Alas, it isn't enough to rant and point out the ugly truth. We must be willing to put the outrage to use. We must be willing to step up and do something. So let this be a call to action. Ask your self what you can do to change even a small part of this backward process. Band together and let our voices be heard but let our actions speak louder.
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