.......... Economic Civil Rights..........

[johnaries]

In the GD: Politics forum, DUer boolean posted an excellent summary of a combined capitalist/socialist society:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2758588#2758775

The government should NOT stick its nose in:
1) Perfectly competitive products and services
2) Commodities
3) Trade

The government SHOULD regulate and monitor:
1) Essential services such as electricity, water, etc.
2) POLLUTION CONTROLS
3) Monopolies

The government should CONTROL and RUN:
1) Health care
2) Education
3) Infrastructure

I think this is a perfect outline of a BALANCED economic policy. Although because of the negative connotations of the term "socialism" in our society, I think it would best to avoid using it.

Which is why I propose the term Economic Civil Rights and emphasize that it is for a Balanced economic policy.

Although the current laissez-faire policy was originally intended to encourage individualism, in todays corporate atmosphere individuals are at a disadvantage because we do not have the available resources that corporations have. Ever try to sue a corporation? How many lobbyists can you afford?

Therefore, we need an economic policy that BALANCES the rights and interests of individual consumers and workers with those of corporations and protects everyone's Economic Civil Rights. Corporations and Individuals, both; not just Corporations.

Here are some of my suggestions of policies to implement:

1. Balance the Federal Budget and pay down the debt (the debt is hamstringing the ability of the Government to act)
2. Living Wages
3. Universal or Single-payer health care.
4. Roll back the tax cuts for the wealthy. Only a graduated tax structure is fair. Those who CAN afford to pay more SHOULD pay more.
5. Capital Gains tax - an income tax should tax INCOME, not PAYROLL only.
6. Eliminate tax breaks that encourage outsourcing to foreign countries.
7. Fair and Balanced trade that benefits both countries, not Free Trade that only benefits one country and corporations.
8. Better controls of the use of public resources. This includes pollution controls, since our air and water are PUBLIC resources and belong to all of us.
9. Improve Education

Any other ideas?

It's time for all of us to stand up for our Economic Civil Rights!

[johnaries]

1. Thanks for the Recs, but....

no thoughts, comments, rebuttals, additions? :shrug:

Surely someone has SOMETHING to say about this! Even if you think it's a stupid idea!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

2. I would address

Affordable housing
Social Security

and I will repeat my little joke from the other thread that if you even breathe the word "socialism" people think that they have to wear clogs and eat herring and cabbage.

[johnaries]

4. Excellent suggestions! they should be added to the list.

Also, I'm thinking the new Bankruptcy Law should be repealed.

[sam sarrha]

3. the present government is not regulating trade.. china owns us and

the stock market is allowed to manipulate the oil market and speculate/hedge 20 to 25% of the price.. gas would be $2 if they were reined in..

NAFTA has stolen 28,000,000 jobs.. china millions of jobs and is sucking up factories.. yes they cut them up and ship them to china.. they cant haul em out of where i live fast enough..

something has got to change..

we have to think in a totally new paradigm.. short term profits are poison.. we have to look at the big picture

[johnaries]

5. Yep. "Free Trade" benefits Multi-Nationals and screws

US workers.

"Fair and Balanced" negotiated Trade is the only answer.

[johnaries]

6. Just curious what the Night Shift thinks of this.

Not much response from the Day crew. Maybe it's not as good a "framing" idea as I thought....

[union_maid]

7. Well, I love it...

But I doubt it'll play in the heartland just yet. Maybe someday. One thing at a time. I think it would make for a much better country and better lives all around, but my views are not all that popular in the wider world.

[midnight]

8. Like the phrase Economic civil rights.

Economic civil rights could eradicate racist, and sexist quotas. Everyone treated equally, and not judged by age, or other discriminatory checks, and balances.