Last week we got to see the government try to explain why the Affordable Healthcare Act was constitutional. Every day we hear the calls from the right to balance a budget they themselves unbalanced. Now that the charismatic Santorum fellow has suspended his campaign, there's no one left to help strap the dog to the car Romney spend his money into the convention. For shame. The war on women is gaining a fever pitch, leaving unaddressed what really is important. I'm sure the world is in awe of our ability to manufacture shit out of the whole clothe. It shouldn't be a big surprise. Fully 30% od our electorate would elect W again if they could. There's the ignorance factor for you! And now, new voices are emerging, quetioning the basic good of higher education in an economy that only needs degrees for Things That Matter, like science and engineering. But wait, the sahibs in India are pissed because we're cutting down on the amount of visas for Indians to come in and take those jobs too. They're appealing to the WTO as of today. Jump with me as we search for sanity.
How popular is the phrase, "There are no easy solutions"? To hear the media culture parrot that or a similar simile on a dally basis is a crime just like allowing Rush Limbaugh to speak to any radio audience. It's embarrassing that that fat buffoon is a kingmaker and the Repugs must kiss his mighty meaty ass upon request or for perceived wrongdoing. At least the Brownshirts fear somebody.
But I digress.
Simpler is what the leaders and media refuse to focus on. Simplicity is disregarded by our own over intelligent president, corporately neutered and left to draft magnificent speeches that will lift him over the other candidate, whose cult requires him to wear magic underwear.
The things that matter won't be solved. Not until elections are public, short and free of outside monetary influence. Until then, all bets are off and the Republic shall continue it's weary slog into Third World status. You know it and I know it.
Why do we know it? Because we're the Liberal Elite. We're the effeminate snobs that took time to actually look at the parade and note that the most important sides of the story are missing from each of the major topics of the day. It's all in the framing of the issues and unfortunately the entire menu isn't offered for review. The Cali Nurses will tell you that, Thom Hartmann will tell you that and I'm telling you that.
What is That? The simple fixes are overlooked because corporate interests don't want us to re-frame the debates and solve what ails us. Lets do the quick list of top subjects.
1) The tax code. Mitt the Hatter pays 13.8% and stays very busy shoveling his billions to the Grand Caymans. No,no,no. Time for change we can believe in. The Fix? Everybody pays regardless of how the money came in. Unearned income? Subject to the same percentages as earned income. No loopholes, no deductions. Oh and lets get back to the 1960 tax code. Deficit solved.
2) Social security and Medicare shortages? Eliminate the cap on contributions. Did you make 200 grand or 2 zillion last year, plus those wall street bonuses? Keep right on paying in my friend. Oh, you got stock options instead of cash? Fine, we'll wait until you convert them, then hit you with windfall AND SS and Medicare. Stops excessive executive pay today and funds Medicare and Social Security until 2525.
3) Obamacare under fire? Well uh, yeah. Why are we being forced to pay the same criminal Ponzi schemes that any other standing government would have Rico'd and stripped them of their charters in 1990? A mandate to PAY these same grifters is considered progress? My ass. At least make it fair. If the Supreme Court upholds the AHCA at least give us the choice to pay a public option instead. But better yet, let's just fold up that corporate tent and it's wretched canvas for disaster, supplanting a 2880 page bill for one page with one paragraph that extends Medicare to all Americans. Doesn't take but a minute. Remember, Medicare is suddenly well funded, (see item 2)
4) Useless wars, useless military adventures. We only need standing armies in time of need. That was our tradition for over 150 years. It worked quite well. It's hard to rattle sabres if they're locked away, gathering dust. National Defense should mean what it once meant. We can defend our borders with a Coast Guard and National Guard. All the bases we have overseas and the thousands of troops stationed all over the globe are there to protect corporate interests, not us. And if you hear different, they're making shit up. Period. Savings? Priceless.
5) Tired of mystifying gas price increases? It's based on speculation. Tired of wild swings in the economy? It's based on computer trading, human error and collective greed. It's time to put Wall Street out to pasture. Mankind survived thousands of years without such entities as we see today on the Street and can once again. Corporations were once allowed only if they benefited the public. I'd say they've strayed just a smidgen, wouldn't you? Break up the banks, as provided for under the FDIC and deep six their charters. It's time the Street paid attention to the rules, rather than allow them to write the rules. Oh, and while we're at it, lets reset housing prices to 1990 levels and let institutions take the Great Principle Reduction Haircut. It's going to happen eventually, might as well do it right away.
This just a start, but as you can see, just addressing the Gang of Five, as delineated above, plus public, time limited elections would go far in benefiting our great society and bring FDR's visions to fruition. It's really not that hard, once you get started and there's nothing unlawful in any of the proposals. It's simplicity over the bombastic, it's clarity over the opaque and its wisdom over ideology.
Like the buttons say- Enough! Hats off to our Occupiers and to the guys with the Guy Fawkes masks. Remember to do your best to ruin a 1 percenters day!