Meet the leader of a potential progressive economic revolution: Flatfica Sam.
Hi-res image here
Who Is He?
The Flatfica Sam idea is the brainchild of a few anonymous American citizens who are deeply concerned about the direction of the economy, the country, and the current Tax Compromise. The image itself is the creation and copyrighted property of Dale Hubert, founder of the Flat Stanley Project, a highly-regarded program promoting childrens' literacy, letter-writing and cross-cultural learning. Dale has graciously given permission to Flatfica.com to use the image.
What Is Flatfica.com?
Flatfica.com right now is just a domain and a website under construction. More importantly, it is one simple yet transformational idea: promoting a permanently Flat, Fair, and Low Social Security tax rate for employers and employees as a real and lasting solution to bring America out of recession. In essence, it means 1) uncapping the Social Security income limit (currently at $106,800) and 2) lowering the Social Security tax rate from 6.2% to an estimated 4.2% for employees and employers. For an elaboration of the idea and an explanation of how it could transform the American economy and get us out of the current political morass, see this diary: Could One Wonky Idea Save America? Economist Regulator William Black emails me, "Yes". In essence, Flatfica.com is the emergence of a focused and pragmatic Netroots movement.
Who Benefits?
The idea can bring enormous help to and will rally huge support among:
- American Taxpayers (everyone making 150k or less will get a permanent and usually substantial tax cut)
- American Businesses (around 85-95% of business will pay less in taxes for their employees; lower tax rates for lower and middle class jobs will allow for massive job creation)
- Economists (as a structural change instead of massive deficit spending, it promotes economic stability and confidence in the American economy while adding enormously to GDP and job creation)
- Seniors (rather than threatening Social Security by temporarily (?) de-funding it, this idea would protect and strengthen Social Security for decades to come)
- Labor (promotes low and middle-class job creation by cutting taxes for employers; moves toward greater economic equality in taxation and representation)
- Fiscal Conservatives (cuts taxes for the vast majority of American citizens and American businesses without adding one cent to the national debt)
- Pissed-Off Progressives (this is serious Tax Jujitsu, to borrow Robert Reich's phrase; it instantly and strongly exposes and counteracts the greed of Wall Street CEOs and corporations by forcing them to pay for that greed, sowing those huge revenues back into the American economy in ways that disproportionately benefit the lower and middle classes, as well as almost all non-financial corporations)
Who Will Join Us?
If you are in a position of leadership or recognized expertise within Congress, Economics, Business, or represent a particular Political Interest Group and wish to have your name and/or organization eventually listed on the site as an advocate, please send your request to the appropriate email below with contact information for confirming your identity. Statements of endorsement, letters, or analytical writings are also welcomed from these leaders.
- US House of Representatives -> HouseAdvocate@flatfica.com
- US Senate -> SenateAdvocate@flatfica.com
- Economist -> EconomistAdvocate@flatfica.com
- Business Owner/CEO -> BusinessAdvocate@flatfica.com
- Interest Group Leader (Labor, Seniors, PACs) -> InterestAdvocate@flatfica.com
Who Will Help Us?
The Flatfica Sam creators do not work in politics, economics, marketing or website design, and as such are in need of capable political analysts, political activists, economists, marketers and graphics/website designers to help make this idea go viral. If you can help, please email volunteer@flatfica.com with a description of how you can help along with your previous experience, qualifications, and a couple references. If the idea does go viral, the website could get enormous traffic. Marketers, website and graphic designers would be allowed to have their names listed on the website as part of its creative team and thus get exposure for their work. The authors of economic or political analyses that are accepted for publication on the website would also get intellectual credit for their work. Besides recognition, the contributors of any content to the website waive all intellectual and commercial property rights to their voluntary contributions.
Ethical Commitment
In a time of profound cynicism, when websites and political activism are often used for profit, the creators of the Flatfica Sam idea make the following pledge: Flatfica.com will not accept any monetary donations, charge for any services it provides, nor allow any advertisements by any commercial or political organization. It will not be sold to or become an extension of any particular political interest group.
Call to Action: Flatfica Sam Wants YOU... to make a FUS
Print and make your own cardboard Flatfica Uncle Sam, mailing him to members of Congress to tell them you want a permanently Flat, Fair, and Low Social Security tax for employers and employees as a real and lasting solution to bring America out of recession. Make Flatfica Sam into a poster and hold rallies to protest the current, unfair and potentially destructive tax compromise. Help Flatfica Sam go viral by sending him out to your friends by email, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media.