Practical Policies for Populist Economic Reform

Practical Policies for Populist Economic Reform

There is nothing like a good solid catastrophe to drive us back to first principles.

Let me name four that could morally and usefully attach to any bail out or stimulus bill, as we go forward. One is to reduce the difference between the highest paid and lowest paid employee. Think 15 - 1. No one can make more than the minimum wage times 15. That still gives room for what Karl Marx thought was the actual value of creativity, indispensability, talent and incentive. Figure everybody gets $30,000 at the "bottom" and, going up, nobody gets more than $450,000. That policy would change a lot, especially if it attached as policy to every nickel of government bail out or stimulus money. Culturally, we should stigmatize people who make more - instead of praising or worse, trying to imitate them as our cultural heroes. Secondly, guarantee universal health care. Drive medical costs DOWN by doing that. Attach price limits on procedures. Use digitalized medical records WITH strong privacy policies attached to their use. Institute and reward wellness programs from kindergarten and before, all the way up. Third, start every child in America off with Social Security at age one. That would take the teeth out of a Harvard education versus a community college one. People would have money already invested them, which they could use to buy education, start a business, see the world, support themselves while they painted for a decade. Fourth, institute national service for every eighteen year old for two years at a low salary. Don't let them go to college till they have learned how to drink, been in an extended summer camp with their peers from every walk of life, and learned how to do something with their hormones.

This moment of great difficulty is also a time of great possibility. Isn't it great news that the old economy is dead? It benefited the few and ignored the many. It wastes college and educates to the 19th and 20th century industrial cultures rather than today's digital millennial.
Want to avoid a depression? Work on the depression that already exists. Attach just policies to the "emergency" bills and you will find a powerful anti-depressant, the kind that brings people up just enough to truly be active citizens again in building a new world.

The Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper is Senior Minister of Judson Memorial Church in New York City and author of GRASS ROOTS GARDENING: RITUALS TO SUSTAIN ACTIVISM.

Comments

[Brittanicus]

The only way the American taxpayer will see a turnaround in some of the economy is to halt immigration violations. It has become a combat zone in the workplace. This simply means we need State governors, mayors, judges and anti-illegal immigrant, pro-sovereignty politicians. Starting with Walter Moore, as a new Mayor elect of Los Angeles, who would rescind the 'Sanctuary city' policy in the county.

Only THE PEOPLE, have the power to recall or reject incumbents like Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Speaker Pelosi (D-CAL) who undermined e-verify in the Stimulus package.

A powerful tool to halt foreign nationals taking jobs of American workers. 40 million illegal aliens have occupied our country, according to the Heritage Foundation. Not 13 million pushed by the liberal media Different administrations have allowed this, in favor of the business community and it's likely to get worse as foreign country economies suffer. The stimulus bill promotes upgrading roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Whistle-blowers should report contractors to ICE, who violate immigration laws.

Do not stop calling the Washington switchboard demanding reinstating E-verify.at [phone] This is also your contact with President Obama to stop hundreds of billions of dollars that support illegal immigration.

No lies! Just the real truth at JUDICALWATCH, NUMBERSUSA, AMERICANPATROL, CAPSWEB.

[altohone]

Sounds good.


Why stop there?

EVERY large corporation in America has swayed Congress over the years to give them subsidies and tax breaks. Some of the worst get the most.

If they're getting federal money, they should have to abide by the new rules too (or give up their taxpayer dollars).

Hey, why not take away stimulus bitching rights for anyone who takes the mortgage deduction on their taxes?
Too far?