While looking through this mornings local newspaper and reading about the apparent shenanigans transpiring in the Congressional Super Committee on deficit reduction (6 Dems. and 6 Repubs.) being at "loggerheads" i.e. Republicans opposed to any tax hikes of the rich and Democrats accepting "trims" to Medicare and Medicaid, but only with taxes increased on the highest incomes, some thoughts occurred to this writer. In a perfect world (or at least one closer to what the occupy movement is expressing and pressing for) REAL deficit reduction and a more fair and just society would be looking at the following:
- Severely cut the bloated defense industry spending by ending the building of unnecessary weapons systems i.e. aircraft carriers, a new generation of fighter planes, atomic submarines, drones, anti-ballistic missile systems, close all overseas military bases, reduce the size of the military to be used strictly in defense of the homeland and lastly end all wars and clandestine engagements currently in operation all over the world.
- Close Guantanamo and all other detention sites (secret or otherwise) along with ending indefinite detention of suspects, extraordinary rendition, the suspension of habeas corpus, warrantless wiretapping, thus ending the unnecessary war on terror.
- With the ending of the war on terror, severely restrict the CIA's activities with the intent of shutting it down. Also limit the FBI to crime enforcement and get it out of the domestic surveillance business.
- Break up the big banks that serve no positive social purpose, re-institute the Glass Steagell Act of 1933 that separated the commercial banks and the investment banks thus reestablishing financial regulation of the banking industries activities. Tax Hedge Funds operations, derivatives, capital gains and all stock transactions.
- End the FED's policy of loaning billions to large banks at near zero interest rates. They are not creating jobs which are the supposed intent of the loans. Give the loans to small banks who can resume lending to small businesses which will create jobs.
- Tax the rich 1% at commensurate levels so they pay their fair share to the society's costs and maintenance.
- Amend the Constitution overturning "Citizens United". Get money out of politics by outlawing big moneyed contributions in the electoral process which has usurped and corrupted the process to benefit the big moneyed and special interests at the expense of the people's interests.
- End all subsidies to the agricultural interests as well as the oil depletion allowance.
- Tax all polluting industries at maximum rates while offering incentives for them to develop new pollution controls and shutting them down if they don't comply.
- Subsidize existing and new start up businesses in wind, solar development and other green industries.
- Establish a Medicare type, single payer health care system thus reducing health care costs particularly in unnecessary corporate overhead expenses.
- Encourage development of co-op type industries based on the Mondragon, Spain model currently operating in Cleveland, Ohio thus increasing the number of employee owned industries across the country.
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