What I’m Standing For
I don’t typically put my political views out there front and center, but a read through this Sunday’s State Journal has me inspired to write what I believe is worth standing for.
First, end the Bush tax cuts for the rich and end corporate welfare. Raise corporate income taxes and the upper brackets of the progressive income tax until the deficit is eliminated, the budget is balanced and our infrastructure is rebuilt. Eliminate loopholes in corporate income taxes that allow companies like GE to make $14.2 billion in profits and not pay a dime in income tax.
Prohibit corporations from moving offshore to avoid paying taxes.
Pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting corporate money in politics. Repeal Citizen’s United.
Eliminate child tax credits for children beyond the first two born to a couple.
Eliminate inefficiencies and waste in the Defense Department and domestic programs.
Create single-payer universal national health care. Without this reform, private health insurance and medical care will continue to spiral out of control.
Pass a sustainable green national energy policy, and a strong climate control plan. Let the Environmental Protection Agency do its job.
Reform the banking and financial industries through stronger government regulations. Respect the privilege of workers to collectively bargain and to unionize.
Stop demonizing Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Doing so resolves nothing and polarizes people. These three programs provide an important safety net to Americans. Indeed, they represent some of the most important and successful legislation in our nation’s history.
And finally, get out of Afghanistan and Iraq. We cannot afford to sustain these wars, and it’s questionable whether our continued presence is doing more to promote terrorism than prevent it.