Post by psychecc on May 5, 2008 18:46:27 GMT -6
This is an essay I wrote about a year and a half ago. I didn't win the contest in which it was entered, so practically no one has seen it. I ran across it today and still think its points are valid. I'm not sure where to place it as it covers a number of topics, but Corporate Malfeasance is probably closest to its core.
America at Risk: An Inconvenient Reality
On December 7, 1941 Americans entered World War II. They’ve been called the greatest generation, venturing far from home, fighting to save their country from Nazis and Fascists, and to maintain the freedoms sacred to Democracy. That was their reality, and they well understood what was at stake. Their belief in America and the opportunities she held out to those willing to work hard and abide by her laws and constitution gave them courage to face the horrors of war. Many gave their lives so that others could enjoy the freedom to create their American Dreams.
Plenty of new, post-war parents had grown up during the Depression and were determined to give their children more. America raised its baby boomers with all the advantages she could muster. The modest homes and single cars of their parents gave way to three or four bedroom, two bath dwellings with big back yards, and two cars in the garage. Life was pretty good. And of course, like their parents, the boomers wanted to pass along even greater opportunities to their own children. Unfortunately, the reality for the vast majority of Americans today is that they are having to live with less: less freedom, less wealth, and less power over the destiny of the beloved nation their grandparents fought so hard to save.
The media reminds us daily of the so-called “war on terror.” Oddly, the major sacrifice President Bush asks us to make for this war is our freedom. Early on, he urged unabated travel and shopping. (Heaven forbid corporate America’s bottom line should suffer.) Observers of the Iraq War can’t help noticing that mega-contractors like Halliburton rake in billions while American soldiers and innocent Iraqis suffer and die. Unlike WWII, neither the war on terror nor the Bush-manufactured Iraq War has any clear values to protect. Some believe the Iraq War is all about profits, particularly those from oil. Whatever the truth about these wars, they have definitely ushered in an era of less freedom for Americans.
One demon seed spawned by the “war on terror” is the Patriot Act, which allows invasive “sneak and peek” searches of homes and records of American citizens, sometimes without their knowledge. Despite at least one judge’s ruling that warrantless wire tapping is unconstitutional, the National Security Agency (NSA), at President Bush’s behest, continues this policy. Law abiding Americans can no longer expect their phone conversations to remain private. Even without a suspected link to terrorists, conversations are still “mined” for data, searching for “key words” deemed cause for further investigation. All this invasion of privacy, begs the question: What is a fair price to pay for fighting this “war on terror”?
Perhaps in the most damaging loss of freedom, we are increasingly warned by Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld that even asking questions about U.S. policy is unpatriotic. Questioning authority is a fundamental American responsibility, and part of what keeps this nation strong. Self-reflection is crucial to progress. The problems in the Middle East are complex, requiring open discussion with the American people and genuine negotiation with all involved parties in that region. “Cowboy Diplomacy“ has only elevated the level of conflict. President Bush jokes that he will keep American troops in Iraq even if Laura and Barney the dog are his only remaining supporters. But WWII was fought with a shared vision of the cause. Maybe some earnest consideration of the many questions posed prior to this war could have spared us the divided, less free America wrought by our “I’m a uniter, not a divider” President.
Though the war has been costly in lives lost and ruined, and in freedoms surrendered, it has also contributed to another reality Americans confront today: less wealth. The National Budget Simulation shows that two of the largest contributors to the national deficit are the Iraq War and the tax cuts to top income earners and corporations. There are myriad arguments both for and against these high-end tax cuts, but the bottom line is that they are too expensive in a time of sorely needed revenue. In this time of record corporate profits, these tax cuts force the middle class to bear a greater share of the tax burden.
Economists argue that America is engaged in a massive shift of wealth toward the rich, unlike anything seen in decades. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data show that over the last four years, average, inflation-adjusted wages have fallen as corporate profits have jumped. Add to that skyrocketing health insurance premiums and rising adjustable-rate mortgage payments, and the result is the “middle-class squeeze” in which Americans have less to spend and a whole lot more to pay for. Given the current negative savings rate, rampant home equity extraction, and the rising credit card debt it takes to make ends meet, much of middle America is living on borrowed time with borrowed money. With increasingly more economists seeing a recession on the horizon, the financial future of the nation looks bleak. There is, however, one powerful body of Americans who could greatly improve the economic outlook for the middle class-Congress.
To be fair, the men and women of Congress are constrained by some ugly perversions of what was originally designed as an efficient system of representative government. The Constitution gave citizens the power to control their national destiny through elections. But corporate lobbying, campaign funding laws, and gerrymandering have corrupted the process of government. “Earmarks” are out of control, according to Senator Tom Coburn, citing the Congressional Research Service. Close examination of these special projects often reveals them to be simply payoffs to campaign contributors. Legislation favorable to big business campaign donors is the price of re-election. Middle class citizens are suffering “taxation without representation” because their representatives need massive “war chests” to be re-elected under this broken system. Jack Abramoff style lobbyists abound, money flows freely, and legislation ends up being influenced, if not written, by big business. The energy and bankruptcy bills are good examples of corporate control of government.
While corporations take excellent care of themselves, they are poor guardians of the people, whose politicians they have bought and paid for, and placed in their hip pockets. Outsourcing of high-paying jobs along with in-sourcing of cheap foreign labor are two areas in which Congress could help American workers. Their cry of “globalism is inevitable,” is a cop-out to justify allowing corporations to move jobs overseas where they can pay pennies on the dollar for labor. In return, consumers in the world’s largest market are rewarded with cheaply made products of inferior quality, while losing the income these outsourced jobs previously provided. Many of these exported jobs are the same ones returning World War II veterans used to finance their own American Dreams.
Despite countless polls documenting America’s overwhelming desire to control its borders, our corporate-dominated Federal Government refuses to act. They site the need for people to do jobs Americans aren’t doing, but the fact is there are no jobs Americans won’t do for a sufficient wage. It’s criminal to allow business to exploit illegal immigrants to do jobs for which they should be paying citizens a market-driven wage. Congress is unlikely to pass and enforce any meaningful immigration legislation in the near future. Politicians have, however, managed to find the time to haggle over re-districting to create “safe seats” in the House of Representatives. If they would zealously represent the interests of their constituents, they wouldn’t need to re-draw districts like pieces of some bizarre Picasso-inspired jigsaw puzzle. Ultimately, with a few notable exceptions like North Dakota’s Senator Byron Dorgan, Congress is failing the middle class. In the end, most will vote as their corporate donors demand, relying on the resulting huge campaign funds, their own expert abilities to “spin” the issues, and perhaps a few rigged voting machines for re-election.
In reality, we Americans are at the mercy of a rich and powerful few who have usurped control of our government, economy, and national destiny. President Bush has presided over a Corporatocracy, a kind of puppet government that is largely controlled by big business. Perhaps Americans are beginning to grasp that the only way to regain their freedom and their share of the wealth is to take back control of the political process. Middle-class workers can’t go to Congress to compete with thousands of lobbyists, but we can force reform of lobbying and campaign finance through our votes and our voices. Unless Americans want to make living with less an art form, it’s time to get involved in government again. We must make use of the phones, faxes, Web sites, e-mails, and traditional mailboxes of our elected officials.
In 1941, Americans acted heroically to secure a positive future for their country and create abundant opportunity for all. The crucial challenge facing America today isn’t a war on terror; it’s a war on the average citizen striving to carve out a piece of the American Dream.
October, 2006
America at Risk: An Inconvenient Reality
On December 7, 1941 Americans entered World War II. They’ve been called the greatest generation, venturing far from home, fighting to save their country from Nazis and Fascists, and to maintain the freedoms sacred to Democracy. That was their reality, and they well understood what was at stake. Their belief in America and the opportunities she held out to those willing to work hard and abide by her laws and constitution gave them courage to face the horrors of war. Many gave their lives so that others could enjoy the freedom to create their American Dreams.
Plenty of new, post-war parents had grown up during the Depression and were determined to give their children more. America raised its baby boomers with all the advantages she could muster. The modest homes and single cars of their parents gave way to three or four bedroom, two bath dwellings with big back yards, and two cars in the garage. Life was pretty good. And of course, like their parents, the boomers wanted to pass along even greater opportunities to their own children. Unfortunately, the reality for the vast majority of Americans today is that they are having to live with less: less freedom, less wealth, and less power over the destiny of the beloved nation their grandparents fought so hard to save.
The media reminds us daily of the so-called “war on terror.” Oddly, the major sacrifice President Bush asks us to make for this war is our freedom. Early on, he urged unabated travel and shopping. (Heaven forbid corporate America’s bottom line should suffer.) Observers of the Iraq War can’t help noticing that mega-contractors like Halliburton rake in billions while American soldiers and innocent Iraqis suffer and die. Unlike WWII, neither the war on terror nor the Bush-manufactured Iraq War has any clear values to protect. Some believe the Iraq War is all about profits, particularly those from oil. Whatever the truth about these wars, they have definitely ushered in an era of less freedom for Americans.
One demon seed spawned by the “war on terror” is the Patriot Act, which allows invasive “sneak and peek” searches of homes and records of American citizens, sometimes without their knowledge. Despite at least one judge’s ruling that warrantless wire tapping is unconstitutional, the National Security Agency (NSA), at President Bush’s behest, continues this policy. Law abiding Americans can no longer expect their phone conversations to remain private. Even without a suspected link to terrorists, conversations are still “mined” for data, searching for “key words” deemed cause for further investigation. All this invasion of privacy, begs the question: What is a fair price to pay for fighting this “war on terror”?
Perhaps in the most damaging loss of freedom, we are increasingly warned by Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld that even asking questions about U.S. policy is unpatriotic. Questioning authority is a fundamental American responsibility, and part of what keeps this nation strong. Self-reflection is crucial to progress. The problems in the Middle East are complex, requiring open discussion with the American people and genuine negotiation with all involved parties in that region. “Cowboy Diplomacy“ has only elevated the level of conflict. President Bush jokes that he will keep American troops in Iraq even if Laura and Barney the dog are his only remaining supporters. But WWII was fought with a shared vision of the cause. Maybe some earnest consideration of the many questions posed prior to this war could have spared us the divided, less free America wrought by our “I’m a uniter, not a divider” President.
Though the war has been costly in lives lost and ruined, and in freedoms surrendered, it has also contributed to another reality Americans confront today: less wealth. The National Budget Simulation shows that two of the largest contributors to the national deficit are the Iraq War and the tax cuts to top income earners and corporations. There are myriad arguments both for and against these high-end tax cuts, but the bottom line is that they are too expensive in a time of sorely needed revenue. In this time of record corporate profits, these tax cuts force the middle class to bear a greater share of the tax burden.
Economists argue that America is engaged in a massive shift of wealth toward the rich, unlike anything seen in decades. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data show that over the last four years, average, inflation-adjusted wages have fallen as corporate profits have jumped. Add to that skyrocketing health insurance premiums and rising adjustable-rate mortgage payments, and the result is the “middle-class squeeze” in which Americans have less to spend and a whole lot more to pay for. Given the current negative savings rate, rampant home equity extraction, and the rising credit card debt it takes to make ends meet, much of middle America is living on borrowed time with borrowed money. With increasingly more economists seeing a recession on the horizon, the financial future of the nation looks bleak. There is, however, one powerful body of Americans who could greatly improve the economic outlook for the middle class-Congress.
To be fair, the men and women of Congress are constrained by some ugly perversions of what was originally designed as an efficient system of representative government. The Constitution gave citizens the power to control their national destiny through elections. But corporate lobbying, campaign funding laws, and gerrymandering have corrupted the process of government. “Earmarks” are out of control, according to Senator Tom Coburn, citing the Congressional Research Service. Close examination of these special projects often reveals them to be simply payoffs to campaign contributors. Legislation favorable to big business campaign donors is the price of re-election. Middle class citizens are suffering “taxation without representation” because their representatives need massive “war chests” to be re-elected under this broken system. Jack Abramoff style lobbyists abound, money flows freely, and legislation ends up being influenced, if not written, by big business. The energy and bankruptcy bills are good examples of corporate control of government.
While corporations take excellent care of themselves, they are poor guardians of the people, whose politicians they have bought and paid for, and placed in their hip pockets. Outsourcing of high-paying jobs along with in-sourcing of cheap foreign labor are two areas in which Congress could help American workers. Their cry of “globalism is inevitable,” is a cop-out to justify allowing corporations to move jobs overseas where they can pay pennies on the dollar for labor. In return, consumers in the world’s largest market are rewarded with cheaply made products of inferior quality, while losing the income these outsourced jobs previously provided. Many of these exported jobs are the same ones returning World War II veterans used to finance their own American Dreams.
Despite countless polls documenting America’s overwhelming desire to control its borders, our corporate-dominated Federal Government refuses to act. They site the need for people to do jobs Americans aren’t doing, but the fact is there are no jobs Americans won’t do for a sufficient wage. It’s criminal to allow business to exploit illegal immigrants to do jobs for which they should be paying citizens a market-driven wage. Congress is unlikely to pass and enforce any meaningful immigration legislation in the near future. Politicians have, however, managed to find the time to haggle over re-districting to create “safe seats” in the House of Representatives. If they would zealously represent the interests of their constituents, they wouldn’t need to re-draw districts like pieces of some bizarre Picasso-inspired jigsaw puzzle. Ultimately, with a few notable exceptions like North Dakota’s Senator Byron Dorgan, Congress is failing the middle class. In the end, most will vote as their corporate donors demand, relying on the resulting huge campaign funds, their own expert abilities to “spin” the issues, and perhaps a few rigged voting machines for re-election.
In reality, we Americans are at the mercy of a rich and powerful few who have usurped control of our government, economy, and national destiny. President Bush has presided over a Corporatocracy, a kind of puppet government that is largely controlled by big business. Perhaps Americans are beginning to grasp that the only way to regain their freedom and their share of the wealth is to take back control of the political process. Middle-class workers can’t go to Congress to compete with thousands of lobbyists, but we can force reform of lobbying and campaign finance through our votes and our voices. Unless Americans want to make living with less an art form, it’s time to get involved in government again. We must make use of the phones, faxes, Web sites, e-mails, and traditional mailboxes of our elected officials.
In 1941, Americans acted heroically to secure a positive future for their country and create abundant opportunity for all. The crucial challenge facing America today isn’t a war on terror; it’s a war on the average citizen striving to carve out a piece of the American Dream.
October, 2006