http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/issue/column?oid=oid%3A707124When Barack Obama said, "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody," John McCain and his right-wing chorus blew a gasket and threw a hissy fit. He's a socialist, a Marxist, a "redistributionist," they screeched!
Obviously, they were more upset than the electorate was. Indeed, I think your average working stiffs perked up, high-fived one another, and said, "Oh, yeah – it's time to spread the wealth." After all, for the past three decades, Washington has been busily redistributing our wealth upward to the richest 1% of Americans.
Using everything from tax giveaways to trade scams, they've shoved practically all of the economic gains that everyone helped produce up to those at the top. Now, the top-heavy "tinkle-down" economy they created is crashing, bringing down the housing market, Wall Street banks, and a host of industries.
Of course, Washington reacted by rushing to bail out the bankers and the speculators who caused the crash. That hasn't seemed to benefit anyone but – surprise! – the elites. So, yeah, let's spread the wealth into the grassroots economy so ordinary workaday folks can lift our country up.
One way to do this is with a massive, nationwide Rebuild America program, similar to what Obama has proposed, only bigger and bolder. Let's enlist millions of Americans to repair our deteriorating roads, bridges, schools, parks, etc. – while also developing conservation programs, solar and wind power, plug-in hybrid cars, high-speed trains, and other essentials for a new green economy.
Yes, this will be costly, but – unlike the gabillion-dollar giveaway to Wall Street hucksters – this is a sensible investment that will produce tangible results for every American and restore our nation's economic strength. Think about it: Money is like manure – it only works if you spread it around.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
