saturnsring

saturnsring's Journal

April 7, 2016

The Panama Papers prove it: we can afford a universal basic income Colin Holtz If the super-rich a

The Panama Papers prove it: we can afford a universal basic income
Colin Holtz

If the super-rich actually paid what they owe in taxes, the US would have loads more money available for public services

Called a universal basic income by supporters, the idea has has attracted support throughout American history, from Thomas Paine to Martin Luther King Jr. But it has also faced unending criticism for one particular reason: the advocates of “austerity” say we simply can’t afford it – or any other dramatic spending on social security.
If you're rich, you can avoid paying taxes. That's got to change
Jan Schakowsky
The Panama Papers show how vital it is to close tax loopholes so the system’s fair for everyone. It’s a shame some of my colleagues in Congress don’t agree
Read more

That argument dissolved this week with the release of the Panama Papers, which reveal the elaborate methods used by the wealthy to avoid paying back the societies that helped them to gain their wealth in the first place.

Roads and transportation infrastructure. Educated workforces. Courts and legal systems. Innovations sparked by government funding, such as the internet. No one – no matter how smart or hard working – joins the American or global elite without making use of these shared resources.

But while working and middle-class families pay their taxes or face consequences, the Panama Papers remind us that the worst of the 1% have, for years, essentially been stealing access to Americans’ common birthright, and to the benefits of our shared endeavors.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/07/panama-papers-taxes-universal-basic-income-public-services

maybe bernie can get his free college money from here along with basic income

April 5, 2016

Factchecker: 3 Pinocchios for Sanders over Clinton oil & gas donations

The Sanders campaign is exaggerating the contributions that Clinton has received from the oil and gas industry. In the context of her overall campaign, the contributions are hardly significant. It’s especially misleading to count all of the funds raised by lobbyists with multiple clients as money “given” by the fossil-fuel industry.

Three Pinocchios
http://americablog.com/2016/04/factchecker-3-pinocchios-sanders-clinton-oil-gas-donations.html
first he steals her data
then gripes about superdelegates
then tries to steal superdelegates
now just flat out lies about her

April 1, 2016

Parents of Aurora victim slam Sanders over gun bill support

Parents of a victim of the 2012 shooting in Aurora, Colo., joined a Hillary Clinton campaign call on Friday and slammed Bernie Sanders for his past support of a measure that resulted in them owing $200,000 in legal fees after suing the online retailer who sold bullets to their daughter's killer.
Speaking to reporters, Lonnie and Sandy Phillips, the parents of Jessica Ghawi, explained how a 2005 law Sanders supported gave immunity to gun dealers including the retailer they sued. Their lawsuit against the retailer was thrown out because of that law, the parents told reporters.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/274918-parents-of-aurora-victim-slams-sanders-over-gun-bill

April 1, 2016

Sanders, Cruz leading Senate in missed votes in 2016

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are leading the Senate in missed votes so far this year as they battle for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations.

Sanders missed more votes than any other senator during the first quarter of 2016, skipping 37 of the Senate's 38 roll call votes, according to GovTrack.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/274833-sanders-cruz-leading-senate-in-missed-votes-in-2016

March 31, 2016