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Income inequality is having a real effect on the lives of working families, who have seen their wages stagnate while the wealthiest reap the rewards of the economy. What would you tell the presidential candidates to do about restoring balance to our economy and sharing prosperity with working families? |
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Compare candidates to the New Deal at http://unity2008.org
Some of the contributing factors that are undermining our economy is the depreciating US dollar and those things that exacerbate it. This includes the wealth spread between the those ”who have and those who have not “, corporate welfare, mergers and acquisitions, predator consumer financial services, CEO and corporate board pay, off shoring of manufacturing and services, and hiring cheap visa based foreigners for temporary local labor needs.
RE: CEO PAY
The President is the Chief Executive Officer or CEO of the Nation. Therefore the president must set the example for corporate CEO’s. This includes what is reaonable in CEO Pay compared to other employees. The differnce is that the President is a servent to the ‘peoples will ‘ in his/her leadership, where the CEO is that of its corporation.
RE: M&A
The M&A big fish/little fish practice must be further regulated. This is to limit monopolies from occupying the economy. This occupation limits growth of employment in the United States by having less employers and roles available. Regulation is to further limit the growing unemployment due to the disappearance of companies that have been swept up as M&A victims.
M&A Restructuring Settlement: I propose that industries which become non-competitive will be decomposed into new market members.
5.2.2.3 US Wage Base
For living wage, minimum wages are to be examined based on the ‘living wage’ and what is defined as the ‘Poverty Level’.
Wages are to reflect the actual cost of living for the community where the employment, and residence, occurs and subject to the inflation index as opposed to the take it or leave it wage gouging tactics of today’s typical employment offer.
Wage gouging is to be circumvented by using the Federal Government Wage Pricing System Information Service. This can be an enumerated service of the Federal Information System described in chapter 3.
Fixed Price and overtime is for every worker regardless of whether directly employed, or via third party contract. Workers must be paid for work done. For direct employment, overtime is to be paid as ‘time and one half’. For contractors, time is to be paid by the hour. The professional day as set to eight hours does not obviate the responsibility of the employer to provide monetary compensation for overtime.
A- Rights to Work for a Fair Wage
The Right to work for a fair wage applies to US citizens. It must take precedence of green card and visa based workers. Employment opportunities are defined as both vacancies, as well as employment positions, whether temporary, by contract or permanent that are currently occupied by foreigners on US soil.
B- Poverty Level:
This must be set based realistically on the ‘cost of living’, and the ‘Inflation Index’. Minimum wage must be accounted for as in being above the poverty level for the local area.
There are a number of factors which have led to the ” downsizing” of the middle class: reduction of union representd workers in traditional industries, lack of successful organizing in many tecnical fields, US TRADE POLICY, tax benefits for business as they de-invest in American worksights, to mention a few.
One factor we have going for us is the “hunger’ for education expressed by workers through their commitment to lifelong learning when the union is a strategic partner in providing access to a life of learning.
A tariff on all goods manufactured outside of the USA by both domestic and foreign companies must be initiated and closely supervised. Congress should pass a homeland security act that would not allow presidents to give America away Clinton gave many American manufacturing jobs to China. Carter gave the Panama Canal to China and tried to give American Islands off Alaska to Russia.. Bush tried to give all the American ports as well as all our commercial airports to a Muslim country, Dubai. These are not theirs to give no matter how much personal wealth they accumulated. No wonder Millions are spent on political races! Whatever happened to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Nathan Hale and Patrick Henry patriotism?
Stop importing products made in theses countries and not let them in here at all. How can our economy improve when we let our factories move over to 3rd world countries to be made cheap and then sold over here for top money. It cost American jobs. Its time the politicians are for the people again instead of the very rich.
thats corprat gread and dont realize what they are doing they are raising prises keeping the wages low and layng off people and when you do that no can aford to buy your prodict or service and also cutting back on labor cuts back on service and who wants to go some where where it takes 10 minits befor a watres to showup to your order and an hour bofre your food gets to you or it taks all day to get servixe to your car where it should only take a half hour. these coporations may one day come to relize whats up and by then it may be to late for them
If we care about our country, we would not rely on unions. They are good for job securtiy only. Higher wages or having a union should not be a concern.
Taxes. Why does the Democrats want to raise taxes, which just hurt the middle and lower class of working people. They claim that they will only raise taxes on the rich, however the democrats are the rich. Keep the taxs cuts in place and it has been shown that people have more money, spending is up, and government income is up. The Democrats says they are for the working man and then turn around and tax the same people.
I would urge everyone to read this excellent, illustrated article for some essential hisorical background information, showing WHY the labor movement and working people today are in such desperate crisis.
(The article is available to read on-line here:)
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/vogel130707.html
The Fight of Our Lives:
The War of Attrition against U.S. Labor
by Richard D. Vogel with Idell E. Vogel
(first paragraph below)
Introduction: The War
We are in the fight of our lives. The hostile onslaught against U.S. labor that was launched after the Second World War and redoubled in the 1980s is entering a new phase that will profoundly influence the future of all working people in North America. How we respond to this latest assault of capitalism might well prove to be the pivotal contest of modern times.”
Candidates Question:
The foreign policy of the United States is now based upon the Project of the New American Century. The U.S. now has over 700 military bases around the world. Under the Bush governenment, we are engaged in pre-emptive and continuous wars to secure strategic power and resources such as oil.
Would you support the continuation of this foreign policy? Or would you seek to restore diplomacy, end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, close most of the foreign bases, and reduce the military budget to a peace-time level.?
Any candidate that expects a union vote must pledge to increase the tax liability of the higher income brackets and work diligently to plug corporate tax loopholes. health care must be revised to a single-payer system.
First and foremost, I would VOTE KUCINICH.
I strongly support Universal Health Care, and so does he. It’s the single most polarizing factor today between Labor and Management. Why should the Insurance Companies continue to reap profits that are coming right out of the pockets of both Workers AND the Businesses which employ them? GM and Ford are going UNDER, partly from the cost of paying for these benefits. To RETAIN a strong economy, AND a strong workforce, I submit that Single Payer Universal Health Care is one VIP answer.
Only Dennis is advocating that.
The other IMO, is to REPEAL NAFTA. Again, only Dennis is saying that he will do that.
Vote KUCINICH 2008!
It’s “of the people, by the people and for the people!” Remember, you’re people, so do what is best for the people.
I don’t think the labor movement should be giving the Democrats ANY money at all!
Obama and Clinton have received tens of MILLIONS of dollars fromt he same corporate interests that control the Republican G.O.P.(Greed Over People) Party.
Both Obama and Clinton want to retain the private for profit HMOs in any new health care system. Both want to retain troops in Iraq (that is continue the Bush foreign policy.)
WHAT SHOULD THE LABOR MOVEMENT DUE INSTEAD OF GIVING PRECIOUS DUES MONEY TO THE DEMOCRATS??
The labor movement should provide initial funding to create a new national radio network and national programing 24 hours a day, to provide economics news, inofrmation, education “of, by and for” the intersest of union members and all working people.
The mass media radio, television, continually propagandizes and brain-washes american people about the stock market, how wonder everything is, how we must have more wars, etc. The military has been “privatized” (corporatized) and is organized and run to maximize profit for the oil companies, etc. All this at the expense of average americans. Money essential for schools, health care, maintaining infrastructure (like New Orleans, Katrina damage), affordable housing, child care, etc. are being used for utterly useless things like walls along the border.
Working people never even get exposed to these issues about WHY the jobs are going over seas. WHY are most working people (and families) up to their ears in CREDIT CARD DEBT? Why are we working harder, longer hours and yet our living standards are constantly going down? Working people often find it impossible to “make ends meet”. What future is there for our children and grand-children? What must we do about these things to change the direction of this country??
We will NEVER hear about these things from the point of view of working people from the current corporate controlled tv networks. Labor movement must create it’s own media to tell the truth and to utlimately build the labor movement. And ultimately to build a NEW POLITICAL PARTY to represent the political needs of american working people.
Without out this effort, the labor movement will continue to decline and conditions in this country continue to degenerate until we are in a major recession or depression.
The more political power the people have, the less economic inequality they will suffer.
Although the pile of democratic nations has been growing, when the ability of U.S. voters to influence their government is considered, the U.S. voter is close to the bottom of that pile!
Some people always vote for the “lesser of two evils.” I say don’t vote to keep yourself politically powerless because its the smart thing to do. It’s not!
How important - to you the voter - is a system of government that provides limited representation - to you the voter! Most politicians, and the political class, have already made their value judgment - they accept the status-quo. I am just pointing out one value judgment you will probable have to make, more than once, in the next election.
Jack
Number one, adjust the cost of living (COL) index to reflect true day to day expenses including gas, food, utlilities, insurance premiums, etc not just the cost of a toaster or blender you buy once every few years!! This will force employers to face the real rising cost and negotiate saleries based on this true cost of living items. Number two, regulate these essential daily cost items to prevent price gouging and absourd profit taken by CEO’s who take hundreds of millions of dollars a year at the expense of the middle class family, enough is enough! How much do they really need or just have to have?? Who can afford a ticket to the ball games anymore were atheltes are making MILLIONS per year to PLAY games!!!! The Hollywood entertainers are just as bad raking in MILLIONS for ACTORS TO ACT nothing real essential being done by any of these groups, yet they make fistfuls of $$$$ while the scientist working on improving lives or cures for illnesses or the construction worker building our needed infrastructure (ie crumbling bridges) and factory workers and engineers building our future stuggle to feed, house, pay the bills and save for a family vacation. Priorities people is what needs to be changed for what we value, those who are contributing to improve our society should be justly rewarded and those who are parasites contributing little to improve our way of life should be regulated to tip the balance of wealth again to be properly restore the middle class. People you can start by simply finding something else to do when the ball game is on TV, maybe toss a ball around with your kids instead and instead of vegging on the sofa in front of the TV watching stupid reality shows, read or tell stories with your kids. Encourage your elected officals weekly by sending an email to keep in check the monthly utility bills and other day to day cost. Send the message that we are tired of paying for the rich to get richer doing next to nothing while we work hard for next to nothing!!!!!!!
appropriate that chicago is home of this debate, because this question should be asked of barak obama in his state of illinois. why barak did u vote against a measure to save united airline employees pensions? and is it not true, that you told rich michalsky of the international association of machinists, that in the end you could not vote against youre constituent united airlines on that bill? yes it is true! all of the members of the political action league can site many instances when barack screwed union members… but ofcourse that is not widely known… he has made committments to show up at union functions, and reneges at the last minute. and as a union member i have had it with him pretending to be on our side…
Candidates are running away from the jobs issue. Offshore outsourcing and use of “non-immigrant visa” workers (H-1b and L-1) are permanently eliminating the best middle class jobs for Americans. This country is not creating new, better middle class jobs as the free traders have claimed since NAFTA. It’s time for a change in direction and we need leaders who live in reality — not fantasy.
all candidates have talked cutting varios things. One thing I have I have I NOT heard is putting a freeze on Congree and the Senate giving themselve raises and the next President and Vice President not taking any salary. Also cutting back on the the use of Air Force One for politcal reasons.
Also I think all elected or selected offical should have to pay into SS.
All I ask is this, check out this Democrat candidate at http://www.citizendan2008.com
The long enjoyed tether to the Democratic Party must be removed as they have taken us down the wrong road for far too long. A most recent example is the immigration legislation – they gave an extra twist while pushing that one in our backs. Where is all the legislation for increasing minimum wage? Health care! We need health, not care! Look at what the FDA is doing to foods while they attempt to remove the ability to obtain vitamins and minerals that would return health to all. What are the majority Democrats doing about these issues? The health insurance plans are but another transfer of wealth and this too can be noted by the fact that 19% of the gross national product is medical related. Why has Congress not stopped exportation of our manufacturing jobs? Stopped the War?
Labor needs to stand behind the one candidate that who walks and talks our needs and that is Ron Paul. We need to vote not by party but by candidate as party politics is killing this country. We need to keep the fruits of our labor and not have it taxed out of us. Only Ron Paul stands for the Constitution, Freedom and Liberty for all of us so visit http://www.ronpaul2008.com and look for yourself at what this election is really about. RON PAUL 2008
Corporate Americia is not paying it’s fair share on wages or taxes.
Worker’s are not being very coopertive either—
before we really start falling apart why don’t we fix taxes, out of whack wages and prices and education too much or too little
the need of a large public works program to FIX THE INFRASTRUCTURE the private market WILL NOT.
Fund the government to do what it is supposed to do properly and USE your talents to the best of your ability for the good of the country NOT YOUR OWN PRIVATE GAIN.
Presidential candidates must take their heads out of the sand and be more responsive to the needs of American workers! !) End NAFTA, CAFTA and get out of the WTO! 2) Reinstate taxes cut by W for the wealthy! 3) Ban further export of U.S. jobs to Third World Countries! 4) Pass laws to protect U.S. workers right to organize, report safety violations and to support candidates of their choice! 5) Public workers deserve collective bargaining and right to strike just as their sisters and brothers in the private sector!
Ted Kennedy has proposed raising the minimum wage to $9.50 in the second half of 2009. This is very similar to–and slightly better than–a proposal I introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature in 2006 and 2007.
I would hope that the AFL-CIO would be able to help convince all the Democratic candidates to support it so that the Democrats would be proposing a meaningful increase in wages to millions of workers directly and indirectly.
In my opinion the greatest barrier to restoring the nation’s middle class, and improving wages at all income levels is the Republican Party’s hatred of unions. Beside the traditional ways business has to stop unions, illeagal firings and plant closings, the Republicans are really for illegal immigration since these people have very little chance to organize because of the fear of deportation.
I would like to suggest that every employer file any illegals they have working for them and give them green cards to work here. They would be permanent residents until they apply for citizenship, and unless they break the lw can’t be deported. This will allow unions to organize these workers, theus improving everyone’s wages. Anyone not working or a dependent of a worker would be deported.
If you think leaglizing these workers is so bad, then why are non-union businesses that employ them against this.
IF only we had a candidate that placed the Constitution as the law of the land we would not have the problems we are living with today. All labor needs to read up on Ron Paul. Resore the Constitution! Abolish the IRS and the Fed Reserve! Birng all of our children home; we cannot police the world and we have already sold a great deal of our childrens future.
If you think wages and taxes are bad today just wait and see what the future brings if you don’t seriously look at all the candidates. I know organized labor has stood with the Democrats but how deep in the water will the ship be before they realize it is sinking? Vote! But vote on the candidates record and just by party line.
http://www.ronpaul2008.com - No Tax - No IRS - No War!
You haven’t heard of Ron Paul? The people that have your money don’t want his message spread and have a national media black-out on him. You owe it to your grandchildren to at least get an idea of your options for their future.