Quote:
Originally Posted by drcampbell
That's basically what Jimmy Carter and the Green Party have been saying since 1979.
But no, 70%-imported petroleum isn't a problem. Not an economic problem, not a national-security problem.
We didn't go to Viet Nam over oil, either. Nope, no oil there. It was all about dominoes.
Home page of Petrovietnam website |
Today in America the best paid one-fifth of the population receives about one half of all national income, while the bottom one-fifth receives less than 4 per cent. The distribution of wealth in America is even more unfair. Here, the top one-half per cent of all property owners control over 25% of all wealth; while the top 5% sit on nearly 70% of wealth and property. What chance does the average person have for exercising his or her democratic rights under these conditions!
Behind this unfair distribution of wealth and income stand a few giant corporations who own or control nearly all newspapers, television networks and radio stations, movie companies, book publishers, and other sources of information and means of communication. Both of America's major political parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, are dependent on these corporations and the few super-rich individuals and families associated with them. In fact, nearly all major offices in the US government, whether elected or appointed, are filled by individuals from this corporate network. What chance does democracy have under such conditions? What chance does nature and the environment have?
Clean natural gas??? Nope not these guys
LNG: The Next Battle Line
Clean coal? nope not these guys
Nuclear? nope.
Wind well only is there is no possibility of ZERO birds ever flying into it!!!
Solar? Well only after years of research to see is solar has any bad effects on the environment.
Drilling? you're kidding.
So 6 or more things are off the table, anyone that makes money is bad and their solution is WHAT? solutions....solutions who needs solutions we (them) only tell you what we don't want?
How about Iran?
GPUSA deplores the continuing escalation of this administration's war-like rhetoric, which includes calling Iran one of the "axis of evil'" pushing for sanctions at the UN and Vice President Cheney's calling for air strikes against Iran. It is a supreme irony that this administration calls Iran a threat to world peace while it is the United States' illegal war and occupation of Iraq,
Cheney wants to bomb Iran? I missed that one???
Jews and Israel? Nope don't like them either.
Greens/Green Party USA condemns the massive air strikes against Lebanon and the continuing raids and missile strikes against Gaza by Israel. The US government has condoned and encouraged Israel by arming it and when the many countries in the world were asking for a cease fire, the US has resisted up to now, hoping that Israel will be able to eliminate Hamas in Palestine and Hizbullah in Lebanon.
How to get even in hard times?
States can help their people by:
1.
Eliminating all corporate subsidies and tax breaks. Corporations complain, but they pay fewer taxes than they did 25 years ago. This would give us billions nationally every year.
2.
Saying "yes" to new taxes if they benefit people, not corporations. Tax luxury boats, expensive cars, jewelry, furs, and
heavy taxes on personal and corporate income over $500.000, no taxes on personal incomes below $25,000.
3.
Eliminating 2/3 of state universities' administrators, which would free up millions in every state for tuition breaks and more teaching faculty.
Building community gardens and driving able-bodied people on welfare and their children to the gardens regularly to grow their own food, saving us money and teaching self-reliance.
3. NO tax rebates because they do NOT help the neediest. In order to qualify for a tax rebate, one must make enough money to pay taxes. Millions of people do not. Instead, allocate grants so that every adult has at least $1,000 a month to live on.
4. Social Security tax stops being taken out of people's paychecks after they've grossed $102,000. in any given year.
I propose states start taking the same amount at that point, then start again after the $102,000. mark is reached each year. No one making that kind of money will even notice.
5. Eliminating control of pesticides from state agriculture departments, which never saw a pesticide they didn't like. Put pesticide control in with other hazardous chemicals departments where they belong. This should save millions of dollars in each state and provide better oversight of these too-ubiquitous poisons.
6.
Encouraging people to share their homes, and give willing homeowners grants to make separate apartments, either to save fuel in winter or year-round. States could lease large homes so several women on welfare and their children could live together.
Single moms can then share household costs and chores, grow gardens, and get jobs because they'll be sharing child care.
7. States set example on energy conservation:
Turn off room lights in all State building rooms with windows, letting the sun provide natural light;
Encourage public agencies to set thermostats at no more than 60-62 degrees in winter and 75-78 in summer;
encourage people to dress for the weather, not the latest half-naked fashion. I say this as I sit here in my 56 degree farmhouse wearing three pairs of socks, long underwear, turtleneck with two wool sweaters on top while the thermometer outside reads 5 degrees. Here in Maine we dress appropriately or freeze to death;
Turn out streetlights nearly everywhere. This alone would result in huge energy savings and taxpayers' money throughout the country;
8. Do not encourage more methane burners as at certain older dumps or manure piles, since methane is a key greenhouse gas;
9.
Do not support the importation of LNG, since burning LNG also leads to global warming;
10.
Break up the big power grids, build more local power generators-wind, solar, small hydro, etc.--so we aren't all power-less when one little squirrel gets into a generator three states away. Also, rural people should not have to pay for huge, energy-generating facilities to keep heedless cities' air conditioning and lights on all night;
11. Any new
prisons should be large, organic farms so inmates can grow their own food and be taught useful life skills.
12.
States should purchase all the oil used in their state at best possible price using their superior buying power (
from Venezuela, most likely), pass those savings along to oil dealers, who will pass the savings on to customers.
13. States should
buy efficient wood stoves and sell them at cost to low-income people who need them, along with a safety course. Everyone should have backup for when the power goes out, as it does, and will more from now on as we move into more frenetic weather events. WOOD STOVES??? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!1111
14. "Economic Development" (read "I want to make money from this") people bemoan the fact that there are too many older and retired people. Having many older people should be cause for rejoicing. Older people spend locally, are involved in virtually no crime or drug dealing, have no small children to raise our school taxes, have low accident rates, and are good citizens.
15. Retired people should be treated as a precious resource, full of knowledge, who can be called upon to help guide local affairs and mentor younger people.
16. Health care: let's pool our money and self-insure. Already insured: Social Security and disability recipients, prisoners, current and ex-military, federal and state employees, federal and state legislatures, governors, university employees, people on welfare, Indian tribes, homeless and others in total penury (it's called "emergency room," and we end up paying for it, as most of the above), and some fortunate corporate employees whose health care packages haven't yet been shredded. With so many already health-insured, it should be a rather simple matter to turn health care into one, big, all-inclusive system, thereby saving billions in corporate insurance companies' "overhead" and bloated profits.
17. Stop allowing our natural resources to be wasted by simply dumping "garbage" into pits. Re-use all reusables, compost food waste, recycle everything possible, take buildings apart carefully so still-good materials can be re-used. This will save tipping fees and help keep our woods and waters clean.
18.
Banks should be leaned on to provide low interest rates to lower-income people struggling to pay their mortgages. This is an important task for states' governors. SO THEY GO OUT OF BUSINESS?
But, in order to effect Real Change, we need to have Real Democracy where We, the People, make the decisions that affect our lives.
This country has been disgraced by the actions of a few in the eyes of the world. We. the People, can help restore the respect of the world by our good works.
Do right, and risk consequences.
Nancy Oden is an environmental and political activist. She lives in Jonesboro, Maine
THIS PERSON AND THE GREEN PARTY SMOKED POT IN THE 60' AND HAVE NOT STOPPED!!!
2005 Chev Duramax/Allison 3500LS DRW Crew Cab
2006 Chev 6.0L/4L80e 3500WT DRW Ex-Cab 9'Flat-GN
