Which Side Are We On? By Sen. Bernie Sanders

[Demeter]

March 8, 2007

Which Side Are We On?

By Sen. Bernie Sanders


In early February, President Bush told a group of Wall Street executives that “income inequality is real; it’s been rising for more than 25 years. … And the question is whether we respond to the income inequality we see with policies that help lift people up, or tear others down.”...The administration claims we just don’t have the money to reduce childhood poverty or provide universal healthcare. Meanwhile, millionaires would receive an average tax break of $160,000 per year at a cost of $739 billion over the next decade. And, the president’s 2008 defense budget — $608 billion — is more than at the height of the Vietnam and Korean Wars.

Class warfare is being waged in America and the wrong side is winning. It is time for the new Democratic majority in Congress to stand with the working families of our country. It is time we offer a budget that reflects the needs of working people instead of the wealthy...We must ask: Which side are we on? Are we for the rich and the powerful or the middle class and working families?

As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, I see a pretty clear answer. I will not be voting for more tax breaks for the outgoing CEO of Home Depot, who recently received a $210 million golden parachute. Rather, I will be voting to substantially increase financial aid for low and middle class families so that every American, regardless of income, can receive a college education.

I will not support a tax cut for the former CEO of Pfizer, who received a $200 million compensation package. Instead, I will vote to substantially increase funding for childcare so that families can find affordable and quality care for their children.

The former CEO of ExxonMobil, who managed to get a $400 million retirement package, does not need more tax relief. It is far more important that we keep our promises to the veterans of this country who now find themselves on waiting lists to get the health care they need.

We should do nothing less.




http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3063/

[ninkasi]

1. Highly recommend!

This says it all
<snip>

"The former CEO of ExxonMobil, who managed to get a $400 million retirement package, does not need more tax relief".

Class warfare is being waged, but we didn't start it, and we're on the losing end, until the tax cuts for the multi-millionaires are rolled back.
Of course, Bush and the conservatives want even more tax breaks for the wealthy, more outsourcing of our jobs, and more companies avoided taxes by setting themselves tax shelters in the Caymans.

We need to take back control of our government, and stop bowing to the upper income groups. Class warfare? Damn right, but we haven't been fighting it yet, it's about time we did. There are a lot of laws and policies that need to be changed. Getting Republics out of office is a good start.

[yurbud]

2. a just war: invading the Caymans.