THE UNIVERSAL ECONOMY UNIT IV: THE FOLLY OF THE “BALANCED BUDGET”
We’ve heard it a thousand times. . . “I have to balance my budget. Why shouldn’t the government?” I have to pay my bills. Why shouldn’t the government? Politicians of every stripe jump on board. “Government spending is out of control!” “The deficit is unsustainable!” “We’re mortgaging our children’s future!”
But each of these statements is based on false or deliberately misleading premises regarding the monetary functioning of the U.S. Federal Government. Each assumes the government has no money of its own and must tax or borrow from the ...
NOW HEAR THIS
Once upon a time, people reserved loud outbursts for very special occasions.
HELP! FIRE! CHARGE!
In each case, the raised voice with its guttural message alerted anyone within earshot that an emergency required their immediate attention. Or in the case of warfare, now was the time to kill or be killed.
We respond to shouting both physically and emotionally as adrenalin dumps into our system. Our hands may form fists, our jaw clenches, our heart rate accelerates. Psychological studies have shown the negative effects of shouting.
In the mid-1980s, a certain ...
Tax Fairness
While President Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Representative Sean Duffy and other Republicans are trying to convince us that the December 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act is benefiting the working class, more evidence is surfacing that proves it is a tax bill of, by and for the rich.
A recent analysis by Americans for Tax Fairness, a political advocacy group devoted to tax reform, found:
Only 67 of the Fortune 500 corporations have announced plans to share their tax cuts with employees.
Only 4.3 percent of workers will receive a one-time bonus or wage increase tied ...
Corporations Are People?
“This is a crucial time in the fight for corporate civil rights. Just look at the hateful signs at Occupy Wall Street: 'Corporations Are Not People!' Wow, I thought we were past the point in this country where some people aren't people just because they have different color skin or different religion or were born in a lawyer's office, only exist on paper, have no soul and can never die.” Stephen Colbert, comedian
“I'll believe corporations are people when Texas executes one”. Robert Reich, economist.
We are moving into another election season. We all know ...
Celebrating Sustainability on Earth Day
Whether sustainability means keeping Earth's environment and climate healthy and stable for our well-being and that of all her living creatures, or whether sustainability means keeping our State and our Country competitive in the rapidly growing renewable energy economy – or both - Earth Day in Wausau has something for you. This Earth Day celebration is for everyone and people of all perspectives will be treated with respect. A healthy planet and a healthy economy benefit us all.
From keynote speaker Scott Coenen, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Conservative ...
Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Day is April 18, 2018. This year’s focus is Ending Plastic Pollution. Single-use plastics are a growing menace to the health of our planet.
The goal is to get rid of single-use plastics. Educate people about the health risks connected with the use and disposal of plastics, including pollution of our oceans, water and wildlife.
Plastics poison and injure marine life. Plastics in our food disrupt human hormones. Earth Day 2018 promotes 100% recycling of plastics as well as alternatives to fossil-fuel based materials. Educate people worldwide to reject, reduce, ...
KEEP WISCONSIN ELECTIONS SECURE
(Karen McKim is Co-ordinator of www.WisconsinElectionIntegrity, org)
Democracy will appreciate it if you contact the WI Elections Commission in the next few days to tell them to seek newly available federal funds to bring routine election auditing to Wisconsin.
Election security is finally getting some of the official attention it has long needed. Mark Pocan has sponsored legislation, HR1562, the Secure America's Future Election Act, which would make unaudited elections illegal. However, we can get improvement in Wisconsin before Pocan’s bill passes (it won't, at ...
Fixing the National Debt with Better Alternatives
Government, like individuals, borrows money and has debt. Debt can be a problem if you have too much and can't make the payments. It can be a problem if you are using debt for the wrong reasons. Partying on the credit card is not good. Using debt to invest in your future (buying a house, starting a business, going to college) can be a wise choice. Unfortunately much of our federal spending is not spent wisely to build the public good or invest in our people's future.
There are three major causes of federal debt: excessive military spending, excessive health care costs, ...
THE UNIVERSAL ECONOMY UNIT III: SUMMER CAMP AND FIAT MONEY
Imagine boy scouts at summer camp. They are living in the “Buffalo” cabin and “Sam” is their adult troop leader. Camp is fun, but there is much to be done to ensure the cabin functions smoothly. Floors swept, beds made, trash carried out, bathroom cleaned, food prepared, dishes washed, fire wood split and so on. Sam spends lots of time cajoling the scouts to do their chores.
Tired of the “battle,” Sam decides to create a “money” system that allows his scouts to earn payment for doing their chores which can then be exchanged for things each boy ...