an agenda for the 99%

In the wider world of course many exciting things have happened this past year. We managed to get to a handful of demonstrations against our governors attempts to usurp local democracy and break union contracts, and we’ve peripherally engaged in some of the occupy action here in Ann Arbor. Beth even got to visit Occupy Wall Street in New York, as well as Occupy Boston and Occupy Philly. I would have liked to have been much more involved in the “year of the protester.” I hope this coming year will give us all more opportunities to work for economic justice. Here is the top of my agenda:
Move to amend the constitution, we need to clarify with the constitution what should be obvious, corporations are not people, dollars are not speech. We need big money out of politics (http://movetoamend.org/).
Increase social funding from the rich, the dirty and financial speculators. The 1% do not create jobs with their excess they hoard it. Three taxes we should push for are a millionaire tax, a carbon tax and a financial transaction tax.
Increased social investment in a green infrastructure would be good for working people, good for economic growth, and good for the planet.
Demand a shorter work week. As industry continues to automate and unemployment is out of control we need to start the discussion of when and how to reduce the work week.
It’s time to end our foreign wars now. We need to address war preparation as well. With over 600 acknowledged military bases in foreign countries, and 54% of federal funds going to the military we need a plan to really cut the military and redesign foreign policy. The military doesn’t make us safer, only bankrupt.
Challenge racism and xenophobia. Divide and concur is how the 1% has always worked. Regrettably, in our subconscious, we all still carry some of this junk (https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/Study?tid=-1). There is still much work to do.
Shift from a corporate economy to more locally oriented and cooperative institutions. This past fall an exciting moment was when the occupy movement called on people to move their resources from the big corporate banks to credit unions. Credit unions are just one type of cooperative institution. 2012 is the UN international year of the coop. I plan to put some energy into organizing and celebrating the year of the coop (http://www.2012.coop/).