Robert Borosage of the Campaign for America's Future wrote me asking for suggestions for their upcoming conference...

Robert Borosage of the Campaign for America's Future wrote me asking for suggestions for their upcoming conference...

by Alan L. Maki on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 8:18am

This was my response---

On health care reform, I advised Robert Borosage:

The only solution to this entire health care mess is a National Public Health Care System-

* No fees/no premiums.

* Comprehensive, all inclusive; pre-natal to burial; including eyes, dental, mental.

* Universal- everyone in; nobody out.

* Publicly Funded and Financed.

* Publicly Administered.

* Publicly Delivered.

Pay for a National Public Health Care System by ending these dirty wars; taxing the rich; and, a pay-roll tax just like Social Security.

I asked Robert Borosage:

Why should we have to go through all of this incremental crap--- when Wall Street wants trillions of our tax dollars they insist on "getting it now?"

I told Robert Borosage:

The time has come for the working class to insist on "getting real health care reform now."

I explained to Robert Borosage:

Here we are living in the wealthiest country in the world with a President and Congress that think nothing of squandering our tax-dollars and the wealth of our Nation on dirty imperialist wars and millions of people lack access to health care with Obama delivering the "Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry Bail-out and Profit Maximization Act of 2010" and there are still liberals, progressives and leftists supporting this Wall Street health insurance salesman posing as a President.

For a real progressive alternative agenda, I proposed to Robert Borosage that the Campaign for America's Future discuss this:

A program for real change...

* Peace--- end the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and shutdown the 800 U.S. military bases on foreign soil. 

* A National Public Health Care System - ten million new jobs. 

* A National Public Child Care System - three to five million new jobs. 

* Works Progress Administration - three million new jobs. 

* Civilian Conservation Corps - two million new jobs. 

* Tax the hell out of the rich and cut the military budget by ending the wars to pay for it all which will create full employment. 

* Enforce Affirmative Action; end discrimination. 

* Raise the minimum wage to a real living wage 

* What tax-payers subsidize in the way of businesses, tax-payers should own and reap the profits from. 

* Moratorium on home foreclosures and evictions. 

* Defend democracy by defending workers' rights including the right to collective bargaining for improving the lives and livelihoods of working people. 

* Roll-back and freeze the price of food, electricity, gas and heating fuels; not wages, benefits or pensions. 

* Wall Street is our enemy.

How is Barack Obama's Wall Street war economy working for you? 

Let's talk about the politics and economics of livelihood for a real change.

I suggested to Robert Borosage he spend more time reading my blog instead of paying attention to all the studies from the "think-tanks" funded by Wall Street philanthropists who profit from the wars, the health care mess and all of our other problems:

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com

--

Alan L. Maki

Director of Organizing,

Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

 

58891 County Road 13

Warroad, Minnesota 56763

Phone: 218-386-2432

Cell: 651-587-5541

Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net

E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com

Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

A guest blog about the struggle against poverty in Latin America by Brian McAfee

Brian McAfee

2838 Mason Blvd.

Muskegon Hts., Michigan 49444

USA

(231) 737-8726

brimac6@hotmail.com


Ecuador's Increase In Social Spending Has Lifted Many Out Of Poverty

by Brian McAfee


Ecuador's social spending for the past four years, since President Rafael Correa took office, has quadrupled compared to the amount spent by his predecessors.

Prensa Latina reports that "Since President Correa took office four years ago, 15.851 billion USD has been invested in public works, 2.9 times more then during the three previous governments combined".

An important aspect of President Correa's policies has been a noticeable and ongoing reduction in poverty.

In 2009 38.3 percent of the population lived below the poverty line, in 2010 it was 35.1 and now in 2011 it is at 33.1 and is expected to continue declining. Public investment has been on the rise from 2.4 billion in 2007, 3.450 billion in 2008, 5.66 billion in 2009 and 5.331 billion in 2010.

In 2001 50% of the GDP earnings was used to pay Ecuador's foreign debt. Today the Correa government pays 15% of the GDP to the foreign debt the majority of the rest of the balance going to investments in public and social work projects for the common good.

Similar Pro People programs are now at work in Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil's new President, Dilma Rouseff, and, perhaps, with Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez. Also, Uruguay's President Jose Mujica.

A possible addition to Latin America's Leftist Presidents as Peru's June 5 election could result in the election of Ollanta Humala, another potential Leftist. 



I welcome any thoughts or comments contact me at: brimac6@hotmail.com

Brian McAfee