Let's talk about the politics and economics of livelihood

Are you fed up?

Let's talk about the politics and economics of livelihood from a working class point of view

Published by: Alan L. Maki... a rank-and-file working class activist

Retired member of Unite-H.E.R.E. Local 17

Contact info: Phone: 651-587-5541    E-mail: red_finn@live.com

Check out my blog on the Internet: The Podunk Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/

There is a crisis Wall Street's bribed politicians and and over-paid pundits and “economists” refuse to talk about:

The “cost-of-living crisis” which every single working class family has to grapple with in trying to make ends meet on constantly dwindling pay-checks.

As prices rise our pay-checks dwindle because we can't purchase as much.

As workers we create the wealth from which Wall Street profits but we get less and less in return for our labor and the Wall Street parasites exploiting us get more and more.

We, as workers, have a right to have a say in the decision-making process. In spite of all the talk about democracy, workers have been systematically excluded from the political and economic decision-making processes which affects our lives.

No one wants to talk about the relationship between wages and cost-of-living; what goods and services we can purchase with our wages... or, what we can't purchase with our wages--- things like health care.

When we can't purchase the basic necessities of life with our wages we are poor.

Why is it so hard for the over-paid pundits and party hacks to figure out what poverty is?

Politicians bribed by employers use the levers of government like Minimum Wage legislation to hold wages down but do nothing to keep prices from rising.

Prices rise for several reasons.

The two main reasons for rapid price increases are bloated military spending and monopoly price-fixing.

When the government will pay any price for anything from oil and gas to food, medicine and clothing to keep the military machine going this pushes up the prices of everything we need to live, too.

Monopoly price-fixing. The huge monopolies set their prices based on what they think the market will bear. It makes no difference to them whether people can afford to eat or access health care or drive to work at their poverty wage paying jobs. Maximum profits is their only concern.

In spite of all the talk about “free markets” there is very little free market when the huge monopolies dominate the economy and life of the country.

We need a government of, by and for the people--- We The People; isn't this supposed to be what our country is about?

We need a government which will use its power to bring the Minimum Wage in line with actual “cost-of-living” factors.

Working people without jobs are going to be poor.

Politicians talk about “jobs, jobs, jobs” but once elected refuse to make themselves legislatively responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment.

The hypocrisy is endless and never-ending just like the wars, poverty and unemployment.

We need a government which will work for peace, people and the environment first.

Wall Street is running this country; this is the main problem.

As working people, we need to challenge Wall Street for political and economic power. Power should not be in the hands of the greedy few who find wars more profitable than peace. Poverty amidst such tremendous wealth is morally unacceptable.

This is the richest country in the world. If we can't put an end to poverty what other country can?

These wars are making us all poor as the wealth of the Nation created by workers is squandered on militarism and wars.

The large pool of unemployed, under-employed and workers employed at poverty wages drives all wages down.

These Wall Street employers profit from low wages in the same way they profit from these never-ending dirty wars.

Wages going down; prices going up. This is what has created the “cost-of-living crisis” no one wants to talk about.

Working class families caught up in this “cost-of-living crisis” are cautioned to “be patient” and more “frugal.” We are preached to by the politicians that we must be satisfied with “inching our way to economic justice;” that reforms must be carried out “incrementally” in “baby steps” so as not to offend the Wall Street overlords.

Democrats are pushing a form of “populist economics” using progressive sounding rhetoric but free from real solutions to our problems which doesn't consider the link between lack of healthcare, crumbling infrastructure, underfunded public schools, poverty, unemployment, racism and militarism and wars.

As a society, we need these Wall Street parasites about as much as dogs need ticks and fleas.

The “cost-of-living” crisis is about poverty.

Politicians can put on a huge “bi-partisan” blitz to drum up support for their dirty wars.

Politicians can put on a blitz to finance stadiums for the billionaire owners of professional sports teams.

So, why can't these same politicians put on a blitz to end this “cost-of-living crisis” and poverty?

Politics in this country is like buying a package of pork chops at the super-market... the bad ones are always hidden on the bottom... and we sure got a bad one with Donald Trump but Hillary Clinton was just as bad leaving us with little choice... just like buying the family pack of pork chops--- the bad ones are hidden and covered with a couple good ones. Everything becomes a racket under capitalism... and workers are forced to pay the price... be the price war or the “cost-of-living crisis” neither of which Wall Street's bribed politicians from the Democratic or Republican parties are ever going to do anything about.

Working people need a new political party.

Our agenda would be very straightforward and simple:
Campaign for a “21^st Century Full Employment Act for Peace and Prosperity”

We are fed up with politicians campaigning on promises of “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” and then failing to make themselves legislatively responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment.

We are fed up with our tax dollars being squandered on militarism and wars instead of being used to create jobs by solving the problems of the people and defending our living environment… its time to beat swords into plowshares. Put people to work solving the problems of the people.

A National Public Health Care System would create over twelve-million new jobs paying real living wages providing people with free health care---  general medical, eyes, ears, dental, family planning and mental health--- through a network of neighborhood and community health care centers; this is a better use of our tax-dollars than wasting our human and financial resources on a far flung empire of over 800 U.S. military bases around the world. Or, it could be financed the same way Social Security is financed. Public funding. Public administration. Public delivery… nothing controversial; just like public education.

A National Public Child Care System would create over three-million new jobs providing working class families with free child care.

We need to restore C.E.T.A., WPA and CCC.

“At Will Employment” legislation in states across the country needs to be rescinded to expand democracy in the workplace and provide workers with the right to freely participate in the communities where they live.

All attacks on immigrant workers, documented and undocumented, need to end.

Planned Parenthood needs to be defended and programs expanded.

We insist Congress and the president enact full employment legislation which makes them legislatively responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment; assure everyone who wants a job employment at real living wages in line with the actual cost-of-living.

Full employment would provide stability for Social Security; everyone paying in; everyone getting something out.  Pensions must be honored and protected. The Wall Street swindle of pension funds must end. Restore the Glass-Steagall Act.

We are entitled to a Peace Dividend.

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