What have Americans gained from their nation’s mountain of debt? A crumbling infrastructure, a manufacturing base that has declined 60 percent since World War II, a rise in the wealth gap, the lowest consumer-savings rate since the depths of the Great Depression, 50 million Americans without health insurance, an educational system in decline and a shrinking dollar that makes foreign travel a luxury.
Right.
A solution to the U.S. debt problem requires radical measures, including: the elimination of corporate tax loopholes, a reversal of tax breaks for the ultra-rich, a bipartisan campaign to eliminate budget “pork,” imposition of stringent limits on corporate debt and speculative lending, a vast reduction in military expenditure and, finally, an additional 50 cent per gallon gasoline tax that would slash the federal deficit, curtail energy waste and spur technological breakthroughs.
MmmHmm. I’m laughing with you, not at you. Who was that guy in the movies who said in a nasally voice, “It’ll never happen.”?
From the International Herald Tribute oped page. I completely agree, but clearly, he doesn’t live around these parts. Nonetheless, 100 points for speaking truth.
Next!
