Rep. Grayson’s “War Is Making You Poor” Act

Posted on May 25, 2010 by evan_austin

Have you seen this?  Representative Alan Grayson of Florida’s 8th Congressional District introduced the “War Is Making You Poor” Act (Hr 5353), which aims to cut the Department of Defense budget and use the money to make the first $35,000 each American earns tax-free.

AlterNet says “Budgeting is all about priorities, and the bill can raise public awareness of that fact. The Right has done a remarkable job convincing the American public that tax dollars used for programs that help the middle class or the poor are dollars “taken out of your pocket,” but no such consideration is given to the trillions spent on financing our military operations.”

Think this is an idea worth supporting? Let our Congresspeople know.  Start with Elton Gallegly, and we might as well give Senators Boxer and Feinstein a heads-up too.  While we’re at it, let the President know this is hot!


Contact Congressman Gallegly (Our zip+4 is 93023-2259)

Contact Senator Boxer

Contact Senator Feinstein

Contact President Obama

Filed under: Afghanistan, economy, Iraq, peace, video, war | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Tax Day Priorities

Posted on April 16, 2010 by evan_austin

NotMyPriorities.org federal spending pie chart

from NotMyPriorities.org

So today was (is, really, until midnight) Tax Day in America, and while some will clamor that income taxes are illegal and shouldn’t be paid at all, others will offer reasons and ways to resist paying all or part of one’s taxes on moral/philosophical grounds.  Still others are disgruntled at the extra cash they shell out simply because their marriage is not recognized by the nation, and the Tea Partiers will be doing whatever the hell it is that they do, and deleting differing viewpoints from their Facebook pages.

Tax Day in America seems to me to be an excellent time to check in on our national priorities, for two reasons: 1) in this capitalist nation, where we’ve spent our money is a clear indicator of where our priorities are NOW, and 2) while everyone’s mind is on the money they’re paying and expecting back, including our politicians, is a great time to have a discussion about how we want our money – capitalism’s word for “priorities” – to be invested in the future.

Obviously the wars are fucking us over in every way. If that language is too strong for you, check out how you might be avoiding or denying the realities of war, both on the battlefields and back here at home.  Our language has exceptionally strong words like that for a reason, and i can think of no better application than here.

(more…)

Filed under: Afghanistan, blog, California, economy, education, Healthcare, housing, Human Rights, Iraq, Ojai, peace, tax, war, website | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

My Economic Stimulus Package : End the F#*%ing War!

Posted on February 2, 2008 by evan_austin

i don’t pretend to know a whole lot about economics or all the troubles that the housing market is in right now, but i’m comfortable enough to know that certain frivolities of society (schools, roads, health care, etc) are feeling a pinch. i also tend to believe educated economists when they say that a declining housing market and general loss of net jobs are sure signs of what they call “recession”.

i get a little bit worried when, despite January’s unemployment rate being higher than December’s, President Bush claims that “for the first time in 52 months, we didn’t create jobs.” i become alarmed when he says that our economy is in a “rough patch“, as though the financial standings of the world’s only superpower are a neglected corner of his ranch.

what i DO know is that the occupation of and war on Iraq is costing the United States $720 Million every day of the tax money we’re about to send more of. locally, that amounts to $487 Million from Ventura County alone to pay for fiscal year 2007, with FY2008 estimated to cost OUR COUNTY $550 Million. that’s a lot of money. how much?

225,932 People with Health Care OR
980,187 Homes with Renewable Electricity OR
10,235 Public Safety Officers OR
8,203 Music and Arts Teachers OR
84,479 Scholarships for University Students OR
42 New Elementary Schools OR
1,647 Affordable Housing Units OR
205,194 Children with Health Care OR
65,285 Head Start Places for Children OR
8,299 Elementary School Teachers OR
7,353 Port Container Inspectors

so President Bush thinks that sending us a little tax rebate in June will help. maybe it will…like i said, i’m no expert. but good thing there ARE experts, and a lot of them seem to be saying that it won’t help. or worse, that it amounts to a corporate tax break with little effect where it’s intended: among The People.

so i say “End the War”, and keep millions of dollars in local economies from the start. maybe we need to act locally and adopt a City resolution against the war like Los Angeles and Santa Barbara have. it might take some convincing that $4,100 per household of war costs and the 15 killed soldiers from Ventura County really are local issues, and that we have both the power and responsibility to do something about it.

Filed under: Bush, economy, housing, Iraq, resolution, tax, war | Leave a Comment »

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