Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency released a major report on the biggest sources of climate change pollution in the United States -- and two dirty coal plants in Georgia are at the top of the list.1
The plants are both owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company, which also owns the third biggest polluter, a coal plant in Alabama.
Southern Company's response to the EPA's report was outrageous, claiming that "the company is a leader in environmental research, development and implementation." But the facts don't lie, and
Southern Company needs to know that Georgia residents want the company to clean up its act by drastically reducing its pollution and investing in clean energy.
Tell Southern Company: Georgia residents deserve clean air. Invest in clean energy and stop leading the country in climate pollution.
The two Southern Company coal plants at the top of EPA's list -- Plant Sherer in Juliette and Plant Bowen near Cartersville -- dump a combined 43 million metric tons of climate pollution into the air each year.2 That's a massive contribution to climate change, and it needs to stop.
In addition to the greenhouse gases Southern Company's dirty coal plants in Georgia pump into the atmosphere, the plants are also huge sources of other forms of deadly air pollution like mercury, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
According to a recent report by the Clean Air Task Force, pollution from these two coal plants alone causes 330 premature deaths and more than 5,000 asthma attacks annually.3
Tell Southern Company: Georgia residents deserve clean air. Invest in clean energy and stop leading the country in climate pollution.
To make matters worse, while Southern Company's dirty coal plants are killing Georgia residents and making them sick, the company has spent millions of dollars lobbying Congress to weaken and block environmental regulations.4 In fact, Southern Company had more lobbyists working to defeat Congress' 2009 climate change legislation than any other company.5
It is far past time for Southern Company to end its role as one of the worst polluters in the United States and begin investing in cleaner sources of energy that can fuel our economy without destroying the plant and harming public health.
Tell Southern Company: Georgia residents deserve clean air. Invest in clean energy and stop leading the country in climate pollution. ( http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/southern_company_georgia/?r_by=33466-3594457-orTRUmx&rc=confemail )
1. Southern Company Plants are 3 Biggest Greenhouse Gas Emitters, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 1/11/12
2. EPA Report Reveals Top Ten Greenhouse Gas Emitting Power Plants in U.S., Climate Progress, 1/12/12
3. Death and Disease from U.S. Power Plants, Clean Air Task Force
4. Southern Company Lobbyists, Sourcewatch
5. Southern Company Dominates the Climate Lobbying Scene, Grist, 7/1/09
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
Saturday, January 14, 2012
If Congress Sits Together, Will They Work Together?
No Labels, a nonprofit nonpartisan advocacy group feels they now have a new winning idea. They want Congress to sit together, with a member of the opposite party, they especially want them to do it during the State of the Union Address. This gesture, even if every member of the House and the Senate do it, is trivial and ceremonial. I don’t mean to be mean or rude to the organization of No Labels, but getting people to sit together won’t get them to work together, necessarily. Go back to high school and you will realize just how stubborn people can be. I wish that the people in Congress would work together, but I also realize that they won’t. The system they are working in is set up for compromise, but not cooperation. It’s interesting to see how these two parties, both bought by Big Banks and Big Business, trick us into thinking they stand, fight for and pass two different things. At the end of the day they still raise our debt ceiling, still give tax loopholes to GE and Wal-Mart and still raise our taxes.
I appreciate the fundamental message of No Labels, but I don’t think that this current effort is going to prove very effective, and I hope that soon they will redirect their followers to doing something more productive then encouraging their representatives to sit with someone of the opposite party.
- Joshua Fisher
@JAFThrasher
@OccupyWestWing
J.Fisher2028@yahoo.com
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
I appreciate the fundamental message of No Labels, but I don’t think that this current effort is going to prove very effective, and I hope that soon they will redirect their followers to doing something more productive then encouraging their representatives to sit with someone of the opposite party.
- Joshua Fisher
@JAFThrasher
@OccupyWestWing
J.Fisher2028@yahoo.com
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
Friday, January 13, 2012
And I Watched The Results Come In
The New Hampshire Primary Polls closed at 8PM on January 10th, 2012. I was at JW Hill’s on the corner of Elm and Merrimack St. in Manchester, New Hampshire. It had been a hard month of work, and I couldn’t believe that I was reaching the end of a chapter. I was hopeful and optimistic. Would I have been there if I wasn’t? The media never really missed a beat to rain on my parade, however.
At 11% of returns CNN (Not saying they were the first or the official, it was just the channel I was watching at the time) announced Mitt Romney the winner of the New Hampshire Primary. With New Hampshire being a winner take all state this depressed me, but I kept my head up, Governor Roemer could have still placed well, and still garnered more media attention then he was getting under the current black out. Besides, as I talked to many of Roemer’s supporters at the bar and grill they said they would be happy if they could just beat Perry. With that, I suppose, we had something to strive for.
At 8:15 both USA Today and The Atlanta Journal Constitution lined up with CNN. At this point I got tired of watching results and decided I would start to interview some of the supporters that surrounded me.
The first gentleman I interviewed was named James Niles Joyal. Mr. Joyal said that he supported Buddy because of his focus on campaign finance reform and the fact that the Governor has integrity. He said that Roemer, “Isn’t running for himself, he’s running for an issue.” This statement was made in looking at other candidates like Mitt Romney. (I’ll also plug for Mr. Joyal at this time. He has a music project called The People’s Music that has just released an album on Itunes called “Hell Yeah Generation” I haven’t checked it out yet, but you should.)
The next supporter I talked to was a sweet lady from Boston whom I’ve had the great fortune of working with quite a few times during my time on the campaign. She says that she, “100% believe(s) his (Governor Roemer’s) message that we won’t change a thing until we get special interests out of the room.” She also believes that there is no difference between Romney and Obama (An idea I agree with and that I think the records at OpenSecrets.org could support).
The next person I interviewed was the most interesting because of his experience and history in politics. A former Hillary Clinton and then Barack Obama supporter who now believes fully in Buddy Roemer’s message had this to say about working on previous political campaigns, “I hated working for people who money was their thing, where candidates would work more on fundraising then on their message.”
When I asked him why he didn’t go with Obama in 2012 he said that everything about Barack Obama disappointed him. He felt that Obama used a bait and switch method in his campaign.
The two things that resonated within everyone I talked to was a disappointment with President Obama and with Big Money and Special Interests buying politicians and ergo, legislation preferable to what they wanted. On that note, I don’t want to leave you with the fact that the only candidate fighting these things didn’t even get 1% of the vote in New Hampshire, I want to instead leave you with a few things to hopefully keep you going in this long uphill battle.
First I want to start with Governor Buddy Roemer’s speech where he says, “I am NOT suspending my campaign for President!” (The link may end up at the bottom of the blog, if it does I apologize.)
Governor Roemer isn’t going to quit! He’s going to fight on to and through Arizona and Michigan
and even on from there, will you stand with him on this issue? Whether you do or not, do not think that the office of President is the only way in which to make a change in this situation.
The second thing you can do is go to GetMoneyOut.com and sign the petition.
Third, you can write to your representatives, from dogcatcher to President.
Fourth, you can write Letters to the Editors and utilize all forms of classic and social media to get the word out.
Fifth, watch who you vote for. Do they have big money or special interest money? You can track these things at OpenSecrets.org , VoteSmart.org , or FollowtheMoney.org.
Let me ask you this. What could it mean for you if your Congressman is a Republican who, through the national party war chest, received money from Morgan Stanley? What could it mean for you if your Senator is a Democrat who, through the national party war chest, received money from GE? Have you thought about it?
Sixth, consider vetting and joining your local Occupy Movement and/or Tea Party.
Lastly, consider how your shopping affects the situation. Buying goods from other countries, especially at low prices, could mean the people who made it were forced to work in sweatshops. Buying in Big Box stores puts Mom and Pop shops out of business. The only people who profit from any of us buying a product made in China from Wal-Mart are Big Corporations and the Chinese Government. Is that what you want?
On a closing note about the current situation, based on the results of the New Hampshire Primary, Obama only received 82% of the votes with no serious primary. 10% write-in with one Democratic candidate getting 2%. Is Obama a popular choice of the people?
Every time I write a political blog, I think about a couple of the women I’ve been with. How little they believed that politics could be changed. They had no belief that they could change anything about the system of government they lived under. And so after having debates about Civic Duty with them, I now have that internal argument within myself almost on a daily basis. Do I have plenty of other things I could focus on? Sure! Novels and poems don’t write themselves, neither do video games beat themselves, books read themselves or records listen to themselves. I have a lot of reasons not to pursue my civic responsibilities, but I do, because I HAVE to believe I could make a difference, for my own sanity. **
So I write on. I write my blog. I write letters to newspapers and to representatives. I prepare to run for office and stay up to obscene hours reading news articles and contemplating change. Not because it is the one and only thing I want to do with my life. I am a poet and a hopeless romantic. I am a writer and a thinker. I am a lover and an admirer of romance and nature, but this is something I feel I HAVE to do!
- Joshua A. Fisher
@JAFThrasher
@OccupyWestWing
J.Fisher2028@yahoo.com
** As an addendum to that paragraph, I don’t mean to call anyone out in a negative fashion. Nothing I said was meant to offend. They are true statements of how my mind and heart work. I hope no offense is taken.
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
At 11% of returns CNN (Not saying they were the first or the official, it was just the channel I was watching at the time) announced Mitt Romney the winner of the New Hampshire Primary. With New Hampshire being a winner take all state this depressed me, but I kept my head up, Governor Roemer could have still placed well, and still garnered more media attention then he was getting under the current black out. Besides, as I talked to many of Roemer’s supporters at the bar and grill they said they would be happy if they could just beat Perry. With that, I suppose, we had something to strive for.
At 8:15 both USA Today and The Atlanta Journal Constitution lined up with CNN. At this point I got tired of watching results and decided I would start to interview some of the supporters that surrounded me.
The first gentleman I interviewed was named James Niles Joyal. Mr. Joyal said that he supported Buddy because of his focus on campaign finance reform and the fact that the Governor has integrity. He said that Roemer, “Isn’t running for himself, he’s running for an issue.” This statement was made in looking at other candidates like Mitt Romney. (I’ll also plug for Mr. Joyal at this time. He has a music project called The People’s Music that has just released an album on Itunes called “Hell Yeah Generation” I haven’t checked it out yet, but you should.)
The next supporter I talked to was a sweet lady from Boston whom I’ve had the great fortune of working with quite a few times during my time on the campaign. She says that she, “100% believe(s) his (Governor Roemer’s) message that we won’t change a thing until we get special interests out of the room.” She also believes that there is no difference between Romney and Obama (An idea I agree with and that I think the records at OpenSecrets.org could support).
The next person I interviewed was the most interesting because of his experience and history in politics. A former Hillary Clinton and then Barack Obama supporter who now believes fully in Buddy Roemer’s message had this to say about working on previous political campaigns, “I hated working for people who money was their thing, where candidates would work more on fundraising then on their message.”
When I asked him why he didn’t go with Obama in 2012 he said that everything about Barack Obama disappointed him. He felt that Obama used a bait and switch method in his campaign.
The two things that resonated within everyone I talked to was a disappointment with President Obama and with Big Money and Special Interests buying politicians and ergo, legislation preferable to what they wanted. On that note, I don’t want to leave you with the fact that the only candidate fighting these things didn’t even get 1% of the vote in New Hampshire, I want to instead leave you with a few things to hopefully keep you going in this long uphill battle.
First I want to start with Governor Buddy Roemer’s speech where he says, “I am NOT suspending my campaign for President!” (The link may end up at the bottom of the blog, if it does I apologize.)
Governor Roemer isn’t going to quit! He’s going to fight on to and through Arizona and Michigan
and even on from there, will you stand with him on this issue? Whether you do or not, do not think that the office of President is the only way in which to make a change in this situation.
The second thing you can do is go to GetMoneyOut.com and sign the petition.
Third, you can write to your representatives, from dogcatcher to President.
Fourth, you can write Letters to the Editors and utilize all forms of classic and social media to get the word out.
Fifth, watch who you vote for. Do they have big money or special interest money? You can track these things at OpenSecrets.org , VoteSmart.org , or FollowtheMoney.org.
Let me ask you this. What could it mean for you if your Congressman is a Republican who, through the national party war chest, received money from Morgan Stanley? What could it mean for you if your Senator is a Democrat who, through the national party war chest, received money from GE? Have you thought about it?
Sixth, consider vetting and joining your local Occupy Movement and/or Tea Party.
Lastly, consider how your shopping affects the situation. Buying goods from other countries, especially at low prices, could mean the people who made it were forced to work in sweatshops. Buying in Big Box stores puts Mom and Pop shops out of business. The only people who profit from any of us buying a product made in China from Wal-Mart are Big Corporations and the Chinese Government. Is that what you want?
On a closing note about the current situation, based on the results of the New Hampshire Primary, Obama only received 82% of the votes with no serious primary. 10% write-in with one Democratic candidate getting 2%. Is Obama a popular choice of the people?
Every time I write a political blog, I think about a couple of the women I’ve been with. How little they believed that politics could be changed. They had no belief that they could change anything about the system of government they lived under. And so after having debates about Civic Duty with them, I now have that internal argument within myself almost on a daily basis. Do I have plenty of other things I could focus on? Sure! Novels and poems don’t write themselves, neither do video games beat themselves, books read themselves or records listen to themselves. I have a lot of reasons not to pursue my civic responsibilities, but I do, because I HAVE to believe I could make a difference, for my own sanity. **
So I write on. I write my blog. I write letters to newspapers and to representatives. I prepare to run for office and stay up to obscene hours reading news articles and contemplating change. Not because it is the one and only thing I want to do with my life. I am a poet and a hopeless romantic. I am a writer and a thinker. I am a lover and an admirer of romance and nature, but this is something I feel I HAVE to do!
- Joshua A. Fisher
@JAFThrasher
@OccupyWestWing
J.Fisher2028@yahoo.com
** As an addendum to that paragraph, I don’t mean to call anyone out in a negative fashion. Nothing I said was meant to offend. They are true statements of how my mind and heart work. I hope no offense is taken.
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Governor Buddy Roemer's Town Hall at Turbocam
Town Hall at Turbocam
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
Monday, January 2, 2012
An Appeal To Occupiers In Iowa
AN APPEAL TO OCCUPIERS IN IOWA
A few months back when Occupy was just getting off the ground I wrote a letter of solidarity standing with OWS. I’ve always felt I was a part of that movement. Now as I understand it, the occupiers in Iowa want to go to the caucuses and caucus ‘No Preference’ to affect the primary. I like the idea and I understand the premise, but I think there is a candidate that Iowa Occupiers could Caucus for and still protest the system.
There is a candidate who wants to get money out of politics and end corruption. This individual himself does not accept PAC or Super PAC money and by his own limit, doesn’t accept more than $100 individual donation. He wants to be Free to Lead. He doesn’t want to have to be beholden to the big corporations, the big banks or the special interests and lobbyists. This candidate for president, a former Governor and Congressman from Louisiana wants to answer only to the people, to you and I. He is the only candidate that doesn’t accept the money, he is the only candidate not bought. He is Free and he is a proven leader.
I’ve tried to express this sentiment a couple of times in 140 characters or less on Twitter. But I’m frustrated with that. I feel strongly that this candidate is the candidate Occupiers in Iowa should Caucus for, Hell! I think everyone should Caucus for Buddy Roemer, but the Occupiers in particular. I know I’ve mentioned some of his credentials already, but let us look at a couple more. He got accepted to Harvard at the age of sixteen where he went to get an education in Economics, he’s been a delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention, and this last one is my favorite, he is a community banker that has never accepted any bailout money and never foreclosed on a single home.
Governor Buddy Roemer is the candidate for the people in everyway. And I think if you believe in a message that we need to get money out of politics, than you should Caucus for Buddy Roemer for President, because no one will deliver on that message more than him.
Alexander Fisher
J.Fisher2028@yahoo.com
@JAFThrasher
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
A few months back when Occupy was just getting off the ground I wrote a letter of solidarity standing with OWS. I’ve always felt I was a part of that movement. Now as I understand it, the occupiers in Iowa want to go to the caucuses and caucus ‘No Preference’ to affect the primary. I like the idea and I understand the premise, but I think there is a candidate that Iowa Occupiers could Caucus for and still protest the system.
There is a candidate who wants to get money out of politics and end corruption. This individual himself does not accept PAC or Super PAC money and by his own limit, doesn’t accept more than $100 individual donation. He wants to be Free to Lead. He doesn’t want to have to be beholden to the big corporations, the big banks or the special interests and lobbyists. This candidate for president, a former Governor and Congressman from Louisiana wants to answer only to the people, to you and I. He is the only candidate that doesn’t accept the money, he is the only candidate not bought. He is Free and he is a proven leader.
I’ve tried to express this sentiment a couple of times in 140 characters or less on Twitter. But I’m frustrated with that. I feel strongly that this candidate is the candidate Occupiers in Iowa should Caucus for, Hell! I think everyone should Caucus for Buddy Roemer, but the Occupiers in particular. I know I’ve mentioned some of his credentials already, but let us look at a couple more. He got accepted to Harvard at the age of sixteen where he went to get an education in Economics, he’s been a delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention, and this last one is my favorite, he is a community banker that has never accepted any bailout money and never foreclosed on a single home.
Governor Buddy Roemer is the candidate for the people in everyway. And I think if you believe in a message that we need to get money out of politics, than you should Caucus for Buddy Roemer for President, because no one will deliver on that message more than him.
Alexander Fisher
J.Fisher2028@yahoo.com
@JAFThrasher
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Anger Sparks Initiative from a Roemer Volunteer
Anger is an interesting human emotion. It gets a bad reputation because it often manifests itself in some form of aggression, but if positively focused it can be a powerful motivating force for change.
I flew 3,000 miles to Manchester, New Hampshire to volunteer for the Buddy Roemer for President Campaign…because I'm angry.
In 2008 I voted for Barack Obama under the auspice that he was going to change the way government functioned. After watching three years of his presidency it's clear to me that there really has been no change whatsoever. The existing two party system has fallen into a state of disrepair; like children on a playground, each side pointing the finger at the other as the main culprit for a lack of action. Most elected officials are too interested in propping up their own egos and funding their re-election campaigns; they do so at the death of governance and leadership. While it's not written in stone that candidates need to collect corporate donations in order to win elections, it has become the standard practice. Candidates know that the side that raises the most money has a 90% chance of being the one who gives the winning speech on Election Day and corporate money is perceived to be the quickest way to the top; laziness is a true friend of the greedy.
Corporate money buys government influence in legislation to the detriment of democratic fair-play. Imagine a baseball game where the teams are THE AMERICAN PEOPLE vs. THE SPECIAL INTERESTS. If that game was played today THE SPECIAL INTERESTS would start each of their at-bats with a runner already on third base and THE AMERICAN PEOPLE would start each of their at-bats with one out already on the board.
This is not a fight against capitalism; it's a fight against corporatism and corporate plutocracy. It's about getting back to the roots of capitalism where someone can invest in an idea and make their own way in this country; hopefully opening up opportunities for others in the process. It's about the same rules applying to everyone in the game, not preferential treatment to the ones with the biggest check.
Governor Roemer is the ONLY candidate running for president who is addressing this vital issue. None of the other candidates even mention campaign finance reform. I believe he's being shut out of debates because the other candidates can't afford to talk about the institutional corruption afflicting D.C. They can't risk shutting off the spigot of special interest money.
That's why I'm not only supporting Governor Buddy Roemer in this election but joining him and his staff directly on the front lines. In over two decades as an eligible voter this is the first time I have volunteered for ANY political campaign.
I'm angry. Governor Roemer is angry. Everyone in this country ought to be angry at the nonsense that passes for governance today. The answer to this frustration isn't apathy. Apathy only feeds the broken status quo. The answer for me and anyone else out there who values hard work over horse-shit is to get involved.
Thank you,
David Pauli
San Francisco, CA
P.S. If you want to make a difference, please join us in New Hampshire, or make phone calls from home. Email William.Pierce@BuddyRoemer.com for details.
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
I flew 3,000 miles to Manchester, New Hampshire to volunteer for the Buddy Roemer for President Campaign…because I'm angry.
In 2008 I voted for Barack Obama under the auspice that he was going to change the way government functioned. After watching three years of his presidency it's clear to me that there really has been no change whatsoever. The existing two party system has fallen into a state of disrepair; like children on a playground, each side pointing the finger at the other as the main culprit for a lack of action. Most elected officials are too interested in propping up their own egos and funding their re-election campaigns; they do so at the death of governance and leadership. While it's not written in stone that candidates need to collect corporate donations in order to win elections, it has become the standard practice. Candidates know that the side that raises the most money has a 90% chance of being the one who gives the winning speech on Election Day and corporate money is perceived to be the quickest way to the top; laziness is a true friend of the greedy.
Corporate money buys government influence in legislation to the detriment of democratic fair-play. Imagine a baseball game where the teams are THE AMERICAN PEOPLE vs. THE SPECIAL INTERESTS. If that game was played today THE SPECIAL INTERESTS would start each of their at-bats with a runner already on third base and THE AMERICAN PEOPLE would start each of their at-bats with one out already on the board.
This is not a fight against capitalism; it's a fight against corporatism and corporate plutocracy. It's about getting back to the roots of capitalism where someone can invest in an idea and make their own way in this country; hopefully opening up opportunities for others in the process. It's about the same rules applying to everyone in the game, not preferential treatment to the ones with the biggest check.
Governor Roemer is the ONLY candidate running for president who is addressing this vital issue. None of the other candidates even mention campaign finance reform. I believe he's being shut out of debates because the other candidates can't afford to talk about the institutional corruption afflicting D.C. They can't risk shutting off the spigot of special interest money.
That's why I'm not only supporting Governor Buddy Roemer in this election but joining him and his staff directly on the front lines. In over two decades as an eligible voter this is the first time I have volunteered for ANY political campaign.
I'm angry. Governor Roemer is angry. Everyone in this country ought to be angry at the nonsense that passes for governance today. The answer to this frustration isn't apathy. Apathy only feeds the broken status quo. The answer for me and anyone else out there who values hard work over horse-shit is to get involved.
Thank you,
David Pauli
San Francisco, CA
P.S. If you want to make a difference, please join us in New Hampshire, or make phone calls from home. Email William.Pierce@BuddyRoemer.com for details.
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
Roemer’s Year in Review: A List of 2011’s Worst “Money in Politics” Failures
Roemer’s Year in Review: A List of 2011’s Worst “Money in Politics” Failures
The year 2011 has been a banner year, albeit in a way that no one expected. Many are calling this Congress the worst ever, with approval at historic lows reminiscent of the infamous “Do Nothing Congress” of the Truman era. Buddy Roemer sees a direct connection between the increasingly obscene amount of special interest money making its way into politics and the lack of legislation that actually addresses the root of the problems. Here’s Governor Roemer’s list of the biggest victims to campaign and lobbying dollars for 2011.
6. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. One of the many down-to-the-wire showdowns in Congress this year, the Deficit Super Committee couldn’t keep their fingers out of the cookie jar long enough to be able to come to an agreement on cutting $1.3 trillion from the deficit and averting automatic budget cuts in 2013. Among other things, the package needed to include closing corporate loopholes with savings matched by equivalent budget cuts. Most Americans are having trouble sympathizing with GE for making $14.2 billion in worldwide profit last year, $5.1 billion in the United States, while not paying a single dime in federal income taxes. Why shouldn’t they contribute to reducing the deficit? Perhaps because members of the committee accept big checks from lobbyists representing various corporations to fund their reelection campaigns.
5. Keystone XL Pipeline Extension. Instead of increasing the percentage of oil we buy from our neighbor and close ally, Canada, President Obama caved in to the environmental lobby to postpone a decision on the extension of the Keystone pipeline and prevent jobs from being immediately available to American workers in construction and oil refining. Nevermind that pipelines are by far the safest means of transporting oil. Nevermind that Canada will find a buyer for its crude, most likely China, if a trade partner is not to be had in the United States, thus continuing our reliance on Middle East oil.
4. Stop Online Piracy Act. Instead of being killed entirely, SOPA and its threat of internet censorship has been tabled until early 2012. The communications and electronics industries contributed nearly $90 million to campaigns in the 2010 election cycle and spent over $290 million in lobbying this year, resulting in a battle of influence, pitting the recording and entertainment industries against web and social media companies in a pitiful attempt to protect intellectual property at the expense of the freedom of information. Leave this matter to the markets – continuous innovation is the best way to ensure intellectual property.
3. Cut, Cap and Balance. The efforts of the cut, cap and balance amendment came close to a solution to our nation’s economic problems, but fell short in one key area: tax increases. No Republican likes to increase taxes, but if we’re serious about balancing the budget and reducing the national debt, we can’t impose ridiculously high barriers to tax increases and expect to get the job done. A very modest tax increase, in exchange for compromises on spending cuts from the Democrats, would go a long way toward reaching this goal. With $66.8 million in contributions to Senators by organizations opposing it, however, the bill never had a chance of passing that house, and our budget woes will continue indefinitely. I think it’s time for Grover Norquist to retire just like his good pal Jack Abramoff.
2. Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia. The only thing that’s “free” about “free trade” agreements are the jobs we’re giving away for free to any country that wants them. There was nothing “free” about the bills leading to the agreements; supporters of the FTAs gave more than $75 million to the campaigns of house members alone to win their support.
1. Obamacare. I know, I know – this one wasn’t passed in 2011. But that doesn’t mean we can forget about its implications or ignore the fact that it didn’t do anything to address the real causes of high medical costs; health care reform still needs our attention. There are three easy things we can do to manage costs: implement tort reform, require insurance companies to compete across state lines, and subject pharmaceutical companies to greater competition. Easy, right? So why haven’t we done it? Check out the contribution levels of pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies to presidential and congressional campaigns on opensecrets.org. There will be no question left in your mind after that.
Copyright © 2011 Buddy Roemer for President, All rights reserved.Paid for by Buddy Roemer for President
"Those that dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their mind, wake in the day to find that all was vanity, but the dreamers of the day, are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams and make them real."
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