Saturday, June 09, 2007

War on the Middle Class

I'm only 77 pages into this book, because I'm always reading comics and lately I have been watching Stargate Season 6 and other DVDs at the same time. But the point is this book should be required reading.

The full title of Lou Dobbs book it "War on the Middle Class" How the government, big business, and special interest groups are waging war on the American dream and HOW TO FIGHT BACK.

The link to Amazon to see this book is http://www.amazon.com/War-Middle-Class-Government-Business/dp/0670037923/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-5145804-9678204?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181413898&sr=8-1

The price is listed as $4.99.

The book talks about how the elimination of inheritance tax (which did not kick in until you reached over $500,000) is costing the US $40 billion dollars. That allows the super rich to just maintain more of their money. The shortfall will be made up on our backs or via raising of fees.

It talks about how the average income per household is around $60,000, but the true midpoint is $44,000 and the incredible wealth of the people on top raise the average.

Lobbyist numbered under 100 in 1968 have grown to over 34,000 and actually write the laws they want their Representatives to pass. I said their Representatives, because they are brought and paid for by these groups. A large number of former congress members become lobbyist themselves and reap huge salaries for their access to other members. The bankruptcy law recently passed making it harder for individuals to wipe the slate clean was written mainly by banking lobbyist.

It talks of the abuses of CEOs and the outlandish salaries that the incestuous boards vote to them. They try to justify these enormous salaries with the cry that they have lead the company to be worth billions more, so what is a few hundred million. Yet the owner of Oracle has paid himself a huge salary as the company stock has lost value and the outgoing head of AOL-Time Warner, who oversaw a billion dollar write off, got $127 million severance package. Now corporate boards and CEOs are hiring companies to watch and do background checks on activists stockholders who may fight to change these practices.

There is much more I have talked about or even gotten to in this book, but my point is our society is working against the middle class and we need to fight back.

We can change things, because the people in power need to retain that power and when a hue and cry is loud enough they will bend. The recent stoppage of the Immigration Reform bill (that really was Amnesty) was stalled in no small part to the outrage of voters calling into their Senators. It will cost McCain any shot at the presidency.

We most vote most of these people out and put in new people. Stop voting for the sons and daughters of the people in power, stop voting for your representative your justification that your guy is gaining in seniority and may have more influence does not wash. If we kick them out the next group will listen to us.

If we don't begin to take back America and remember what this country was all about it won't be their for our children and we may be left with our golden years looking bleak.

I believe strongly that this is the time when we have to arise and make our voices heard. Republicans and Democrats are the same beast now, just fighting over who is King.

I WILL PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS AND THE FIRST SEVEN PEOPLE WHO SEND ME THEIR SNAIL MAIL ADDRESS I WILL GIVE YOU A COPY OF THIS BOOK. I HAVE JUST ORDERED 10 COPIES FROM AMAZON AND ONCE I GET THEM I WILL MAIL OUT THE BOOK TO YOU, ALL I WANT IS A PROMISE TO READ AT LEAST THE FIRST 50 PAGES. 3 COPIES I'M GIVING TO FAMILY MEMBERS.
Only 3 people have taken me up on the offer so far. You can view my profile for my e-mail address. - 6/11/07 - 10:00 PM

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