Chapter 4

Taking Back Our Democracy

The Republican Party and the Democratic Party have both been unable or unwilling to make the changes to our laws that are necessary to maintain our democratic system of government. As a result, we are losing control to a small group of very wealthy corrupt capitalist and their highly paid lawyers, bankers, money managers, accountants, and psychiatrists.

Sadly, most of these corrupt capitalist are just inheritance rich spoiled brats who didn't do a thing to earn the wealth they own. Many of them don't know what it's like to work a forty hour week. They have not earned the right to lead this country and yet that is what is happening.

George W. Bush is their puppet, as are most, if not all, of the Republicans in Congress. His leadership has not been what he represented it would be during the campaign in 2000. It has not been what he said it would be in his State of The Union speeches. And it has not been what he said in his infrequent press conferences. As a result, his leadership has harmed America's workers, our government's institutions, our country's creditability, our national security, our federal government's fiscal health, and our soldiers.

If we allow this lack of honest political representation and wealth concentrating legislation to continue our government will be completely robbed and bankrupted; our rights and freedoms will be taken away by a small group of inheritance rich morons; our ability to move up the economic ladder will be severely limited; and our standard of living will be sharply reduced.

It is time we do our duties as self-governors by exercising our constitutional rights and moral obligations to overthrow these corrupt leaders. Then we can correct the weaknesses that allowed these corrupt individuals to win political office, and we can begin to fix 30 years of rotten legislation produced by these whores.

These changes won't require that anyone lose their jobs, except a few politicians and lobbyist, or that any industries shut, except for the ones based on organized crime. In fact, these changes will result in job creation and the birth of a number of new industries. The overall effect will be extremely positive for average Americans and will happen quickly and almost transparently.

Change is often frightening but just try to imagine the horrible economic depression that will occur for middle class families if we do nothing.

The first thing we need to do is to get rid of our current national political leaders, by force if necessary. All the current elected leaders in Congress have not necessarily violated the letter of the law but many of them have clearly violated the spirit of the law. Since we are a country based on the rule of law we need to fight these corrupt leaders so that we can restore the rule of law. These leaders should be put on trial so it can be determined which of them are guilty of treason, and many of them are.

Several of our past presidents have suspended habeas corpus laws to protect the American people and it will be necessary to do it again after we take back our government. Other parts of the Constitution will also need to be temporally suspended until corrections can be made and new leadership can be elected.

After the current crop of corrupt officials are safely behind bars, or exiled out of this country, we can begin the process of restoring the rule of law. The first and most important change we should make is to the way we elect our federal leaders. We must get the corrupting influence of big money out of the system and there are a few simple ways to do it.

Following are some of the changes to the law we should make after we take back our government. The first group of changes are mandatory changes that must take place if we are going to have a democracy in America. The second group of changes are optional changes and will have a very positive effect on our economy, society, and democracy. These changes are listed in the order of their importance:

1. Campaign Finance & Election Reforms

Currently, no one in Congress represents middle class families and that is the opposite of how our political system was designed to work.  Following are the necessary reforms:

• Require public financing of political campaigns.
• Limit the amount of money that can be spent before the election, and the amount of time allowed for campaigning before an election.
• Require that all the major mainstream media companies provide free time and advertising space to candidates in the weeks leading up to election day, and without commercial interruptions.
• Open the major televised debates to third party and independents candidates who poll above 2%.
• Require that every voting computer generate two paper receipts. One for the voter to take home and one for the ballot box for audit purposes. Also, require random independent recount audits to ensure accuracy.

Unless these few simple reforms are passed into law none of the other reforms that follow will matter. In fact, unless these election reforms occur first the other reforms will end up being twisted and used to help the powerful and to screw everyone else.

2. Political Reforms

Our politicians are not serving us well and regardless of the poor quality of their services they continue to vote themselves salary increases and take gifts from lobbyist. Following are the necessary reforms:

• Members of Congress cannot vote themselves pay raises over the average family income.
• Members of Congress cannot accept any gifts, travel, or benefits from lobbyist before, during, or after their public service.
• Members of Congress should be paid bonuses up to 50% of their annual salary based on the % increase in the net worth of the federal government, and the % increase in family incomes above inflation. Remember all assets and debts owned by the federal government really belong to all the citizens of America.
• Presidential pardons must be ratified by a majority vote of the American people.
• Allow at least 3 days of study and debate before legislation can be voted on after it comes out of committee.
• For something to be declared a matter of "national security" is must be unanimously agreed to by the Senate and the House.
• No-bid contracts should be made illegal. Companies found guilty of illegal activities, over charging, or not performing on their government contracts should be barred from all future government contracts. 

3. Tax Reforms

Currently, self-employed people making around $90,000 a year are the highest taxed people in our society. This is unfair and it is the result of a corrupt campaign finance system. If we are going to have a democracy, and a middle class, we are going to need to return to a highly progressive income tax system. Following are the necessary reforms:

• Restore inflation adjusted income tax rates and brackets to the levels they were at in 1963, for both individuals and corporations. This would result in a big tax break for about 90% of the American people.
• Create a temporary excess wealth tax to correct past inequities in the tax code. This would only effect the top .001% of taxpayers.
• Reform the estate tax to exempt small farms and small businesses and then increase the top tax rates and brackets to inflation adjusted 1963 levels. This would probably only effect the top 1% of taxpayers.
• Remove the cap on income subject to Social Security taxes. Exempt the first $10,000 in income from Social Security taxes. Means test Social Security beneficiaries. Exempt all Social Security income from income taxes. Increase Social Security benefits to a livable income amount. The first item on this list would extend the life (solvency) of the Social Security system into infinity, and means testing would save the system a huge amount of money.
• Tax offshore bank accounts and U.S. based companies foreign sales just like they were domestic income and wealth. No more offshore tax shelters or income hiding.
• Repeal NAFTA and all free trade deals and restore trade tax rates to inflation adjusted 1963 levels. Withdraw from the anti-worker WTO.
• Create a new progressive tax for companies that shift jobs, factories, or other operations overseas, and provide tax incentives for companies that move their jobs, factories, and operations back to America.
• Increase taxes on oil, gas, and coal and cut taxes for clean alternative like wind, solar, and hydrogen.
• Require greater public disclosure about incomes, wealth, and taxes.

4. Health Care Reforms

Good health care should be a right not a privilege. Every American citizen regardless of employment or income should have access to quality health care services. America is the richest country in the world and we can afford the best health care system in the world. Insurance and drug companies are currently gouging the American consumer and they are getting away with murder because of laws passed by a corrupt Congress. Following are the necessary reforms:

• Create a national health care plan through the Medicare system that covers everyone for every possible aliment or injury, including dental. Savings would result through bulk drug purchases and economies of scale. This plan will be paid for through an sizable increase in the Medicare withholdings tax, but it would eliminate the need for all other health insurance so a net saving is possible. Healthy life style incentives can be provided by offering a lower tax rate for healthy individuals and for people who participate in preventive health care programs.
• Price fix medical services and drug prices to limit the amount that can be charged.
• Increase penalties for waste, fraud, and abuse of the Medicare system.

5. Tort Reforms

Corporations and wealthy individuals don't what to be held accountable for anything, ever, and yet they want draconian accountability laws applied to everyone else. President Bush's tort reforms are in the wrong direction. Following are the necessary reforms:

• Punitive damages cannot be capped.
• Jury award decisions are final and must be paid immediately.
• Jury tampering is a capital offense and is punishable by life in prison.
• Trial Lawyers are limited to 25% of all awards, settlements, or compensation.
• Jurors must be paid at least $100 per day.

6. Bankruptcy Reforms

Congress recently passed a bankruptcy reform bill that prevents people from getting out from under their debts, even if those debts are incurred as the result of a medical emergency, natural disaster, or economic cycle. Slavery and indentured servitude are immoral and illegal and yet that is what this legislation does. We don't want to fill our prisons with people who can no longer pay their bills because someone in their family becomes ill, or is the victim of a natural disaster or economic cycle. Following are the necessary reforms:

• Repeal the 2005 bankruptcy reform bill.
• Limit the interest rate credit card companies can charge.
• Require a 65 day grace period before credit card companies can consider an account in default and thus increase your interest rate or charge you a penalty.

7. Immigration Reforms

Illegal immigration has made a mockery of our immigration system. Illegal immigration is straining our public services, and it is depression wages. Illegal immigration is a national security and public safety issue. Following are the necessary reforms:

• Seal the southern border from illegal immigration.
• Make illegal immigrants leave America.
• Increase criminal penalties for companies that hire illegal immigrants.
• Increase the limits on legal immigration.

8. Illegal Drug Reforms

Making any type of drug illegal is a recipe for creating criminal organizations. We saw this happen when alcohol was made illegal through prohibition in the 1920's and we are seeing it now with marijuana and cocaine. The current war on drugs in America is very costly and has had minimal effect. Following are the necessary reforms:

• Legalize and regulate all substances. Make the very harmful and highly addictive substances available only with medical supervision by a licensed doctor.
• Allow marijuana be sold and taxed just like beer and wine.

9. Military & Intelligence Reforms

The most important job of the federal government is to make sure the American people are safe and secure physically, economically, and socially. It can do this job without costing all of us an arm and a leg, and without taking away our civil liberties, rights, and freedoms. The military-industrial complex has been feeding at the trough of a corrupt government and as a result the fraud, waste, and abuse in the system are rampant. Following are the necessary reforms:

• Eliminate the CIA and NSA and shift all intelligence operations into the defense department.
• Cut the size of the FBI in half and delegate most FBI and Homeland Security operations to state and local governments.
• Remove all policing powers from the ATF and turn that organization into a collections and watchdog agency.
• Expand the TSA to inspect all flights, ships, trains, and trucks coming into this country.
• Cut all military defense department budgets in half until we have a clear need for their services to fight a major war. This will save taxpayers almost $250 billion dollars a year.
• Require one year of mandatory military service for all people between the ages of 18 and 24.
• Place much greater limits on the types of businesses that can be sold to foreigners and on the types of domestic businesses foreigners can control.

10. Energy Reforms

Our entire economy was built on a plentiful supply of energy, and if we want to keep our economic engine alive and maintain our mobile middle class life styles we must make sure we have plenty of energy in the future. America does have a lot of untapped oil, gas, and coal resources in this country, however, the rest of the world is eager to sell us their supplies of oil at a very low price. Therefore, we should continue to buy their oil and hold our own oil in reserve for future needs. At the same time we need to reduce our dependence of fossil fuels by developing cleaner alternatives. Following are the necessary reforms:

• Tax domestic oil production at a higher rate than imported oil.
• Provide tax incentive for homes and businesses that install solar and wind devices.
• Encourage the use of more efficient cars and appliances by increasing the tax on gasoline.
• Reduce the need for travel through communications technologies.

11. Media Reforms

The airways are owned by the federal government. Therefore, we should not allow a handful of giant media companies control what we see on TV and hear on radio while paying almost nothing for that right. Following are the necessary reforms:

• Change licensing fee schedule to a percentage of gross revenues calculation.
• We should increase the number of channels that are open to the general public and the number of commercial free channels.
• We should place greater limits on media company consolidations and new regulations on such monopolies.
• We need to require that channels maintain their adult content ratings so that parents can control what their children watch using V-chip technology.

12. Other Reforms

In addition to the above critical reforms there are a number of other reforms that will increase the likelihood of our survival as a democracy, capitalist economy, and peaceful military power. Following are some recommended reforms:

Population Reforms - We are out populating our food and water supplies and this over population problem is contributing to global warming and whatever consequences it may bring. Solutions involve family planning services, abortion rights, tax incentives, and euthanasia. These ideas are very unpopular with the Religious Right but perhaps it's time for less religion and more common sense.

Environmental Reforms - We need to pass tougher regulations over all pollution emissions. We need more inspectors to insure compliance with regulations. We need to make polluters pay for cleaning up their own pollution messes.

Labor Reforms - We need to encourage workers to join labor unions so they have more representation in Congress and more leverage over corporations.

Prison Reforms - We need to use our criminal population to work in trash recycling operations. We should end the death penalty and use that long-term man power to help our society deal with its pollution problems.

Additional Campaign Finance Reforms - Get rid of the electoral college and allow for the direct election of the President by popular vote. Move elections to the weekend and allow for internet voting. Get rid of the paperless voting computers and require a paper audit trail for every voter. Require highly controversial pieces of legislation to be voted on by the public.

Communications Reforms - The ability to communicate freely should be a public service provided to all Americans free of charge. The federal government should own and control the fiber optic cable backbone that connects every home and business in this country. High speed internet access and video telecommunications should be almost free and available to everyone.

Israel Reforms - The U.S. gives Israel over $3 billion dollars a year in cash, military aid, and free trade. Israel uses that money to carry out assassinations, collective punishments, building settlements on land they steal, and thumbing their noses at the U.S. in a number of different ways. Israel is a racist theocracy terrorist state that has destabilized the Middle East and divided the loyalty of Jews in the U.S.. The U.S. should stop all funding and support for Israel until they can show some degree of humanity towards its neighbors.

Patent, Trademark, & Copyright Reforms - Congress recently passed legislation that increased copyright protection from 50 to 70 years, and the Supreme Court affirmed that legislation. This law deprives the American people of many valuable assets that should be in the public domain, and it keeps opportunities in the hands of a few rich people. Now, Congress is considering increasing patent protections. We need to change these laws in the opposite direction so that the number of assets in the public domain increases sooner. This will benefit middle class entrepreneurs who will be able to uses these intellectual properties to create new businesses.

None of these ideas are new or revolutionary, but they are common sense ideas that have been unable to become law because of corrupt government leadership. If the American people ever realize the potential that exist for their lives under good government leadership and progressive policies they will completely abandon any and all right-wing, small government, or conservative ideologies.

America's top ranking economy and large middle class are the products of a highly progressive tax system, big social safety net programs, and strong federal regulations. When we return to that model of success we can realize the standard of living our founding fathers intended.

Chapter 4 Summary

Change is never easy and the changes we must make to take back and reform our government are going to be doubly difficult. However, the reward will be knowing that our actions saved countless generations from certain poverty and powerlessness. We will be given to future generations what we inherited from our founding fathers and forefathers. Hundreds of thousands of American men have died to secure our democracy, rights, and freedoms and it is time to honor their sacrifice by acting, or in this case FIGHTING.

Book Summary

During the Revolutionary War our ancestors fought and died to keep the chains of oppression off our ankles. During the Civil War Americans fought to free black people. During World War II our grandparents and great grandparents fought and died to prevent the fascist from taking over the world and choosing who would get to live and who would be killed in gas chamber. Now, the yoke of slavery is about to be put around our necks by a handful of corrupt Robber Barons and their whores working in our government. We must rise to this challenge or we must learn how to live on our knees in powerless silence.