The nation is marking 80 years of Social Security, brought about by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935; 50 years of Medicare, brought about by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965; and five years of ObamaCare, brought about by Barack Obama in 2010.
These basic aspects of the “Safety Net” were brought about by courageous Democratic Presidents generations apart, long after many European nations, including Great Britain, France, Germany and several Scandinavian nations had done so.
We are a better country because of these programs, and yet, the Republican Party would love to destroy the guarantees of these programs, and many conservatives have warred on Social Security and Medicare since they were enacted, just as they refuse to accept ObamaCare at a point where it has been upheld twice by the Supreme Court, and is actually working.
Intelligent voters are not going to forget, or be allowed to forget by Democrats, the true history of the passage of the “Safety Net”, and the constant barrage of attacks on these signature achievements by conservatives and the Republican Party!
That is good but we still have a long way to go. We need universal healthcare, minimum guaranteed income for the poor and minorities, reparation for blacks and native Americans and guaranteed public housing subsidize. We can do this by taxing up to 90% on income over the 5th tier bracket which is $ 189,000 per year and raise the corporate tax to at least 50%. And we also need a 50% wealth tax on all wealth over $ 1 million which includes all assets. Also a 75% inheritance tax on all inheritance over $1 million dollar. With all these revenues we can also offer free college and graduate school education for all those under the $189,000 income threshold. People who earn more should pay for their own education. Especially if they are part of the rich that has benefited from white privilege. Which leads me to think that maybe we could exclude minorities who are in that top tax bracket. But I do not know if that will pass constitutional muster. I would like to know your opinion.
Wow, Ale, you are very ambitious, but realize most of this will NEVER happen in reality!
That does not mean I do not sympathize with your thoughts, but reality sets in, sadly!
Thanks! Well at least you agree that with the implementation of these policies we would solve most of our problems and reign in the rich who as a class are rich at the expense of minorities. Too bad we didn’t implement this when we had a chance and had not only the Presidency but also both chambers of Congress. Don’t you think? Also a cap on CEO earnings of $ 300,000 per year would be great.