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Thursday, April 10, 2003 |
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Old truths have been relearned; untruths have been unlearned. We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics. Out of the collapse of a prosperity whose builders boasted their practicality has come the conviction that in the long run economic morality pays."
- - Franklin D. Roosevelt (Second Inaugural Address, January 20, 1937)
APRIL 10th IN HISTORY:
1945 -- Medical staff at an Oak Ridge, Tennessee hospital injects plutonium into the survivor of a car accident. Thus begins an enormous (& until the 1990's, top-secret) US government program to investigate the effects of radioactive materials when injected into live humans, which did not end until the mid-1970's. Program expanded in the 50's to include "Operation Sunshine", under which 1500 cadavers were stolen from locations around the world, in order to more comprehensively study the effects of radiation on the human body. 16,000 men, women & children are known to have been experimented on as a part of these studies.
1981 -- UN approves world treaty assuring no civilians shall be attacked with "napalm, mines or booby-traps." Defeated by US veto.
1984 -- U.S. Senate condemns CIA mining of Nicaraguan harbors.
RHINO HERE:
So I could talk today about the continuing bloodshed in Iraq, the Red Cross evacuating due to rising dangers, the Baghdad hospitals lacking water & supplies to treat the overflow crowds of victims. I could talk about the town of Orfa, Turkey which in spite of being 800 miles from Baghdad & 200 miles from the Iraqi border, has been "accidentally" bombed by U.S. missiles 3 different times in this war. But instead, LET'S TALK TAXES.
The articles linked below as well as today's BOTTOM LINE all tell the story of how the American Taxpayers (capitalized to show respect) are being hook-winked and ripped-off by big dick cheney (not capitalized to intentionally dis') & his friends, cohorts & probably his immediate family too. While the shrub gang uses their weapons of mass DISTRACTION in the Middle East, here at home they are not doing what most Americans are doing right now, namely paying their fair share of taxes. (Remember April 15 to keep it holy)
Their leadership has moved the U.S. from a SURPLUS of nearly $240 billion 3 years ago to an expected DEFICIT this year of $400 billion. If you don't agree with those numbers, read THE BOTTOM LINE article.
If after reading & weeping over the articles below, you'd like to do something about these new robber barons who have stolen our democracy to line their pockets, then please read the message below from MoveOn concerning their new campaign to get the Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act (HR 737) passed.
Join me in making 5 two minute phone calls today, as described below:
A Message From MoveOn Concerning Big Business Loopholes
We are always told that war demands sacrifice. But while American soldiers are risking their lives in Iraq, many of the country's wealthiest corporations are shirking billions of dollars in taxes. As the costs of conflict soar, the President refuses to close a tax loophole that allows big businesses to avoid shouldering their share of the tax burden using off-shore corporate tax dodges -- literally leaving the country in a time of need.
The President wants the debate in Congress this week to focus on the size of his tax cut for the wealthy. We're launching a media and grassroots campaign to instead focus on the hypocrisy of these corporations. Our TV ad juxtaposes the sacrifice of our sons and daughters in Iraq with their greedy and immoral pursuit of self- interest. I've attached a press advisory below. But the campaign will be most successful if the media hit is coupled with lots of phone calls to Congress. Can you help? Please make a call today to your members of Congress to ask that they outlaw corporate offshore tax dodges. You can reach them at:
RHINO NOTE: If you don't already have your 3 reps entered in your cell phone speed dials, you can quickly find their office phone numbers at The FCNL Website, and then speed dial them a few times a week. That's what democracy looks like!
http://capwiz.com/fconl
Be sure the staff members know you're a constituent, then urge them to demand a vote on the "Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act" (HR 737 / S 384). [1] Ask for their position on corporations and wealthy citizens leaving the country to avoid taxes. Ask them to provide it in writing. Tell them how you feel about this happening while young Americans are being sent to Iraq, and while we're all facing deficits and cutbacks at home.
One of the biggest obstacles to action on this issue is that House Republican Leaders Dennis Hastert (R-IL-14) and Tom Delay (R-TX-22) are refusing to allow a vote on it. Please call them too, at:
House Speaker Dennis Hastert: 202-225-0600 or 202-225-2976
House Republican Leader Tom Delay: 202-225-4000 or 202-225-5951
Urge them to immediately let the Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act (HR 737) come to a vote.
Ask for their position in writing as well.
Brief Background On Corporate Tax Cheating
Corporate offshore tax dodges are symbolic of the corporate interests driving the Bush administration and GOP in their ridiculous economic policies. Every year, about $70 billion dollars in revenue are lost from American corporations that have moved their corporate headquarters or subsidiaries to places like Bermuda, and from wealthy individuals moving their assets overseas.[2] To get a sense for the size of this theft -- this is the size of ALL the state budget deficits that are creating such pain around the nation through cutbacks in school programs and other essential services.
It's not surprising that many of the worst tax-dodge offenders are directly linked to the Bush administration and right-wing politicians, through corporate patronage of family members, personal connections, and lavish political contributions. Vice President Cheney's company, Halliburton, is a leader in this kind of tax evasion, even as Cheney himself continues to receive deferred compensation from the company.[3]
The Republican right's support of corporate offshore tax dodges is inexcusable. Your calls can help bring the issue to light. Once it's out in the open, there's a good likelihood that Congress can close the loophole. There simply is no excuse. Of course, offshore tax dodges are only the most egregious example of the economic mismanagement we face. For the first time since Herbert Hoover presided over the Great Depression, the Bush administration has refused to provide any real stimulus to the economy in truly tough economic times. Instead, they are calling primarily for tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations. We now face disastrous budget deficits as far as the eye can see, without a credible short-term stimulus. It's an amazing example of ideology gone mad.
"Stimulus" means getting funds to those in the greatest need and to those who will spend the money fastest. In a time of economic crisis, it's the only good reason for short-term deficit spending. Typically, a good economic steward would:
EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS so that those hardest hit by the recession could make ends meet. This funding would obviously go directly into consumer spending and "raise all boats."
PROVIDE SUPPORT TO STATES AND EDUCATION so that recession-driven state deficits don't lead to the collapse of public education around the country.
PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL SERVICES so that deficits and new unfunded "homeland security" mandates don't devastate local police, fire and hospital services.
These kinds of measures would translate directly into consumer spending, providing an effective stimulus to pull us out of a recessionary spiral. It is truly terrifying that our national government is not playing this traditional role, and is instead building deficits for generations to come. Call today and let's begin the process of taking our government back from corrupt special interests. There can be no defense for the right wing's support of corporate tax evasion in this era of deep economic challenges and true personal sacrifice. Thank you,
--The MoveOn Team - Carrie, Eli, Joan, Peter, Wes, and Zack, April 9th, 2003
IRS leader: U.S. losing to cheaters
DEPARTING COMMISSIONER URGES MORE ENFORCEMENT
By David Cay Johnston, New York Times, Nov. 05, 2002
Preparing to step down Wednesday after five years, the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Charles O. Rossotti, says the agency is steadily losing the war with tax cheats, especially the wealthiest and most sophisticated among them.
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/business/4446810.htm
FANNING THE FLAMES - Cheney's Halliburton Ties
By Keith Naughton and Michael Hirsh, Periscope, 4/7/03
The stock market may be suffering, but Operation Iraqi Freedom has sure been good for business at Halliburton, the Houston oil-services company famous for its former CEO, Dick Cheney. The vice president hasn't entirely severed his financial ties to the big defense contractor. Even while Halliburton is scoring Army contracts that could top $2 billion, Cheney is still receiving annual compensation from the company he led from 1995 to August 2000, NEWSWEEK has learned.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/893298.asp#fan
More info on Corporate Fat Cats Cheating On Their Income Taxes
PIGS AT THE TROUGH by Arianna Huffington
http://www.ariannaonline.com
7:58:18 AM 
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THE BOTTOM LINE: The Iraqi Time Bomb
By JEFF MADRICK, NY Times Magazine, April 6, 2003
The denial of economic reality that permeated Wall Street a few years ago has now migrated to Washington. On Wall Street, when companies did not generate the promised profits to justify the bubble in stock prices, many analysts told investors that profits did not matter. A new economy would be gauged by other measures, they insisted. Today, in similar fashion, as the federal budget has plunged into the red over the past two years, President Bush's economic team is telling the nation that deficits no longer matter.
At first, perhaps, the claim seemed plausible. Damage to the economy was not yet evident. And I, for one, am not a deficit hawk. At times, deficits are necessary to stimulate economic growth, and their dampening impact on private investment is occasionally exaggerated. But because of the Bush administration's policies and a weak economy, deficits are now approaching unmanageable levels, as they did in the 1980's. In fact, the federal government's fiscal health has deteriorated at a pace so stunning that few have yet caught up with the facts.
Here are some of those facts. Even without a war, the budget deficit would have exceeded $300 billion this year -- just three years after the budget experienced a surplus of nearly $240 billion. (This was in the midst of a four-year run of substantial surpluses.) But with war costs escalating and revenues falling as a result of the flat economy, this year's deficit could rise to $400 billion. In fiscal year 2004, it is likely to be higher...
THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE IS POSTED AT:
Iraqi Time Bomb
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7:21:00 AM
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© Copyright 2005 Gary Rhine.
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