9 DEMANDS OF THE 99%
No movement lasts forever, so its important to make change when you can. If Occupy Wall Street succeeds, our nations financial and political systems will be changed forever. If Occupy Cincinnati succeeds, the city will be better. But, what do the Cincinnati Occupiers want?
According to Working America -- a coalition of labor organizations and progressive groups -- the 99% have 8 national demand and they're looking for a 9th one. The 9 Demands of the 99% is Working America's 9-9-9 plan.
Here's what Working America says we want:
1. Tax Wall Street for gambling with our money.
2. Support education.
3. Keep working families in their homes.
4. End too big to fail.
5. Fair share of taxes from the 1%.
6. Businesses should invest in jobs.
7. Extend unemployment insurance.
8. End corporate control of our democracy.
How does this translate locally? What, if anything, are the local representatives of Working America demanding?
Here at The Cincinnati Black Blog we've been gently encouraging our Occupy Cincinnati comrades to get the act together! We believe they must eventually come up with a list of problems caused by economic inequality (some might call them grievances) backed up by research, a sensible list of suggested changes (some might call them demands), and a strategy to get their suggested changes accomplished.
Some of the items on Working America's list of demands could be localized. For example, they demand an end to the Bush tax cuts for the 1%. They demand that corporate tax loopholes be closed. In Cincinnati, there are special corporate tax loopholes for the the 1% that result in a loss of millions of tax dollars. Our research suggests one of the biggest tax loopholes was instituted under former Mayor Roxanne Qualls, who is now chair of Cincinnati City Council's Finance Committee. (The corporate media is now pushing to have Qualls returned to the mayor's office.) The corporate media tells you the city gets 2.1 percent of the salaries of EVERYONE who lives or works in the city. Well, you, our faithful readers know there's a special corporate ram loophole for the 1% that allows them to rake in millions of dollars from stock options and the city gets no money from that part of the rich corporate executives' salary. The corporate media also claims the city gets a tax from a portion of corporation' s earnings. Well, this also isn't necessarily try. The city has waived this income for dozens of corporations.
Yesterday, Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney presented his proposed budget to Mayor Mark Mallory, Qualls, and the other members of City Council. The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and other representatives of Big Business and Corporate America have been meeting with Dohoney, Mallory, Qualls and others to make sure the tax loopholes stay in place and the rich aren't requires to pay their pair share. They have no problem aggressively advocating for their position. And they don't do it in 2 minute speeches as public hearings -- the way the politicians tell working Americans and average citizens is the way to have a say on the budget. What is Occupy Cincinnati's take on the budget? With so many smart people involved in Occupy Cincinnati why haven't they presented their own budget? We admit that we haven't had time to review the budget in detail, but we know it won't go far enough to address the city's pension problem; eliminate the threat of closing health centers, pools, and other quality of live things enjoyed by the 99%. So, where are Cincinnati's AFSCME locals, the AFL-CIO, and the local version of Working America? What's their plan? A report from the corporate media today states, "City residents might see rate increases from both Greater Cincinnati Water Works and the Metropolitan Sewer District...." How is it possible that at this time in history, there is a discussion of raising rates (taxes) on the 99%, closing swimming pools for poor families (the 1% don't care if public pools close because they have other options), slashing the city's Health Department budget, and doing nothing to protect city employees and retirees, or keep the city's promises to fund the pension/retirement system at a full rate?
The Cincinnati Black Blog strongly encourages Occupy Cincinnati to join forces with the Cincinnati Working America coalition and use this window of opportunity to help put the city on the right track.
According to Working America -- a coalition of labor organizations and progressive groups -- the 99% have 8 national demand and they're looking for a 9th one. The 9 Demands of the 99% is Working America's 9-9-9 plan.
Here's what Working America says we want:
1. Tax Wall Street for gambling with our money.
2. Support education.
3. Keep working families in their homes.
4. End too big to fail.
5. Fair share of taxes from the 1%.
6. Businesses should invest in jobs.
7. Extend unemployment insurance.
8. End corporate control of our democracy.
How does this translate locally? What, if anything, are the local representatives of Working America demanding?
Here at The Cincinnati Black Blog we've been gently encouraging our Occupy Cincinnati comrades to get the act together! We believe they must eventually come up with a list of problems caused by economic inequality (some might call them grievances) backed up by research, a sensible list of suggested changes (some might call them demands), and a strategy to get their suggested changes accomplished.
Some of the items on Working America's list of demands could be localized. For example, they demand an end to the Bush tax cuts for the 1%. They demand that corporate tax loopholes be closed. In Cincinnati, there are special corporate tax loopholes for the the 1% that result in a loss of millions of tax dollars. Our research suggests one of the biggest tax loopholes was instituted under former Mayor Roxanne Qualls, who is now chair of Cincinnati City Council's Finance Committee. (The corporate media is now pushing to have Qualls returned to the mayor's office.) The corporate media tells you the city gets 2.1 percent of the salaries of EVERYONE who lives or works in the city. Well, you, our faithful readers know there's a special corporate ram loophole for the 1% that allows them to rake in millions of dollars from stock options and the city gets no money from that part of the rich corporate executives' salary. The corporate media also claims the city gets a tax from a portion of corporation' s earnings. Well, this also isn't necessarily try. The city has waived this income for dozens of corporations.
Yesterday, Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney presented his proposed budget to Mayor Mark Mallory, Qualls, and the other members of City Council. The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and other representatives of Big Business and Corporate America have been meeting with Dohoney, Mallory, Qualls and others to make sure the tax loopholes stay in place and the rich aren't requires to pay their pair share. They have no problem aggressively advocating for their position. And they don't do it in 2 minute speeches as public hearings -- the way the politicians tell working Americans and average citizens is the way to have a say on the budget. What is Occupy Cincinnati's take on the budget? With so many smart people involved in Occupy Cincinnati why haven't they presented their own budget? We admit that we haven't had time to review the budget in detail, but we know it won't go far enough to address the city's pension problem; eliminate the threat of closing health centers, pools, and other quality of live things enjoyed by the 99%. So, where are Cincinnati's AFSCME locals, the AFL-CIO, and the local version of Working America? What's their plan? A report from the corporate media today states, "City residents might see rate increases from both Greater Cincinnati Water Works and the Metropolitan Sewer District...." How is it possible that at this time in history, there is a discussion of raising rates (taxes) on the 99%, closing swimming pools for poor families (the 1% don't care if public pools close because they have other options), slashing the city's Health Department budget, and doing nothing to protect city employees and retirees, or keep the city's promises to fund the pension/retirement system at a full rate?
The Cincinnati Black Blog strongly encourages Occupy Cincinnati to join forces with the Cincinnati Working America coalition and use this window of opportunity to help put the city on the right track.
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