Ohio and America's problems in the 21st Century
|
|
Comments |
Mail to a Friend
Categories: Affordable Healthcare, Consumer and Worker Protection, Economic Fairness and Security, Honest and Ethical Government, Environment and Conservation, Social Justice, Public Infrastructure / Transportation, Energy Policy, Workers' Rights, Front Page
Categories: Affordable Healthcare, Consumer and Worker Protection, Economic Fairness and Security, Honest and Ethical Government, Environment and Conservation, Social Justice, Public Infrastructure / Transportation, Energy Policy, Workers' Rights, Front Page
Ohio and America's problems in the 21st Century
July 7, 2008
* America is losing jobs. The private sector has lost more than 400,000 jobs in the last six months. Over the past seven years, 3.4 million manufacturing jobs--one out of every five--has been shipped overseas. Today, a smaller percentage of Americans have jobs than at the beginning of the Bush administration.
* Basic costs are skyrocketing. The price of gasoline has increased by more than $2.50 per gallon since George W. Bush took office and the average household will spend $2300 more on gas this year than in 2001. The cost of health insurance has nearly doubled during the Bush Administration. Tuition and fees at public four-year colleges are up 46 percent since 2001. And now food prices have begun to rise.
* American incomes are stagnant. Adjusting for inflation, American workers haven't made any salary gains since Bush took office. In fact, real median household income dropped nearly $1000 from 2000 to 2006. The number of Americans in poverty increased from 31.5 to 36.5 million from 2000 to 2006. Now, one out of every eight Americans is considered poor.
* We're mired in debt. Sixteen percent of mortgaged homes are now "underwater"; that is, the mortgage owed equals or exceeds the value of the house. It is estimated that by June 2009, nearly one in four homes will be underwater. At least two-thirds of college students graduate with some debt and the average debt among graduates exceeds $19,000. More than 850,000 families filed for bankruptcy last year, a 38 percent increase over 2006.
Progressive solutions:
For heaven's sake, let's stop squandering $340 million dollars per day on the war in Iraq; let's put that money to work here in the U.S. instead. For example, to soften the blow of the current recession, state and local governments need federal aid so they can continue providing critical community services. To restore America's economy, we need to invest in ourselves. That means fixing our nation's bridges and roads, expanding mass transit and broadband access, becoming energy independent, developing new "green" technologies, and ensuring that every child receives a high-quality education. To redirect spending to where it's needed, we need to eliminate tax breaks for wealthy corporations, especially those that reward companies for sending jobs overseas.
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
Campaign Site: Http://votespisak.tripod.com
Visit our links to Progressive Job Programs and Healthcare for All Ohioans Act
July 7, 2008
* America is losing jobs. The private sector has lost more than 400,000 jobs in the last six months. Over the past seven years, 3.4 million manufacturing jobs--one out of every five--has been shipped overseas. Today, a smaller percentage of Americans have jobs than at the beginning of the Bush administration.
* Basic costs are skyrocketing. The price of gasoline has increased by more than $2.50 per gallon since George W. Bush took office and the average household will spend $2300 more on gas this year than in 2001. The cost of health insurance has nearly doubled during the Bush Administration. Tuition and fees at public four-year colleges are up 46 percent since 2001. And now food prices have begun to rise.
* American incomes are stagnant. Adjusting for inflation, American workers haven't made any salary gains since Bush took office. In fact, real median household income dropped nearly $1000 from 2000 to 2006. The number of Americans in poverty increased from 31.5 to 36.5 million from 2000 to 2006. Now, one out of every eight Americans is considered poor.
* We're mired in debt. Sixteen percent of mortgaged homes are now "underwater"; that is, the mortgage owed equals or exceeds the value of the house. It is estimated that by June 2009, nearly one in four homes will be underwater. At least two-thirds of college students graduate with some debt and the average debt among graduates exceeds $19,000. More than 850,000 families filed for bankruptcy last year, a 38 percent increase over 2006.
Progressive solutions:
For heaven's sake, let's stop squandering $340 million dollars per day on the war in Iraq; let's put that money to work here in the U.S. instead. For example, to soften the blow of the current recession, state and local governments need federal aid so they can continue providing critical community services. To restore America's economy, we need to invest in ourselves. That means fixing our nation's bridges and roads, expanding mass transit and broadband access, becoming energy independent, developing new "green" technologies, and ensuring that every child receives a high-quality education. To redirect spending to where it's needed, we need to eliminate tax breaks for wealthy corporations, especially those that reward companies for sending jobs overseas.
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
Campaign Site: Http://votespisak.tripod.com
Visit our links to Progressive Job Programs and Healthcare for All Ohioans Act
