Monthly political notes for February 2011:
- Harvard study claims ending war on drugs could save $76.8 billion a year
- 3.2% of Americans on probation, in jail, or on parole since 2008
- American incarcerates more of its citizens than any other country, 25% of entire worlds prison population
- $70B a year spent on corrections
- Top 1% = 34.6%, top 1-10% = 38.5%, bottom 90% = 26.9% (from 2007, note that super rich have gone up since the economy tanked)
- US 42nd worst in Gini Coefficient
- Richest 74 people made as much as the lowest 19 million people
- 1970 CEO made 74 times what the average worker made, 2005 = 465 times more, Japan CEO made 20 times what the average worker made
- 93% of Chamber Of Commerce spending for Republican candidates or against Democratic candidates in 2010
- Republicans want to cut: AmeriCorps ($373M), family planning assistance, Corporation For Public Broadcasting spending ($531M), EPA by 18%, eliminate programs that help local police ($298M), EPA program that helps clean water, eliminate investment in highspeed rail ($53B), cut Amtrak budget by 14% ($224M), subsidies for the poor, Indian health care, road construction, no details on Congress’ own budget, cut NASA by 1%, FBI & US Marshals receive 4% increase, health research frozen at $31B, renewable energy programs by one half, weatherization programs terminated, cuts to WIC by $758M or 10%
- Taxes at lowest level since 1950
- Eisenhower was pro union, Reagan started union busting with firing air traffic controllers
- In 2009 the top 5 most profitable companies were oil companies
- House Democrats want $40B cut in oil subsidies over 5 years, Republicans say no
- Under Clinton: richest .5% got tax increase of 3%, gas tax 3.4% increase, raised income on Social Security, all equaled more prosperity
- Bush tax cuts on the wealthy, two unfunded wars = trying to clean up mess now
- Defense budget $670B and doesn’t include nukes (they’re in energy)
- A lot of stuff came from unions
- Union decline bad for everyone except CEOs
- In 1983 unions were 20.1%, now down to 12%
- Top 400 people make as much as bottom 50%
- Of 10 richest members of Congress (7 D’s and 3 R’s), all voted to extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich
- From 2007-2009 Wall Street profits up 720%, unemployment up 102%, home equity down 35%
