THE URGENT NEED FOR CHANGE AND REFORM 

Although we can and should be optimistic about the future, we must recognize that our country is in unemployment, diplomatic, political, constitutional, health care/cost and environmental crises.

The below graphs shows the percentage of unemployment from January 1999 through June 2009.

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemployment Rate

According to official Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of July 31, 2009, 14.5 million Americans were unemployed. Total unemployed is 30.6 million when those who have given up looking for jobs but would and those working part time because they cannot find full time jobs are counted.

When all those who are actually unemployed are counted, the total number of unemployed is 30.6 million, twice what the government says.

The $787 billion Stimulus Act is unlikely to create even a half million new jobs this year. It is very complicated and poorly organized.

If done properly, the $787 billion could have been used to employ almost 20 million people, with average annual salaries of $40,000, for a year.

Over the past 18 months or so, the Federal Reserve, FDIC and the U. S. Treasury have provided or committed about $23 trillion of taxpayers money to prop up selective, insolvent banks and financial institutions that lost trillions of dollars trading derivatives.  Banks are obtaining funds from the Fed and the government at very low (0 to 1%) interest rates and charging exorbitant interest rates on the money that they are willing to lend. These banks and financial institutions are foreclosing on homes, small farms and businesses and paying their executives hundreds of millions in salaries. In the richest country in the world, at least the one with the most millionaires, we have many children being born homeless thanks to these bankers and businessmen and our politicians.

Properly applied, $23.7 trillion could have prevented the recession, paid for single payer health care for all, paid off the national debt, and eliminated the need for income and sales tax on the poor and middle class for years.

Instead it has been used to buy almost worthless derivatives and pay massive bonuses and salaries to the individuals who bought and sold these derivatives.

Our democracy is being eroded by some in our own government who have no allegiance to the founding principles of our Republic.

Some executives from large corporations, some extremely rich individuals, neocons, radical religious fundamentalists and others - not, we the people, - are exercising excessive control over many of our federal, state and local governments. They control most of the media, public sector resources, environmental laws, judicial institutions, political parties, etc. They tweak the tax code, manipulate the regulatory agencies, and funnel campaign contributions to their favorite politicians who conduct a shell-game of carefully crafted misinformation and theatrical propaganda.

Senior U.S. government officials used false pretenses to justify the invasion of Iraq. The ensuing occupation paved the way for U.S. oil company executives to illegally take control of Iraq's oil industries and reserves benefiting only themselves.

It is a crime that the people of the United States are paying with their tax dollars and lives for the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Gas, oil, munitions makers and defense contractors pay millions in lobbying as their ante to ensure trillions flow back to them. In turn, senior corporate executives are rewarded with lavish compensation and bonuses and politicians with lavish campaign contributions and other favors.

The world is facing many tough challenges which are not being adequately addressed including global warming, poverty, stagnant wages, lack of affordable housing, chronic worldwide unemployment, malnutrition, poor physical, dental, mental, and emotional health, failing ecological systems, continuing wars, conflicts, nuclear proliferation and many uncaring and unethical government officials.

Our governments, institutions and systems are failing us not because they are basically unsound, but because of the actions or lack of actions of individuals, not organizations, agencies, or corporations. Not enough of us take the time to understand our constitution, our rights and the underlying causes of our problems. The people who do pay attention tend to be misled by corrupt politicians and the “in-bedded” industrial-media complex who willingly publish misinformation because much of the media's revenue comes from these same companies through advertisements.

There are no excuses for the extent of these problems. We the people deserve better.