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1. We demand responsible behavior. Cap individual global wealth at $1 billion per person, and global corporate market share at 10%.
2. We demand accountability. Investigate the global financial sector, publish the results, and prosecute lawbreakers.
3. We demand control of our own money.
Originally posted by apacheman
reply to post by GringoViejo
Explain why it is impossible.
I happen to know a few forensic auditors who are quite capable of tracking billions in corporate funds and telling you where the money went.
So don't just make a bald assertion of impossibility without providing some facts to back it up.
You folks who assert a "right" to unlimited wealth (which you will never attain, btw) remind me of screaming children: "I wanna, I wanna, you can't make me".
Grow up please, and be responsible citizens.
Originally posted by apacheman
reply to post by camaro68ss
No, you don't.
From where do you derive this "right"?
Originally posted by apacheman
reply to post by GringoViejo
So I have a right to enslave you then, if I have the strength to do so?
What of other people's right to a decent life?
Originally posted by apacheman
reply to post by camaro68ss
No, you don't.
From where do you derive this "right"?
Originally posted by answerisquestion
if I had 10 billion and had to give up 9 billion for a better world for my kids to live in than so be it...
the cost and use of gas is also killing the economy and quality of life...
our systems should allow people to own or rent electric vehicles for around 150$ per month...
the electric car could be the most important need we have right now...cleaner air=less cancer...less climate change...more money going into the economy... instead of up in toxic smoke...less wars over oil...
Originally posted by apacheman
reply to post by OutKast Searcher
1. Current billionaires should be given four years to voluntarily divest themselves of their excess. They get to choose what wealth they take into retirement with them. The divestiture should be tax-free transfers. Allow them to give up to $200 million to any non-profit, non-violent organization of their choosing, and allow any such organization to receive up to four such gifts. Allow $250 million for a new startup non-profit, and allow it to receive the same four donations. Allow them to give up to $5 million to any individual they choose.
Yeah, merely Did it ever occur to you to try and fix our political structure before infringing on everyone's rights? If the representatives don't listen to us, why will the Justice department?
3. In the US, it would merely require the Justice Department to stop turning a blind eye to financial fraud and uphold the laws on the books. I'm pretty sure the same applies to most other countries. The financial crisis isn't all that complicated: junk assets were described, rated and sold fraudulently as good investments by people who not only knew better, but cashed in on their failure.
Cap campaign spending and put term limits in place for congress. You don't even have to use oppressive actions to do it.
4. 95% of the US was against the bailouts, but our "representatives" ignored us. A person who "represents" more than three or four hundred thousand people is free to do whatever they like. They represent no one but themselves. If the system was responsive, we wouldn't be seeing these protests. I'd much prefer direct control of my tax dollars. If the people choose not to fund certain things, perhaps they feel those things aren't a wise expenditure of their money? Taking control of our tax dollars will stimulate far greater participation in governance by the citizenry.
I'd say that is up for debate as you obviously didn't include a copy of the constitution as any sort of reference in your many, many years of thought. Maybe that's why your plan is simple, and not all that well thought out.
On the contrary, I have thought this through for many, many years, and most arguments against it are as simple and unthought-through as yours: mostly along the lines of "it's impossible" without ever really thinking through the process of real change in the world.
Until we cap wealth, we will always be at the mercy of wealth-addicted sociopaths whose only desire is for more, more[/], MORE, regardless of the damage they do to others in their insatiable quest.