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Nicholas Ruiz III
for U.S. Congress 2012
FL District 24
for U.S. Congress 2012
FL District 24
| For the new wave of American progress. |
| Drag By Nicholas Ruiz III Half a job, half a wage, half of benefits – many of which were not up to par adjusted for inflation, anyway – that’s the ‘jobs’ plan? When the Washington Post (WP) reports that manufacturing is rising, albeit with ‘replacement’ jobs that pay half the wages of the jobs that left – what do you call it? The WP calls it: ‘the pay ain’t what it used be.’ When pay for similar work that has gone to other cities and countries plummets - say a job at Company A paying $20 an hour goes in search of cheaper labor in another country, and is replaced by a job at Company B that is paying $7.50 per hour – where do you imagine that kind of scenario takes us? You can almost hear FDR shouting from his grave: ‘Not America!’ And the Republican government response has been to disintegrate unemployment benefits, in state after state. The tactic in effect, is to force American citizens into lower wage jobs. At least Oregon understands social justice in some capacity – they actually added an additional six weeks of unemployment insurance coverage in 2011. Is this what all the Republican big talk of trickle down profits, growing and innovating America out of her downward spiral is all about? A red-ink renaissance for the American worker? More worker debt, more recession, more sacrifice? Republican Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) is probably fine with that…he just voted to keep Big Oil on the government teat, with billions in U.S. government subsidies for oil companies that are already wildly profitable. Giving credit where credit is due, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson (FL), voted to remove Big Pimpin’ Oil from the government teat. However, let’s not overlook the necessary criticism of our Democratic friend – who recently balked at the idea that we might more robustly, progressively tax the wealthy. Remind Sen. Nelson - that isn’t a Democratic position, friend. Robust progressive taxation is the cornerstone of a healthy and civilized society. Just ask all of the seniors and baby boomers who benefited from it – and continue to benefit from the remainder of those good ol' days. Some say, quite timidly, something to the effect of: ‘it’s unclear that the jobs that are growing are desirable.’ Comical. On the contrary, it’s crystal clear – they are not. Not while jobs and pay drag behind what previous workers have earned for the very same work in decades past. That’s what you call ‘negative’ job creation. It’s unrealistic that the U.S. will maintain its previously fabled posture of innovative and efficient supremacy in the face of globalization. No one is so clever - or so lucky as to be able to hold back that tide. Such a royal title will increasingly, be shared. Republicans and ConservaDems know it – so their ‘plan’ is to suppress and erode worker wages and benefits until near global parity is reached. That’s what underlies much of the recent union- busting. Such a plan is contingent upon reduced pay and benefits for American workers, while globally, wages and benefits slowly rise. The truth of the matter is Republicans think Americans have it too good. So they want to make it somewhat worse for you, a bit more austere, if you will. Truly, what we need is a more thoughtful approach to our domestic and trade policies. Other countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China and others, are already and increasingly coming online. These countries have massive populations that are willing to work for far less pay and benefits than American workers are accustomed to expect, and global labor will weigh down global wages for decades to come – there is no escaping that fact. In light of this phenomenon, we need to redefine our American socioeconomic posture, and take care of our people. And on the narrative of ‘business’ - small and big - you cannot believe wealth-seeking political careerist, business-types that tell you trickle-down prosperity will find its way into the American heartland. No such prosperity has materialized, after decades of this lie. And it will not, because such excess prosperity that the empowered accumulate, they sequester and horde like thieves for a rainy day. How do we do prosper in these times? We reinvest in America with the help of Wall Street and the Public Trust. We invigorate our social and cultural plurality through new institutions of research, community, sustainability and higher learning that are not necessarily driven by the thought of economic profit. Instead, we learn to think of social and cultural value and profit. Through robust progressive taxation and reinvestment in our land, people and institutions, the U.S. will have time and space to innovate and refresh our prospects for leadership and a sensible future. Out of that investment, will come new job creation, with better wages and benefits, and so on. That is the path America must take, if it wishes to remain ‘America.’ Ahead no more, by almost every measure, America – get up and stop dragging behind. Put a progressive democrat in Congress. Please contribute now to help NRIII unseat Republican Sandy Adams in 2012 - and work toward keeping a truly Democratic tradition alive in America: and please endorse, and invite friends to endorse his campaign here: Endorse Nick! Many thanks for your support! |
| Political advertisement paid for and approved by Nicholas Ruiz III, Democratic candidate for Congress |
| Nicholas Ruiz III for Congress PO Box 1372 New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170 nicholasruizforcongress@intertheory.org |
