The advantages of publicization

In Glasgow, Kentucky you can get a highspeed internet connection for half the price of what it costs most other places in the United States. You can also get 70 cable channels for $19 a month. How is this possible? It is because a public (city owned) utility, the Glasgow Electric Plant Board, is providing the service not to make a profit but as part of their mission to "provide the highest quality electric power, cable television and other telecommunications services at costs which make them practical and improve the standard of living for all the people of Glasgow."

Related articles:

• Some electric utilities offer cable (CNN, February 2, 2003)
• Why you can get the best deal on high-speed access in Glasgow, Kentucky (Telephony Online, December 9, 2002)
• A Historical, Economic and Legal Analysis of Municipal Ownership of the Information Highway by Steven C. Carlson (Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Journal, 1999)

U.S.: State of the Union address commentary

In last night's state of the union address, U.S. President Bush continued his war mongering rhetoric. But for now, I am going to focus on part of his "domestic agenda" — his proposed tax cuts. In his speech Bush states that it is not "fair" to tax dividends twice:

We should also strengthen the economy by treating investors equally in our tax laws. It's fair to tax a company's profits. It is not fair to again tax the shareholder on the same profits. To boost investor confidence, and to help the nearly 10 million seniors who receive dividend income, I ask you [Congress] to end the unfair double taxation of dividends.

Bush's use of the word "fair" is a rhetorical move to place his pro-business, pro-wealthy, tax policies on moral ground. It implies that the rate of taxation of corporations is a moral issue about what is right and wrong and not a political one. Of course there are moral considerations into how a society distributes its wealth and, when examined critically, Bush's attack on a progressive taxation system carries no moral authority. Instead of asking whether or not it is fair to tax corporate dividends, we should be asking whether or not it is fair that workers surplus value is appropriated by the owners of the means of production.

Related websites:

• Marxists Internet Archive
• An Introduction to Marxist Economic Theory by Ernest Mandel

Related articles:

• Bush's one-sided class war (Socialist Worker, January 31, 2003)
• Excerpts from State of the Union speech regarding Growing the Economy & Creating Jobs (Whitehouse.gov, January 28, 2003)
• Bush Vows That He'll Disarm Iraq and Rebuild U.S. Economy (New York Times, January 29, 2003)

Let the Inspectors Work

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to participate in anti-war protests during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday week to commemorate Dr. King's legacyof organizing against war and militarism, racism, poverty and injustice. International ANSWERhas called for mass rallies in Washington, DC and San Francisco.

Move On will be delivering a "Let the Inspections Work" petition next week to Congress and President Bush. You can still sign the petition online.

More information on these and other actions can be found on the websites listed below.

Related websites:

• International ANSWER
• MoveOn.org
• Stop the War (U.K.)
• United For Peace

Related articles:

• Huge protests expected in D.C., S.F (Workers World, January 16, 2003)
  
• Protest Groups Using Updated Tactics to Spread Antiwar Message (New York Times, January 15, 2003)
  
• Thousands in Los Angeles protest war vs. Iraq (World Socialist Web Site, January 14, 2003)
  
• No to Bush’s war machine! (Socialist Worker, January 10, 2003)
  

Class Warfare in American politics

The Bush administration's proposed economic stimulus plan includes the eliminatation of taxes on corporate dividend which, The New York Times reports, "would overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest 5 percent of taxpayers" (1/8/2002). According to Whitehouse Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, "The President believes that all taxpayers are over-taxed, and we are all in this together. The President does not believe in dividing the American people and playing class warfare" (1/7/2003). In other words, the Bush regime wants to obscure the class nature of their economic "stimulus" plan -- which is an obvious hand-out to the rich.

"Class Warfare" has been a dirty word in the mainstream American political discourse. The right-wing pundits have often been able to silence opposition to cuts to taxes and government services by simply labeling it as "class warfare" with the assumption being that America is above and beyond class politics. But as the divide between rich and poor grows, there is a growing reaction against Bush's proposed tax cuts and a realization that the Bush plan is class warfare on the poor. Democrats -- particularly "New" Democrats -- have traditionally shyed away from class politics. Now is the time for Democrats and progressives to bring class back into the political mainstream and defend egalitarian principals such as progressive taxes against these recent right-wing attacks.

Related articles:

• Economic Plans, commentary by Kevin Phillips (NPR Morning Edition, January 13, 2003)


• A Tax-Cut That Would Sink the Economy (AlterNet, January 13, 2003)


• Many May Not Feel Dividend Plan's Impact for Years (New York Times, January 12, 2003)


• Bush Says Tax Proposal Will Be Fair for All Incomes (New York Times, January 10, 2003)


• Jobless recovery deepens as 2002 closes out (Economic Policy Institute, January 10, 2003)


• U.S. Economy Shows Unexpected Weakness as Jobs Decline (New York Times, January 10, 2003)


• The Bush Tax Sham (The Nation, January 9, 2003)


• Bush Decries 'Class Warfare' Against Tax Plan (Reuters, January 9, 2003)


• Bush’s tax cut plan: The economics of the American plutocracy (World Socialist Web Site, January 8, 2003)


• Government & Economic Stimulus Plan (NPR Morning Edition, January 8, 2003)


• Plan Gives Most Benefits to Wealthy and Families (New York Times, January 8, 2003)


• Mario Cuomo Accuses Bush of Class Warfare (Guardian, January 7, 2003)


• Background Briefing on the Growth and Jobs Plan (Whitehouse Press Secretary Briefings, January 7, 2003)