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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 11 2009, 10:30 AM EDT (current) | almyatt | 26 words added |
| Apr 4 2009, 11:52 AM EDT | jalp | 29 words added |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
Editing of the Program for Economic Crisis document was finished (April 11, 2009). The final result is a pdf file attached to the Outreach Literature page.
Program for Economic Recovery — jalp’s annotated draft (Thu 4/2, 12:47 pm EDT) / draft v2 (Sat 4/4, 11:47 am EDT)
Economic Recovery for the People
The Green Party of Michigan does not support bailing out banks or speculators while ignoring the suffering of the hardworking people of Michigan. We propose an entirely different approach to the economic crisis.
[notes:
* could replace all of first sentence after “bailing out” with “banks and corporations that were ‘too big to fail’
while ignoring the suffering faced by people who are too small to lobby.” . . .
* could replace “suffering” with “hardships”]
1. A Safety Net Protecting All People: Everyone deserves adequate income for decent food and shelter. Greens support unemployment benefits for everyone who’s unemployed. Medicare for all, not just health insurance for those who can pay. A moratorium on foreclosures and utility shut-offs. Civil rights and human respect for all residents, including immigrants.
[notes:
* could replace “respect” with “dignity” . . .
* could replace everything before the comma in the third sentence with “Health care for all, based on Medicare –” . . . or with “Health care for all – patterned after Medicare –” . . . could also emphasize “care” and “insurance”]
2. Public Works for the People: It’ll take a lot of work to build a Green, healthy economy for Michigan. And that means a lot of jobs for everyone, at a living wage. We need to rebuild our state’s infrastructure and schools – create and support public spaces, gardens, organic farms. We must emphasize resource conservation and efficiency, and develop renewable sources of energy – solar, wind, geothermal – to replace fossil fuels. That will help cut greenhouse-gas emissions, and stop global warming.
[note:
* would it be a good idea to think about putting in something here about protecting the Great Lakes/water resources?]
3. A Peaceful and Democratic Foreign Policy: The less oil and other fossil fuels we use, the less tempted we’ll be to fight wars for access to those depleting energy supplies. And the more we’ll be able to invest in more peaceful pursuits. We need to withdraw all US forces and contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan immediately. We must also stop subsidizing Israel's oppressive occupation of Palestine with money or weapons. US diplomacy and aid should provide the world with the basic needs of living, not the latest means of killing.
[notes:
* could insert “time, money, and attention” (or any combination of those) after “the more” . . .
* could change “be able to invest in” to “have available to devote to” – or “to spend on” . . .
* could add “, profitable” (or “, people-oriented”) after “peaceful” – unless we think that would confuse the issue . . .
* could change “killing” to “dying”]
4. Grassroots Democracy and a Focus on the Future: An economy that depends on depleting resources and degrading people makes no sense for the future. We need a sustainable, community-based economy. And we need grassroots democratic control of the resources of society. Nationalizing failed banks and the automobile industry can be one step toward filling those needs. Our government and our economy must focus on the needs and potentials of people and the planet – instead of serving a wealthy few.
[notes:
* could replace “depleting resources and degrading people” with “depleting energy and other resources, and degrading people and the environment,” . . .
* could replace “for the future” with “for our future” – or “in the long run” . . .
* could insert “the” before “people” in the last sentence – or take “people and” out of the first sentence]
The Green Party of Michigan. Politics as if people mattered . . . because we do.
[note:
* could replace “Politics” with “An economic-recovery program”]
[total PC-counted words in “main draft” – without, and not counting, the notes: 38 + 53 + 80 + 66 + 80 + 13 = 328 words]
[total PC-counted words in “main draft v2” – without, and not counting, the notes: 38 + 53 + 80 + 66 + 91 + 13 = 341 words]
[=============== [end of jalp's draft] ===============]
Thanks for the input from Art and Harley. I think it is important to address the nature of our economic system as based in unsustainable use of fossil fuels and excessive consumption. I think it should be at the end. I dropped the point about food stamps; the question of income and unemployment benefits addresses the need for food, clothing and shelter. I think we should support the nationalization of the banks and the auto industry as the first step in the reconversion of our state economy. To let the bankruptcy method strip the factories of their wealth without community input and control is just more wall street dictators. Nationalization gives us the chance to engage the dialogue over what to do.
I don't want to attack the stimulus package as such because it is the only place that new money for extended unemployment benefits, extra aid for poor people, extra money for housing, etc. is coming from. I think we need to propose our package and address the fundamental content of the stimulus package as completely inadequate to protect millions from disaster.
Here is my take:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make the rich pay!
The Green Party of Michigan does not support the bailout of the banks. We do support any measures that alleviate the suffering of the people of Michigan. We think that the current administration's stimulus package is completely inadequate. The Green Party of Michigan proposes:
1. A real safety net – protect the people, not the bankers - unemployment benefits for all unemployed; Medicare for all; adequate income now for all; a moratorium on foreclosures and utility shutoffs. The safety net must protect all residents. Nationalize the banks and the automobile industry.
2. A Green public works program -- jobs for everyone at a living wage -- rebuild infrastructure, schools, create and support public spaces, gardens, organic farms – all as part of a Green program of revitalization and economic conversion for Michigan. We must emphasize energy conservation and efficiency, so we can develop renewable sources of energy – solar, wind, geothermal -- to replace the use of fossil fuels. We need drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stop global warming.
3. A peaceful and democratic foreign policy – Immediate withdrawal of all US forces and contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan; stop the money and weapons that subsidize Israel's oppressive occupation of Palestine.
4. A future focus and grassroots democracy -- we need to completely redesign our economy and our government which are failing both the people and the planet. It does not make sense to revive an economy that depends on depleting resources and degrading the environment. We need to create a sustainable economy that uses much less energy and other resources. We need grassroots democratic control of all the resources of society so that we focus on the needs and potentials of people and the planet, not serve a wealthy minority.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is my attempt at editing/rewriting (358 words). We still need a headline, maybe a pithy slogan at the end. I thought it was important to specify exactly what we are opposed to, and to emphasize saving energy as the way to lessen dependence on fossil fuels, imported or homegrown.
Please add your comments above the line explaining your revisions below the line.
Art Myatt (Sunday, March 29)
It is wrong to put trillions of dollars into bailouts and stimulus spending. We won't save institutions that demonstrated such incompetence at managing investments by giving them more to waste. Their executives deserve to lose their jobs, not to continue extravagant salaries topped off with bonuses. It does not make sense to revive an economy that depends on depleting resources and degrading the environment.
We need to create a sustainable economy that uses much less energy and other resources. The Green Party did not support the Bush bailout and does not support the Obama stimulus. We do support an entirely different approach to the economic crisis.
1. A real safety net – protect the people, not the bankers - unemployment benefits for all unemployed; 100% increase in food stamp allotments; Medicare for all instead of health insurance for those who can pay; adequate income now for all; a moratorium on foreclosures and utility shutoffs; amnesty for immigrants.
2. A Green public works program -- jobs for everyone at a living wage -- rebuild infrastructure, schools, create and support public spaces, gardens, organic farms – all as part of a green program of revitalization for the state. The emphasis should be on conservation of energy and using it efficiently, so we can develop renewable sources of energy – solar, wind, geothermal, etc to replace the use of fossil fuels, not to prop up the economy that depends on burning them. We need drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stop global warming.
3. A peaceful and democratic foreign policy – Immediate withdrawal of all US forces and contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan; stop the money and weapons that subsidize Israel's oppressive occupation of Palestine. If we can drastically reduce our use of oil and other fossil fuels, there won't be any temptation to fight wars for access to these depleting energy supplies.
4. Future focus and grassroots democracy -- we need to completely redesign our economy and our government which are failing both the people and the planet. We need grassroots democratic control of all the resources of society so that we focus on the needs and potentials of people and the planet, not serve a wealthy minority.
Program for Economic Recovery — jalp’s annotated draft (Thu 4/2, 12:47 pm EDT) / draft v2 (Sat 4/4, 11:47 am EDT)
Economic Recovery for the People
The Green Party of Michigan does not support bailing out banks or speculators while ignoring the suffering of the hardworking people of Michigan. We propose an entirely different approach to the economic crisis.
[notes:
* could replace all of first sentence after “bailing out” with “banks and corporations that were ‘too big to fail’
while ignoring the suffering faced by people who are too small to lobby.” . . .
* could replace “suffering” with “hardships”]
1. A Safety Net Protecting All People: Everyone deserves adequate income for decent food and shelter. Greens support unemployment benefits for everyone who’s unemployed. Medicare for all, not just health insurance for those who can pay. A moratorium on foreclosures and utility shut-offs. Civil rights and human respect for all residents, including immigrants.
[notes:
* could replace “respect” with “dignity” . . .
* could replace everything before the comma in the third sentence with “Health care for all, based on Medicare –” . . . or with “Health care for all – patterned after Medicare –” . . . could also emphasize “care” and “insurance”]
2. Public Works for the People: It’ll take a lot of work to build a Green, healthy economy for Michigan. And that means a lot of jobs for everyone, at a living wage. We need to rebuild our state’s infrastructure and schools – create and support public spaces, gardens, organic farms. We must emphasize resource conservation and efficiency, and develop renewable sources of energy – solar, wind, geothermal – to replace fossil fuels. That will help cut greenhouse-gas emissions, and stop global warming.
[note:
* would it be a good idea to think about putting in something here about protecting the Great Lakes/water resources?]
3. A Peaceful and Democratic Foreign Policy: The less oil and other fossil fuels we use, the less tempted we’ll be to fight wars for access to those depleting energy supplies. And the more we’ll be able to invest in more peaceful pursuits. We need to withdraw all US forces and contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan immediately. We must also stop subsidizing Israel's oppressive occupation of Palestine with money or weapons. US diplomacy and aid should provide the world with the basic needs of living, not the latest means of killing.
[notes:
* could insert “time, money, and attention” (or any combination of those) after “the more” . . .
* could change “be able to invest in” to “have available to devote to” – or “to spend on” . . .
* could add “, profitable” (or “, people-oriented”) after “peaceful” – unless we think that would confuse the issue . . .
* could change “killing” to “dying”]
4. Grassroots Democracy and a Focus on the Future: An economy that depends on depleting resources and degrading people makes no sense for the future. We need a sustainable, community-based economy. And we need grassroots democratic control of the resources of society. Nationalizing failed banks and the automobile industry can be one step toward filling those needs. Our government and our economy must focus on the needs and potentials of people and the planet – instead of serving a wealthy few.
[notes:
* could replace “depleting resources and degrading people” with “depleting energy and other resources, and degrading people and the environment,” . . .
* could replace “for the future” with “for our future” – or “in the long run” . . .
* could insert “the” before “people” in the last sentence – or take “people and” out of the first sentence]
The Green Party of Michigan. Politics as if people mattered . . . because we do.
[note:
* could replace “Politics” with “An economic-recovery program”]
[total PC-counted words in “main draft” – without, and not counting, the notes: 38 + 53 + 80 + 66 + 80 + 13 = 328 words]
[total PC-counted words in “main draft v2” – without, and not counting, the notes: 38 + 53 + 80 + 66 + 91 + 13 = 341 words]
[=============== [end of jalp's draft] ===============]
Thanks for the input from Art and Harley. I think it is important to address the nature of our economic system as based in unsustainable use of fossil fuels and excessive consumption. I think it should be at the end. I dropped the point about food stamps; the question of income and unemployment benefits addresses the need for food, clothing and shelter. I think we should support the nationalization of the banks and the auto industry as the first step in the reconversion of our state economy. To let the bankruptcy method strip the factories of their wealth without community input and control is just more wall street dictators. Nationalization gives us the chance to engage the dialogue over what to do.
I don't want to attack the stimulus package as such because it is the only place that new money for extended unemployment benefits, extra aid for poor people, extra money for housing, etc. is coming from. I think we need to propose our package and address the fundamental content of the stimulus package as completely inadequate to protect millions from disaster.
Here is my take:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make the rich pay!
The Green Party of Michigan does not support the bailout of the banks. We do support any measures that alleviate the suffering of the people of Michigan. We think that the current administration's stimulus package is completely inadequate. The Green Party of Michigan proposes:
1. A real safety net – protect the people, not the bankers - unemployment benefits for all unemployed; Medicare for all; adequate income now for all; a moratorium on foreclosures and utility shutoffs. The safety net must protect all residents. Nationalize the banks and the automobile industry.
2. A Green public works program -- jobs for everyone at a living wage -- rebuild infrastructure, schools, create and support public spaces, gardens, organic farms – all as part of a Green program of revitalization and economic conversion for Michigan. We must emphasize energy conservation and efficiency, so we can develop renewable sources of energy – solar, wind, geothermal -- to replace the use of fossil fuels. We need drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stop global warming.
3. A peaceful and democratic foreign policy – Immediate withdrawal of all US forces and contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan; stop the money and weapons that subsidize Israel's oppressive occupation of Palestine.
4. A future focus and grassroots democracy -- we need to completely redesign our economy and our government which are failing both the people and the planet. It does not make sense to revive an economy that depends on depleting resources and degrading the environment. We need to create a sustainable economy that uses much less energy and other resources. We need grassroots democratic control of all the resources of society so that we focus on the needs and potentials of people and the planet, not serve a wealthy minority.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is my attempt at editing/rewriting (358 words). We still need a headline, maybe a pithy slogan at the end. I thought it was important to specify exactly what we are opposed to, and to emphasize saving energy as the way to lessen dependence on fossil fuels, imported or homegrown.
Please add your comments above the line explaining your revisions below the line.
Art Myatt (Sunday, March 29)
_____________________________________________
It is wrong to put trillions of dollars into bailouts and stimulus spending. We won't save institutions that demonstrated such incompetence at managing investments by giving them more to waste. Their executives deserve to lose their jobs, not to continue extravagant salaries topped off with bonuses. It does not make sense to revive an economy that depends on depleting resources and degrading the environment.
We need to create a sustainable economy that uses much less energy and other resources. The Green Party did not support the Bush bailout and does not support the Obama stimulus. We do support an entirely different approach to the economic crisis.
1. A real safety net – protect the people, not the bankers - unemployment benefits for all unemployed; 100% increase in food stamp allotments; Medicare for all instead of health insurance for those who can pay; adequate income now for all; a moratorium on foreclosures and utility shutoffs; amnesty for immigrants.
2. A Green public works program -- jobs for everyone at a living wage -- rebuild infrastructure, schools, create and support public spaces, gardens, organic farms – all as part of a green program of revitalization for the state. The emphasis should be on conservation of energy and using it efficiently, so we can develop renewable sources of energy – solar, wind, geothermal, etc to replace the use of fossil fuels, not to prop up the economy that depends on burning them. We need drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to stop global warming.
3. A peaceful and democratic foreign policy – Immediate withdrawal of all US forces and contractors from Iraq and Afghanistan; stop the money and weapons that subsidize Israel's oppressive occupation of Palestine. If we can drastically reduce our use of oil and other fossil fuels, there won't be any temptation to fight wars for access to these depleting energy supplies.
4. Future focus and grassroots democracy -- we need to completely redesign our economy and our government which are failing both the people and the planet. We need grassroots democratic control of all the resources of society so that we focus on the needs and potentials of people and the planet, not serve a wealthy minority.
