[Peace-discuss] Announcement of Candidacy for Congress

[David Green]

David Green will be announcing his candidacy for
Congressperson for the 13thDistrict in Illinois, Democratic Party
primary, on Sunday, September 1, 2013, 1:30 p.m., at the Champaign Public
Library, Robeson Rooms A and B. 
He will be conducting an insurgent campaign for the
Democratic Party nomination, in opposition to the policies of the Obama
Administration, the party’s congressional leadership, and the party’s
organizational leadership. 
This insurgent campaign is in opposition to the war-making
policies of the Administration, the expansion and privatization of the
military-industrial complex, drone warfare, our empire of military bases,
intervention around the world, and military funding for Israel, Egypt, and
Colombia.
This campaign is also in opposition to Wall Street, the
major banks, and other financial powers that be, including the policies of the U.S.
Treasury, the Federal Reserve, the International Monetary Fund, and the World
Bank.
The campaign opposes the national security state and all
that entails, including spying globally and on American citizens. It will also
oppose the “war on drugs” and the regime of mass incarceration, directed
particularly at African-Americans, who are the real targets of that war.
The campaign will appeal to leftists in the Democratic
Party, those who identify with other leftist parties, including the Green
Party, and anti-war libertarians.
The campaign supports guaranteed, living wage government
employment for all who want or need a job. Massive areas of federal funding for
jobs include public education, from pre-school to college; public mass
transportation; conservation of land and energy; funding for the arts; mental
and dental health; increased internet connectivity; and the U.S. Postal Service.
These programs would be paid for by savings resulting from a
“Medicare for all” insurance program that would incorporate all citizens and
eliminate health insurance companies, as well as diminishing pharmaceutical profits.
They would also be paid for by savings from “national defense” related
spending.
This campaign supports and encourages union activity in both
the public and private sectors, including legislation that removes employer
obstacles to union organization. It will also support lowering the value of the
dollar in order to make American manufacturing more competitive at home and
abroad, thus lowering or eliminating the balance of payments deficit. Any further
deficits incurred by the federal government will be in order to support real and
productive economic growth, especially infrastructure, rather than corporate out-sourcing
to low wage countries, militarism, and financial bailouts, as is currently the
case.
The campaign supports a dramatic revision of the federal tax
system from regressive to progressive. The income cap on the social security
payroll tax should be eliminated, the tax rate lowered, and benefits raised.
Taxes on the wealthy and corporate profits should also be raised to reflect
more progressivity, and to counter the dramatic effects of increased income
inequality. A modest federal sales tax on internet purchases should be
considered, to be distributed to the states.
In sum, this campaign represents recognition of the notion
that the United States is no longer a functioning democracy. However, it
challenges the notions that Americans are either unwilling to govern themselves
or incapable of doing so.
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