Bob Basso author of "Common Sense" plays the role of Thomas Paine to ignite the fire of change in America. Patriotism and Pride for America lead Thomas Paine to help take back America!  

“Taxation without representation is tyranny, but still you still look to government to solve problems they created in the first place.”




If the image above does not appear on your computer, click on the link below.

Suggestions include:

• repeal welfare and social security for illegal immigrants who have not paid into the system
• stop outsourcing jobs
• stop payments to failed, corrupt businesses
• use e-verify employment system to secure jobs for American citizens
• March on Washington to protest
• A taxpayers’ revolt
• Stop all traffic in Washington with a truck blockade as a protest
• Limit US national debt – now approaching the total gross domestic product of the entire world
• Stop the bondage we are placing upon our children, grandchildren and 10 more generations with our debt
• Do not continue the inaction of citizenry - advised by the US government in 2001, leaving the responses to the governmen

We the people stimulus package suggestions

• All laws that apply to the rest of the country apply equally to Congress
• ‘Throw out’ [i.e. Impeach] any congressperson who passed the recent corporate spending bill without reading it
• Remove Congressional elite privileges:
     All laws that apply to the rest of the country apply to congresspeople
     Repeal Congress’ right to vote for their own raises
     Require Congresspersons to pay for their social security
     Limit Congresspeople to 2 terms
     Require them to create their own 401K retirement plan, instead of claiming a full salary after only 1 term in office
     Stop paying for Congrespeople’s insurance premiums
• Balance the Federal budget
• Use above savings to increase salary and benefits of members of the armed forces
• Start no war unless you intend to win it
• Make English the official, required language
• Abolish the electoral college
• Bring back universal service for community involvement of 2 years for every young person
• Send a tea bag to remind Congresspersons and the President of the Tea Party that started the American Revolution.
     Message: We’re mad as hell and we want our country back

Comments:
Most of this looks and feels right to me.

However:

1. I have problems with suggestions to abandon responsibility for ‘illegal’ immigrants – who have been lured into the US for employment that in many cases was/is not wanted by US citizens – as in farm labor - and which make illegal immigrants scapegoats for our problems.

A major issue not addressed in this video is the US-led worldwide dominant culture of exploitative capitalism underlying many aspects of the problems detailed above. Money and property are the goals of many people’s lives, and their measure of personal and collective success. Personal, human values are sacrificed to the god of capitalism.

UNTIL WE SHIFT TO GOALS OF PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT (NOT MEASURED BY DOLLARS) AND OF HEALING OUR PLANET, MEASURED BY THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE, ANIMALS, PLANTS AND ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, WE WILL JUST BE JUMPING FROM ONE FRYING PAN INTO ANOTHER.

2. No war will ever be won on the battlefield. Military actions are a scam to support the military industry.

3. Responsible government requires accountability.
Allowing the Bush team to walk away with trillions in scammed funds that have 'disappeared' sends a clear message that Congressional and Presidential piracy are condoned.
Allowing Congresspersons to accept bribes ('contributions') from vested corporate interests is not to be tolerated

4. Accountability for 9-11 remains to be addressed. The failure of the government to investigate the 'collapse' of World Trade Center tower #7 is unconscionable. (Google WTC7 if you are unfamiliar with the unexplained destruction of a 47 storey skyscraper that fell at freefall speed. No explanation other than demolition can account for this.)

5. The media are clearly complicit in whitewashing (4) and in acting as propaganda machines for corporate and government interests. Until the media are freed of their bondage to the highest paying advertising bidders and other vested interests, the US will not be a democracy.

6. MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL IS THE 'HOW' OF DOING THIS.
The Boston Tea Party led to a military revolution, and set the US on a long course of repeated military interventions as the way to bring about changes. I hope we do not repeat this today!

i would strongly advocate for acknowledging that the tea still comes from India, and take a lesson from Ghandi, as well as from Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela. The new ways forwards would be much better if set in a framework and attitude of peaceful but absolutely firm and resolute resistance.

Blessings

Dan