Issues
The Economy
From 1950 to 1980 America was the manufacturing superpower with the strongest and largest middleclass in world history. We were the number one exporter of finished goods and importer of raw material to make those goods. We had a twenty five percent unionized private work force, roughly fifty percent of Americans had pensions, and we balanced budgets. Today we have a less than seven percent unionized private work force and around six percent of Americans have a pension.
Since 1980 to 2010 our manufacturing industry has left the country in the auspices of free trade agreements. We were supposed to export our goods to China and India not export our jobs to these countries. The American worker has seen their pay remain stagnant for decades and even drop by $2,000 since 2001 because of these policies. Millions of good paying blue collar jobs have left our country and were replaced with low paying retail (would like to super size your order) jobs causing Americans to work more hours and bring home less money.
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Since 1980 to 2010 our manufacturing industry has left the country in the auspices of free trade agreements. We were supposed to export our goods to China and India not export our jobs to these countries. The American worker has seen their pay remain stagnant for decades and even drop by $2,000 since 2001 because of these policies. Millions of good paying blue collar jobs have left our country and were replaced with low paying retail (would like to super size your order) jobs causing Americans to work more hours and bring home less money.
Read Full Position Statement »
Financial Market Reform
On October 3, 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. Also known as the Bank Bailout Bill, the president and the lobbyists from the financial sector pushed hard to get this bill passed, and quickly.
In the fall of 2008 our financial sector brought the United States of America and the world economies to the brink of collapse. We still haven’t recovered. The U.S. taxpayers bailed out the major banks in hope of preventing a total collapse and so the lending banks would start investing in the productive economy, to fuel an economic recovery. Instead these banks are receiving taxpayer-financed 0% interest loans through the Federal Reserve and investing in Government Bonds that have a 3% return on investment. In the process they have given themselves billions of dollars in bonuses. In 2009 the 40 largest banks, a few thousand individuals, gave themselves $148,000,000,000 (billion) in bonuses.
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In the fall of 2008 our financial sector brought the United States of America and the world economies to the brink of collapse. We still haven’t recovered. The U.S. taxpayers bailed out the major banks in hope of preventing a total collapse and so the lending banks would start investing in the productive economy, to fuel an economic recovery. Instead these banks are receiving taxpayer-financed 0% interest loans through the Federal Reserve and investing in Government Bonds that have a 3% return on investment. In the process they have given themselves billions of dollars in bonuses. In 2009 the 40 largest banks, a few thousand individuals, gave themselves $148,000,000,000 (billion) in bonuses.
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Campaign Finance Reform
Until we control our elections for public office we have no control over the people who are supposed to be representing our best interests. Who controls the purse strings controls the government. Right now big business and wealthy businessmen and women control the purse strings of our elections, Republican and Democratic Party leadership, and the elected legislators through lobbying efforts and campaign donations.
I support the Fair Elections Now Act sponsored by Change Congress, a non-partisan advocacy organization whose sole purpose is to protect the independence of Congress by fighting the influence of money in politics. Learn more online at fixcongressfirst.org.
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I support the Fair Elections Now Act sponsored by Change Congress, a non-partisan advocacy organization whose sole purpose is to protect the independence of Congress by fighting the influence of money in politics. Learn more online at fixcongressfirst.org.
Read Full Position Statement »
Social Security
In 2010 the Democratic-controlled White House commissioned a deficit committee. This sounds good, but they are proposing to slash benefits to a program that doesn’t contribute one penny to our nation’s deficit or national debt. Social Security is under attack with hyperbole and misleading information. We might expect this from the Republican Party, with their seething hatred for well-run government programs, but having the former party of the people attacking the most successful program in our country’s history shows the influence of special interests and their lobbyists on our entire political system. We cannot let this happen.
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State Owned Banks
North Dakota is the only state in the Union to own its own bank, the Bank of North Dakota. It was established in 1919 to allow farmers and small business to be able to secure themselves from out of state banks and monopolistic industries such as the railroads.
How it can be done without changing federal laws or creating a federal agency. The state of California has huge amounts of assets that would easily meet the requirements of starting their own bank. With property, investments and a slush/ rainy day fund up equaling over $300 billion it could be done very easily.
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How it can be done without changing federal laws or creating a federal agency. The state of California has huge amounts of assets that would easily meet the requirements of starting their own bank. With property, investments and a slush/ rainy day fund up equaling over $300 billion it could be done very easily.
Read Full Position Statement »
Approved by the Ben Emery for Congress Campaign, California 4th District
© Ben Emery for Congress 2010. All Rights Reserved.
