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By LORI A. CARTER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Several dozen demonstrators braved the rain and chill Tuesday night in Santa Rosa’s Old Courthouse Square to protest the “Republican war on the middle class” in a rally sponsored by MoveOn.org.
The rally was one of about 270 throughout the country Tuesday, organizers said. It may have been the largest one in Northern California, with 180 people signed up. Nearly 100 attended despite the rain.
The group listened to speakers under the pergola in the square and held signs along Mendocino Avenue and Third Street. The rally was timed to coincide with Congressional debate on the budget.
“We’re all in this together,” said organizer Linda Hemenway.
“The message is to those who want to use the budget to undercut the fabric of our society: the working people are united,” Hemenway said.
Demonstrators held signs with slogans including: “Tax the rich,” “Take back the wealth” and “Unions are not the problem.”
In addition to MoveOn, the rally was sponsored by the Sonoma Valley Democratic Club, the Progressive Democrats of America and the Service Employees International Union.
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So, according to lets be realistic, those who may voice a different opinion are sheep. Wow, what an intelligent and persuasive argument against a differing point of view. If that is your best point to an opposing view, you may need to do some additional research.
Question to Bear, and it’s a sincere question. If the top U.S. earners already pay over 90% of all income taxes collected in the U.S. are you stating they should pay more or are you just stating that it the way it should be? I don’t think tax conservatives having a problem with those who make more paying more in income tax, but I would have a problem with the position that those who make more should pay all to make up for those who pay none into the system.
Bear makes a strong argument for progressive taxation. The only thing he forgot is that it costs money to enforce the laws against stealing. It’s not as if money would be taken from the wealthy for services they do not receive. Laws against stealing benefit only those who have something to steal.
Bear also left out the cost of programs that are intended to protect things of value, such as national defense and fire departments.
When you think about it, most government programs tend to minimize stealing in one way or another. Even medicaid and food stamps help prevent stealing by reducing the desperation that can lead to stealing. The same is true for drug treatment centers. Even public schools have programs in place to discourage stealing.
Next time we think about ways to reduce the expense of government, we should consider repealing the laws against stealing, or at least put them on a pay for benefits received basis like water and sewer. After all, when government charges for things on a basis other than for benefits received it is socialism!
Dear tax conservatives: I feel your pain. If I was in the group of high end taxpayers, making above 90% of all income in this country, I would be outraged if I had to pay over 90% of all taxes. But here’s why you should.
Imagine you’re driving around in your Lexus and fuming at the high cost of auto insurance. You stop at a light and I pull up next to you in my 1988 Civic. Now who should be paying more in auto insurance? I nominate YOU because you have more to protect.
The same principle applies to taxes in general. YOU have more to protect – such as your house, your job, your possessions, your lifestyle. Things that a lower income person might not appreciate as much. Or might be jealous of. And if you don’t feel threatened, then things are OK, aren’t they? You should be happy.
For confirmation, consult the former leaders of Tunisia. Egypt and the Soviet Union. Or the threatened ruling classes of Libya, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Think it can’t happen here? It already has. Study the Revolutionary War, the labor riots from 1910 to the 1930s and the civil rights movement.
Then do a little more research and tell us how corporate tax rates have changed in the last 60 years. If the Supreme Court treats them like people for the purposes of political contributions, then maybe they should pay taxes like you and I do.
The facts are right in front of you, provided you can see beyond the end of your nose.
It is a wonderful site when a community can come todether to help promote a better society for all, even when facing adversities such as the wind, rain, cold and negative sentiment from the right-wing sheep. If the sheep would listen to what the people are saying, they would better hear that the people are asking for all to pay their fair share. That is a very different statement with a very different sentiment to it than the one the sheep keep trying to put in to the people’s mouth. The sheep think the people are saying to tax the rich more than they are already being taxed. That is not true. We, the people, are saying that corporations like Bank of America, Citicorp, General Electric, ExxonMobile, etc., and those select individuals who make astronomical amounts of money and find ways to avoid paying their taxes need to start paying their fair share. We, the people, the “Progressives”, the “Liberals”, or whatever else you want to call us, have one common desire that we wish all of us could have…the desire for ALL of the American People to be able to live in a better society. No matter how negative the sentiment grows from the sheep, we will keep moving forward, or in the name of an organization that is moving in the right direction, we will MoveOn! Finally, in parting, I wish to say that it is so very unAmerican to bash unions because when you bash unions you are bashing our country, the biggest Union in the world.
Oh my! We are angry about a peaceful protest held in the rain? They are protesting a very specific thing and willing to talk about their views and back up with documentation.
Open your minds people and try to understand where each of you are coming from. We all have our opinions and we all appreciate facts.
Do you ever feel like there is something trying to divide our great country?
Do you really want to wear the labels and follow or do you want to be able to think and debate the various issues on their own merits?
For the record, I used to be a teacher and had to give it up and move to the private sector once I had kids. Seems sort of democratic to elect a representitive to speak for the needs of a large group. Oh, and we are talking about the good guys here, goverment workers, clerks, teachers, cops….
A handful of wet college kids, union hacks and old leftys does not make a rally. I have seen longer soup lines. The left is out of ideas and supporters in this country except with a few survivors here in Sonoma County.
Most people are tired of the leftist rhetoric which has brought more debt, taxes and unemployment here in California That is why voters have turned on the democrats and Obama.
Public sector unions like SEIU do nothing except intimidate California politicans, whine, fail to represent their membership adequately and take dues from unsuspecting members.
Moveon.org should take their own advice and do just that, MOVE ON!
There were 277 rallies on Tuesday, to be exact.
We are everywhere. Join MoveOn.org and fight for the working/middle class.
Don’t just sit there while the country is steered in the same direction as Michigan!
MI’s budget (which has passed both houses) will cut off resources to local municipalities until they have gone absolutely broke, allow the governor to appoint his own people who would overrule the elected government, put the municipality into receivership, and nullify all existing contractual obligations to the residents and employees.
This is insanity.
The unions built the middle class. Stand with them now! Without the unions, it is one worker struggling for a quality life within a corporate structure (good luck with that).
So Republicans are evil and waging a war against the middle class? Is that right? Based on what evidence? Based on politics and politicians? I’m a republican and I’m middle class, as are much of my family and friends (many of whom live outside this great state). So, I’m waging a war on myself because I believe in less governement, lower taxes and more personal accountability/responsibility and freedom. And others actually feel the need to rally against me and call me names. Wow!!!!!!!! But if I dare dispute their position or offer an alternative point of view, well then I’m uneducated or too dumb to know better (I have both a undergradute and graduate degree).
And guess what our individual income tax system is currently designed in a way in which those who make more pay more, but I guess they should just pay it all over, is that right? If you do a little research on the IRS home page you will discover that taxpayers who rank in the top 50 percent of taxpayers by income level pay virtually all individual income taxes. In all years since 1990, taxpayers in this group have paid over 94 percent of all individual income taxes. In 2000, 2001, and 2002, this group paid over 96 percent of the total. So who is the uneducated one? Also, if one looks at the corporate tax statistics, one will find very similar information, the largest corporations pay out the majority of all corporate taxes. But I guess, all capitalism is evil and all wealth belongs to everyone. Our current issues aren’t just about being over or under-taxed or over or under-regulated, or not having enough unions, they are about a whole list of things that when combined have led us here. I truly believe that we’ve gotten away from the basics on which we built this society and whether I’m wrong or right, I have every right to form my own opinion, believe in it and share it and if you don’t like it, then don’t listen or read it.
Let’s all support the 14 Government officials who fled the state and refused to work. Let’s all stand in the rain and support the peaceful protester, who by the way were mostly white, broke into a public facility and cost the working class millions of dollars from all the damage that was caused by the “peaceful” protesters and all because some law was forced down their throat like the Healthcare Bill was shoved down ours …you know the one that had to be passed to see what was in it? That Healthcare Bill where the Democrats meet behind closed doors and wouldn’t include the Republican’s and accused them of being the party of “NO”? Yeah…the same bill that had the Tea Parties rallying by the thousands across the nation with no incidents….
Hummmmmm after the Healhcare Bill was passed, I recall Nancy and her crew….oh, and her huge gavel walking through the middle of thousands of protesters and besides some name calling and a spittle or two, there were no incidents what so ever. Unlike the violent anger that required police protection for government workers.
This is not about the workers…this is about the Progressive movement. Michael, come on now…your little temper tantrum does not compare to Vern’s little comment.
Hey Verne, the rally was at 6:00 pm. I hung around town after I got off to go the rally. I worked a full day.
Ignorance will get nowhere in life. That’s my quote from myself for the day.
This is what people with lots of time due during the week.
What is the premise for taxing the rich any more than the rest of us? Why should the rich being paying my way? More power to them for being successful in life.
Those poor slobs that want something for nothing will most likely give this comment a thumbs down.
A peaceful democratic rally with over 150 people in the rain actually doing something (not watching tv)and this “Verne” guy calls them “economic terrorists” ? How is this comment germane, helpful or even within the realm of basic human decency? I am asking the editors of this page how they have allowed a bunch of rabid hateful attack posters who have nothing but negativity (about practically everything) to spew hatred lies and misinformation all over these boards in EVERY DISCUSSION. How is this any kind of a service to the public interest? I wouldn’t let my teen read it because it would only serve to show her the hatred and cynicism and bitter attack politics that the right wing engages in constantly. For a brief while I thought these boards would have some possibility for constructive debate. But after Verne’s comments and the rididculous personal insults against Mr Greenberg and Professor Boaz all I see is the same hate and misspelled poison that one can seeon any Tea Party website or hear on Glenn Beck. This website is done. Signed an Ex-Reader.
PS. Verne, the march started at 6 s many working people (that means EMPLOYED) came after a full days work to do their civic duty.
So? a few economic terrorist gathered. None had jobs anyway,like many Americans tahnks to Obamas incompetent policy .
Get used to being poor because its the new middle-class. Brought to you by liberal democrats.
Great Turnout and Great Energy at the Solidarity Rally! Poor writing and poor headline and copy editing by the PD. It was NOT a March against the GOP, It was a Rally FOR Workers. It was also attended by over 150 people and many students, teachers, nurses and just plain folks. If 5 Tea Partiers got together in Santa Rosa the PD would put it on the front page but since it was workers and progressives and environmentalists a lazy reporter is all we get.
Despite the pouring down rain people showed up. SEIU and other unions, Moveon, living wage, PDA members-lots of progressives. Thanks to all of you who drove by and honked your horns in support.
The rally was in support of Wisconsin workers who have done a wonderful job of standing up for themselves. Now to Michigan, New Jersey and the other states trying to undercut workers.
By the way, this isn’t about just unions in WI. With contracting out anyone working for those contractors can end up working for minimum wage because NO WORKER will have rights. What WI has done to public employees will also happen to union and other workers throughout the state. So if you think you are protected because you aren’t union think again. They agenda is to pay ALL WORKERS LESS WITH FEWER BENEFITS.