I mentioned the other day that I paid more in federal income taxes than Verizon did in 4 years:
Last year, Citizens for Tax Justice found that 30 major corporations had made billions of dollars in profits while paying no federal income tax between 2008 and 2010. Today, CTJ updated that report to reflect the 2011 tax bill of those 30 companies, and 26 of them have still managed to pay absolutely nothing over that four year period.
If we have to pay taxes, why aren't these big successful corporations paying their taxes? I find that really offensive. But this tax season, our friends at Occupy the Boardroom have a plan:
Tell some of the biggest corporate tax dodgers in America exactly what you think of them! Verizon, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America have all spent millions on lobbying since they helped crash the economy – more than they paid in corporate taxes. In fact, not only have they spent millions buying access, they've all gamed the system to receive millions in TAX REFUNDS! Find that offensive? Tell the executives of these companies yourself!
Oh, and while your there, you might want to pick up a copy of the Occupy the Boardroom book, a great piece of history telling the story of the great divide between the 1percent and the 99 percent, and how the economic crisis impacted the majority of Americans.
[Video: Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball features portions of President Obama's push for the Buffet Rule.]
President Obama appeared in Florida Tuesday to make the case for the “Buffett Rule,” a policy he introduced in this year’s State of the Union address. The rule would institute a minimum federal income tax of 30 percent for Americans who make more than $1 million a year.
The administration argues that the rule is designed to prevent the widespread tax evasion that allows top earners to avoid much of their social duties. It takes its name from billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who has publicly called for wealthy Americans to be taxed at higher rates than their mid-level employees.
There is no justification for a backer of the Bush tax cuts to abandon that principle and filibuster President Obama's Buffett Rule.
Unless, Republicans want to articulate a new principle: "no one in America should have to pay more than a third of their income to the federal government ... and no multimillionaire who lives off of stocks and dividends should pay more than a sixth of their income to the federal government."
And as Think Progress noted, back in September 2011, when President Obama first debuted the Buffet Rule, they "climbed into the wayback machine and found a video of President Ronald Reagan decrying “crazy” tax loopholes that allowed a millionaire to pay a lower tax rate than a bus driver." Watch it here.
Now as the Senate prepares to vote on the Buffet Rule bill that would ensure that the wealthy pay a minimum 30 percent tax rate, Think Progress has found more Reagan video footage:
In this video, President Reagan describes a letter he received from an executive who wanted to come to Washington and tell Congress why it’s “wrong” that he was able to “take advantage of the present tax code” to pay a lower tax rate than his secretary.
In order to have a healthy economy, it needs to work for everyone and not just the wealthy 1 percent. The Buffet Rule bill will end those tax loopholes that enable the wealthy to pay less in taxes than middle class workers.
And if it was good enough for The Gipper, the GOP should love this bill.
Last year, Citizens for Tax Justice found that 30 major corporations had made billions of dollars in profits while paying no federal income tax between 2008 and 2010. Today, CTJ updated that report to reflect the 2011 tax bill of those 30 companies, and 26 of them have still managed to pay absolutely nothing over that four year period.
Retired Navy Commander Leah Bolger to plead guilty to interrupting the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to tell the truth about the only things needed to fix the federal budget, "Tax the rich, end the wars!"
Bolger spent 20 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy and retired in 2000 at the rank of Commander. She is currently a full-time peace activist and serves as the President of Veterans For Peace. She was also a member of Occupy D.C. at Freedom Plaza. Bolger was arrested on October 26, 2011 for an act of civil disobedience, and will plead guilty at her hearing on these charges, which is scheduled for April 12, 2012.
A press conference will be held at 8:30 am, Thursday April 12th in front of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, 500 Indiana Ave NW, Washington DC. Those scheduled to speak and/or answer questions include:
Leah Bolger, defendant, President of Veterans For Peace (VFP)
Mark Goldstone, attorney for the defendant
Art Brennan, NH Retired Superior Court Associate Justice, member of VFP
On March 24th, mock corporate polluters set up shop at UN headquarters to promote their false solutions to the climate crisis.
In an attempt to capitalize on the "occupy" brand, corporate representatives erected an "illegal occupation" of their own -- and the NYPD forces that usually defend the interests of the 1% were forced to evict the corporate polluters from international domain. While the "corporate polluters" were led away in handcuffs and their branded pop-ups (Exxon Mobil, Bank of America, Chase, BP, etc.) torn down, the onlooking 99% cheered the long-awaited eviction of the 1% from their global occupation.
The March 24th eviction of Wall Street polluters was the kick-off event for a month-long campaign to "Disrupt Dirty Power" nationwide, an effort to connect the dots between corporate polluters, corrupt politicians and the destruction of the planet.
People arrested during the NYPD crackdown on the Occupy Wall Street encampment last fall have asked a judge to dismiss trespassing charges, on the grounds that the demonstrators had a legal right to be in the privately owned plaza.
Fracking Hell: Williams Lathrop Compressor Station in Springville, Pa., Susquehanna County. Explosion before noon , 3-29-12, shook nearby homes, and fire and black smoke billowing out for two hours until pressure came down and emergency personnel could go in. This is a new Compressor Station since 9-11 and the biggest one in our county. More Here.
Fire-fighting ships monitor huge gas leak: France's Total sent fire-fighting ships close to the scene of a gas leak from its North Sea Elgin platform early today (NZ time) as a large gas cloud led to fears of an explosion.
The company said the gas originated thousands of metres below the seabed, which engineers said might mean that a relief well - one possible option to stop the leak - could take months to drill.
Total has not yet found a way to stop the gas leak.
Tim DeChristopher, considered a folk hero in the environmental community, is serving two years for fraudulently bidding on drilling leases near Utah’s national parks in an effort to keep the parcels undeveloped.
DeChristopher's time in isolation was the result of a complaint lodged by an "anonymous" congressman.
Overhaul the Banks?: A convocation of bankers, lawyers, financial leaders and academics met on March 27 to discuss the creation of new global regulatory authorities, according to the conference's event page. Try to tell me again that the Occupy movement isn't making a difference.
They're Back: It's been a year since the Occupy Wall Street movements taking over the country were one-by-one taken down by local police but in Dallas a group of occupy protesters have returned to send a message. "we've never really been gone."
Support for Arrested Journalists: 70 journalists have been arrested while covering Occupy protests in 12 cities around the country. In an annual survey of worldwide freedom of the press released Jan. 23 by Reporters without Borders.
Demonstrators shut down the entrance of the Hotel Sofitel in Redwood City where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney held a fundraising dinner on March 26th. Several protest groups coordinated to produce a show of anger aimed at the presidential hopeful and wealthy attendees of the event. One group erected a giant Etch A Sketch outside the hotel entrance, making light of a recent Romney aide's gaffe; others mocked billionaire supporters of his campaign by wearing faux fur and pearls and lifting glasses of champagne.
Occupy Redwood City, Occupy San Jose, and Occupy San Francisco members joined labor groups on the sidewalk with drums and other musical instruments to augment loud chants. Occupy Oakland members came from the east side of the Bay to the peninsula event and shouted as the fundraiser guests arrived, "Dinner is over! Go home!
March 30, 2012: Spring Training is a series of weekly Friday afternoon exercises developed by the Occupy Wall Street Direct Action Work Group to improve communication, coordination, and build team spirit in marches leading up to May Day. The weekly exercises culminate in the "People's Gong" in front of the New York Stock Exchange, an action designed to raise the voices of the 99% in contrast to the NYSE's closing bell representing the 1%.
This week, protesters were successful in entering Wall Street despite hastily set up police barricades. Protesters approached Wall Street from multiple entry points and once inside patiently waited until pacers gave the signal to assemble the action, it was very much like a flash mob.
Tim Poole can be seen in the video livestreaming from the steps of Federal Hall. Stopmotionsolo is there also sitting underneath the statue later on, and OccupyMusician is there with her trombone. The Granny Peace Brigade are dressed in yellow.
Some "fighting" chants heard:
"Ain't no power like the power of the people, 'cause the power of the people don't stop; say what?"
