Time to Remake the Economy Into OUR Economy

Time to Remake the Economy Into OUR EconomyBy Kevin Zeese and Margaret FlowersCo-directors, Its Our Economywww.itsoureconomy.us

1. Describe the current economic and political environments and where they are going.2. Describe the two-pronged approach to change economic and political power.3. Describe what to do to create the new democratized economy that benefits people and the planet.OBJECTIVES

US GDP AND PRODUCTIVITY UP

http://www.wealthdaily.com/articles/2012-economic-forecast-a-surprising-and-profitable-trend-emerges/3347

http://itsoureconomy.us/2012/11/the-myth-of-u-s-manufacturing-decline/

CORPORATE PROFITS ARE UPhttp://itsoureconomy.us/2012/12/two-charts-show-how-the-priorities-of-us-companies-have-gotten-screwed-up/

http://itsoureconomy.us/2013/01/corporate-profits-have-grown-by-171-percent-under-obama-highest-rate-since-1900/

JOBS ARE DOWN

The percentage of Americans with jobs is at its lowest level in three decades.

(The shaded areas of the chart represent recessions.)

http://itsoureconomy.us/2012/10/heres-whats-wrong-with-the-economy-charts/

INCOME IS DOWN

http://itsoureconomy.us/2013/02/the-collapse-of-america-in-two-charts/

Incomes for bottom 90% of Americansonly grew by $59 on average between 1966 and 2011 (adjusted for inflation), according to David Cay Johnston. During the same period, average income for top 10% of Americans rose by $116,071.

RECOVERY FOR WHOM?

Higher taxes on the wealthy encourage investment in business and job creation. Lower taxes on the wealthy leads to hoarding.TRICKLE DOWN DOESNT

WEALTH INEQUALITY IS GROWING

http://itsoureconomy.us/2013/01/history-shows-want-to-control-deficit-spending-seek-full-employment/

http://itsoureconomy.us/2012/12/two-charts-show-how-the-priorities-of-us-companies-have-gotten-screwed-up/

The end of progressive taxation coincided with the beginning of the growing wealth divide.

WHO HAS THE MONEY?No Conspiracy Theory A Small Group of Companies Have Enormous Power Over the World

WHO HAS THE POWER?http://itsoureconomy.us/2012/11/no-conspiracy-theory-a-small-group-of-companies-have-enormous-power-over-the-world/

A major scientific study identified a number of companies with outsized control over a huge portion of the earths economy. 147 Superentities were found to control 40% of global wealth.

Recession or worse?Instead of full employment, regulation of finance and investment in social infrastructure,we see:False crises and debatesPrivatizationAusterityDebt-based Economy

WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

SOLUTIONS TO EVERY CRISISThe people can rule better than the elites

Evidence-based solutions to every crisis supported by supermajorities:Tax the rich and corporationsEnd the wars, bring the troops home, cut military spendingProtect the social safety net, strengthen Social Security and improved Medicare for allEnd corporate welfare for oil companies and other big business interestsTransition to a clean energy economy, reverse environmental degradationProtect worker rights including collective bargaining, create jobs and raise wagesGet money out of politics

http://october2011.org/standwiththemajorityTwo simultaneous paths:

1. Protest to expose crises.2. Build systems that reduce wealth divide and replace current systems.

Human need, not corporate greed.HOW DO WE CHANGE DIRECTION?

What do you do in a crisis? Time for ICU:Independent ClearUncompromisingBE BOLD!

Policy changes that will create real solutions:The 99% Deficit Proposal on October2011.org

Create a fair tax system/ guaranteed national incomeShift military spending to create economic securityInvest in CFNF energy economyErase student debt/ free higher educationEnd foreclosures and evictionsStrengthen Social SecurityMedicare for allPublic jobs program

HOW DO WE SOLVE THE DEFICIT?

End the wars and tax the rich!

The Great Turning is a name for the essential adventure of our time: the shift from the Industrial Growth Society to a life-sustaining civilization.

The ecological and social crises we face are caused by an economic system dependent on accelerating growth. This self-destructing political economy sets its goals and measures its performance in terms of ever-increasing corporate profitsin other words by how fast materials can be extracted from Earth and turned into consumer products, weapons, and waste.

A revolution is under way because people are realizing that our needs can be met without destroying our world. We have the technical knowledge, the communication tools, and material resources to grow enough food, ensure clean air and water, and meet rational energy needs. Future generations, if there is a livable world for them, will look back at the epochal transition we are making to a life-sustaining society. And they may well call this the time of the Great Turning. It is happening now.- Joanna MaceyTHE GREAT TURNING

What are the values? Solidarity, cooperation, sustainability, democracy?Organize using those values!

WHAT TYPE OF SOCIETY DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN?

Alternative & local currencies/ Time banks/Barter

Free stores

Participatory budgeting

Move your money

Public BanksTHE NEW ECONOMY: MONEY

http://itsoureconomy.us/2013/03/how-public-banking-made-the-us-colonies-properous/B corporationsCommunity banksLocal investmentTaxpayer investmentProgressive taxationParticipatory taxationEnd the debt-based economyTHE NEW ECONOMY: FINANCE

Eviction resistanceIncentives to restore propertyHousing cooperativesCollectives/intentional communitiesLitigate bank mortgage fraudCommunity land trustsTHE NEW ECONOMY: HOUSING

http://blinktag.com/projects/irvine-community-land-trust/Community gardensCSAsGrocery cooperativesFarmer trainingFarmer marketsSeed exchangesLocal distributionBuy local campaigns

THE NEW ECONOMY: FOOD

http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-14620-utah-co-op.htmlWorker co-operatives (WSDE)Mondragon modelEvergreen ModelESOPsGuaranteed incomeLiving WageNon-union workers movementTHE NEW ECONOMY: JOBS

http://www.peri.umass.edu/fileadmin/pdf/published_study/spending_priorities_PERI.pdf

Non-corporate practicesHealthy San FranciscoSingle payer health systemMedical school rural trackTHE NEW ECONOMY: HEALTHCARE

Carbon-free nuclear-free energy economyPublic ownershipEnergy cooperativesFeed-In-TariffsTHE NEW ECONOMY: ENERGY

http://cleanenergyaction.org/learn-more/feed-in-tariffs/Public transportationCar sharingBike rentalsWalkable/bike safe citiesTHE NEW ECONOMY: TRANSPORTATION

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2012/05/portland_once_again_nations_to.html

THE NEW ECONOMY: EDUCATIONReverse privatizationEnd testing industryFree college educationTenured professorsUnionized teachers

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/students-seize-cooper-union-room-to-protest-possible-tuition/Fund Our CommunitiesAlternative foreign policyReal securityTHE NEW ECONOMY: PEACE

Shift the Power, Democratize the EconomyIts Our Economy ItsOurEconomy.US

Build power and resistanceOccupy Washington, DC OccupyWashingtonDC.org

Democratize the MediaClearing the FOG (Forces of Greed) Radio ShowClearingTheFOGRadio.org

REMEMBER, ITS OUR ECONOMY