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Thom's blog
The Real Redistribution
Republicans love to whine about redistribution of wealth, but it's all just an act. They may scream about “socialist” welfare programs, they don't make a peep when massive amounts of America's wealth goes straight to the top.
According to Paul Buchheit over at Alternet, the 14 richest Americans increased their wealth by $82 billion dollars in the last year alone. And, they're just a small part of the wealthiest 400 Americans, who Forbes magazine says got $270 billion dollars richer over that same time period. To put those numbers in perspective,
Paul pointed out that our entire food stamp budget is only $80 billion dollars – and it feeds 50 million people in our country each year. The wealth that flowed to the 14 richest people could have hired two million pre-school teachers in our country, while middle class wages stayed stagnant, and programs for the poor were slashed at every turn. Talk about redistribution of wealth.
Republicans in Congress say that we can't afford to rebuild our infrastructure, extend unemployment benefits, or help students struggling with college debt, but they're wrong. We can afford to make those investments in our nation, and we must reverse the trickle-up economics that sends all the wealth straight to the top.
We've had three decades under the disastrous policies of Ronald Reagan, and we don't need more evidence to prove that trickle-down is a myth. Thirty-plus years of Reaganomics have put more and more wealth in the hands of a few, and left our government struggling to care for many.
The greed of the richest 14 people doesn't out-weigh the needs to 50 million, and it's time to stop the real redistribution of wealth that's been going to the top.
-Thom
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... Dr. Helen Caldicott, Crisis Without End (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)
 Be sure to check out our new videos: CARBON & LAST HOURS - both narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio
Screwed: Microsoft CEO tells women..."women shouldn't ask for a raise"- Sam Bennett, Political Strategist / Author of the forthcoming book, Ascend 
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Friday's Daily Stack 
Quote: "The generally accepted notion that the court can only hear roughly 150 cases each term gives the same sense of reassurance as the adjournment of the court in July, when we know the Constitution is safe for the summer." -- Future Chief Justice John Roberts, April 19, 1983.
In for Thom today, please welcome progressive commentators Danielle & Shane-O , Hosts of Talking Left
Hour One: SCOTUS vs. Paul Weyrich...
The FBI's war on privacy- Andrew Crocker, Electronic Frontier Foundation
Hour Two: Saving the Senate- David Bender, Progressive Voices
Environmental justice in this year's elections- Desi Doyen, The Green News Report
Hour Three: Anything Goes Friday!
Poem: " Justice" by Langston Hughes. |
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Monday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET
It's Columbus Day...but not in Seattle where they will be celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day...isn't it time the rest of America followed their lead?
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Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook. |
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Thom's Poll
Should trains carrying toxic oil be better regulated?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
If You Live Near The Coast - YOU MAY WANT TO MOVE!
Why Another Fracking Train Explosion
Your Take/My Take Live - I Welcome Their Wrath!
Boehner Finally Admits GOP Has No Jobs Plan
What do the Koch Sisters Have On the Koch Brothers?
Or watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 10/9/14: The Koch Sisters vs. The Koch Brothers
Thom discusses The Koch Sisters Campaign with Joyce and Karen Koch and the latest oil train explosion with “In These Time’s” Cole Stangler and Riverkeeper’s Phillip Musegaas. Thom debates whether the GOP has an actual jobs plan with David Laska of the New York State Republican Party and Thom takes viewer video questions and comments in “Your Take, My Take Live.”
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