(05/21/10) "The War Is Making You Poor Act" (by Alan Grayson, Daily Kos)

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Next week, there is going to be a "debate" in Congress on yet another war funding bill. The bill is supposed to pass without debate, so no one will notice.

What George Orwell wrote about in "1984" has come true. What Eisenhower warned us about concerning the "military-industrial complex" has come true. War is a permanent feature of our societal landscape, so much so that no one notices it anymore.

But we’re going to change this. Today, we’re introducing a bill called ‘The War Is Making You Poor Act’. The purpose of this bill is to connect the dots, and to show people in a real and concrete way the cost of these endless wars.

(No Nudity)

Next year’s budget allocates $159,000,000,000 to perpetuate the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. That’s enough money to eliminate federal income taxes for the first $35,000 of every American’s income. Beyond that, leaves over $15 billion to cut the deficit.

And that’s what this bill does. It eliminates separate funding for the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, and eliminates federal income taxes for everyone’s first $35,000 of income ($70,000 for couples). Plus it pays down the national debt.

The costs of the war have been rendered invisible. There's no draft. Instead, we take the most vulnerable elements of our population, and give them a choice between unemployment and missile fodder. Government deficits conceal the need to pay in cash for the war.

We put the cost of both guns and butter on our Chinese credit card. In fact, we don't even put these wars on budget; they are still passed using 'emergency supplemental'. A nine-year ‘emergency’.

Let's show Congress the cost of these wars is too much for us.

Tell Congress that you like 'The War Is Making You Poor Act'. No, tell Congress you love it. Act now.

http://www.TheWarIsMakingYouPoor.com

All we are saying is "give peace a chance." We will end these wars.

Together.

The Source (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/5/21/868649/-The-War-Is-Making-You-Poor-Act)

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I've signed the petition.

[Valin]

Alan Grayson's Theme Song

[foxyladi]

sometimes ya just gotta fight back**==

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Dear Rob,

Now THIS is how we end a war.

More than 21,000 petitions since Friday.

Congressional co-sponsorship from Republicans like Ron Paul and Walter Jones to antiwar Democrats like Barbara Lee and Dennis Kucinich to powerful committee Chairmen like John Conyers. In total, 7 members of the House of Representatives are signed on as co-sponsors (list below).

And a powerful idea - the 'War Is Making You Poor Act' would eliminate the separate funding for the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, and use that money to eliminate federal income taxes for everyone's first $35,000 of income (or $70,000 for couples) each year. And, it would help pay down our national debt.

That is what momentum looks like. Now it's time to build on this success.

Call or email your member of Congress now and encourage them to co-sponsor The War is Making You Poor Act. Even if you're in a district with a bad Democrat or a Republican, your voice matters. Members talk and a momentum building movement makes them worry and re-evaluate their position.

Contact your member of Congress now.

This week or next, Congress is going to 'debate' yet another 'emergency supplemental proposal' to shovel billions of dollars towards endless war. We say, enough. We say, it's time for the 'War Is Making You Poor Act'.

So far, the following members of Congress are co-sponsoring the legislation: Ron Paul, Walter Jones, Dennis Kucinich, Lynne Woolsey, Barbara Lee, John Conyers, and Bob Filner.

If your member of Congress is on the list, thank them for standing up for common sense and for an end to the war. If not, let's turn up the heat.

Contact your member of Congress and ask them to support and vote for HR5656: The War is Making You Poor Act.

Courage,

Alan Grayson

This was an email.