I wish that the Civil War in 1863 had freed all slaves and abolished all laws that would allow it. But, in addition to the tens of millions of people still in human slavery worldwide, we continue to have millions of workers who cannot earn a living wage sufficient to buy enough food, adequate clothing and shelter, medical care, and hope and human dignity. We need a guaranteed living income to go with our creative, joyful, and nurturing schools.
These hard-working people don't make enough to get by doing millions of jobs that help the wealthy become wealthier or more comfortable and hopeful. Our economy would fall apart without the low-wage laborers and other workers not protected by the minimum wage laws, and that ‘minimum needs to be raised.
We, i.e., all of us, need to help them. And large corporations need to step up. Every employer who is profitable needs to pay a fair tax large enough to fund a national GUARANTEED ANNUAL INCOME that would allow low-wage workers, unemployed, handicapped, children, and everyone. Enough to provide for their needs and have freedom, hope, and dignity. They earn it. If they are disabled or children, they will become future workers – hopefully with dignity and freedom.
We can also increase the luxury tax on items such as yachts used for “company meetings,” airplanes used to take the wealthy to those meetings, and designer items like suits and dresses that cost 5 to 10 times the average price for a similar average item.
And reform our schools to provide a nurturing environment that brings hope and joy. An enlightened populace can do it.
And we can nurture our hearts and not eat the menus!
