Women In The Labor Movement:Sarah G. Bagley And The Lowell Female Labor Reform Association

It was women and men that created the first resistance to industrialization's injustices.They lead the fight against powerful interests of the textile mills,banking and the Massachusetts State Legislature in the late 1840's.Sarah G.Bagley was the lead voice for a ten hour work day that was rejected by a Massachusetts State Legislative committee who deemed intervention inappropriate because it would hurt the ability of industrialists to compete with mills in other states not burdened with such mandates(sounds like globalization today).The committee also proclaimed that matters relating to hours and wages were not the state's business but private issues to be resolved between the workers and the company(positions never seem to change).Sarah G.Bagley had a touch of "Lowell fever""when she first went to work at the textile mills in Lowell,Massachusetts in 1837.Many young women flocked to Lowell to earn money(at their home farms they worked long hours for free),peek at a wider world,participate in an under-graduate type education,attend lectures and meet like minded people.She wrote two stories for the"Lowell Offering",an independent literary journal,which was published by female mill workers that celebrated American factory life.Bagley wrote about the mill girls' wages assisting distant relatives,the exposure through the lyceum lectures of Emerson and John Quincy Adams and the broadening experience of meeting women from other states and towns.

The rosy picture of Lowell began to fade when the workplace became a vehicle for oppression and avarice.The young women began to have less time for intellectual experiences due to the long,arduous,unhealthy working environment.The work became a life condition instead of a transitory stage for young women who wanted more time the enjoy their labor.It was a permanent, fixed predicament without any light for increased prosperity.Most women worked fourteen hours a day in unsafe conditions and were restricted by the employers on their off hours.Their wages were also cut when economic conditions decreased company revenues.The mill workers tried to gain better working conditions in 1834 and 1836 before Bagley arrived at Lowell but were unsuccessful.By the mid-1840's,Bagley's views were hardening and she wrote and edited the "Voice of Industry",a labor periodical she wrote for that openly mocked visitors that toured the mills(provided by management) and compared them to factories in England.The "Voice" warned that the whole system of factory labor was unnatural,oppressive and unjust.

Sarah G.Bagley emerged as the leader for the ten-hour day in the mid 1840's.She created the Lowell Female Labor Reform Association,a branch of the New England Workingman's Association, in 1844.She gathered with workmen in Boston in 1845 and gave a speech(very unusual) supporting their union and telling them of the women's solidarity and equality in the fight against unjust working conditions.The plea for reasonable hours of work struck directly at the question of weather the wealth created by industry was truly to be shared,and revived the debate that had prevailed in the early years of the republic as to whether industrialization would be a more just and equitable affair in America than abroad.In 1828,the Mechanics' Union of Trade Association(Philadelphia) was formed to fight for the ten-hour day.By 1835,Philadelphia established a ten-hour day for municipal workers.Five years later,all federal employees had the same ten-hour work day. Unfortunately,the factories of industry had a harder road to ride.The "Voice of Industry" called for a general turn-out on July 4th,1846.She campaigned against the longer hours in Pittsburgh,Manchester,Lowell and many other factory towns.Bagely's group submitted a petition of a thousand names of Lowell workers to the state legislature for help.The petitions proved historic because it was the first legislative hearings ever conducted in America to examine the conditions of labor.The committee listened to reports of fourteen hour workdays,short breaks for meals,standing on their feet all day side by side,noxious atmosphere,airborne dust,smoke filled rooms from whale oil and windows  nailed shut. The committee eventually rejected the complaints because it would hurt Lowell's competitive marketplace requirements and the conditions were better than England.Bagley interpreted the rejection as a rebuff to female workers because they didn't vote and have any political clout.She stated"your sapient heads are very busy in forming laws to protect,uphold and upbuild the rich(sound familiar).Eventually,Bagley's won the ten-hour battle but not before 1874 in Massachusetts.The surrounding states reluctantly produced some version of the ten-hour day in the 1850's.

More from "There Is Power In A Union" from Dray next post.

America:Land Of Plenty

America is a country of beauty and abundance.The vast majority of the citizens care about their communities and support all kinds of charities.I'm very proud of our country for all the advantages it gives to my family and  neighbors.It is a great place to live, for the middle and upper classes, because we have every consumer item imaginable with the best entertainment in the world.Every state has sections of astonishing beauty from rivers and oceans to parks.Numerous restaurants from every ethic group is available in small or large cities.The finest housing is available to the majority of the citizens.Food is abundant and cheap compared to most of the world.The lower classes are subsidized to acquire food,housing,education and transportation at reduced prices.We have great universities and excellent suburban school systems.Our library systems enable all classes to read the best books for free.Our police departments are trained and full of experts who protect our citizens from domestic and foreign entities.Our governments are elected and represent the citizens admirably the majority of the time.The military protects our shores and follow the instructions of our civilian representatives peacefully.Our money is protected by an insurance system.The government saves money for us safely for our retirement years.We have a fabulous health care system that meets the majority of the citizens needs.Our population is very diverse and has numerous sub-cultures to draw experience from.The practice of one's religion isn't questioned but supported.Throughout our history,America has been the land of opportunity for immigrants to live a better life.America is full of hope for an improved society that will enhance all citizens.

Does this sound a little strange coming from this blog?I know that most of my posts are negative in regards to the our capitalist system and the burden it brings to the lower class.Today,I want to bring some positive thoughts because I really love our country as much as anyone even if I try to find many ways to improve our systems.I haven't traveled like the majority of middle class Americans.I only know our controversial country firsthand but I enjoy it everyday.I'm going to one of the finest museums in the world Friday.I'm taking the train to NYC to the Museum of Modern Art and study the masters for some insight.NYC has many great museums and I think Friday is free.Many American cities provide free entertainment throughout the year.Movies,plays and sporting events are free or reduced at many locations and one just has to be on alert for good deals.High schools and universities also have free events that engage citizens in various forms of education.If you have some disposable income,every major American city has a wealth of entertainment.Musicians,some the best in the world,are constantly touring and bringing their art to the people.My beloved Knicks play a few times a week in NYC while every game is shown on T.V. for a small cable price.The variety of food in America is increasing as we speak. New housing is being built with zero energy standards.The present government is trying hard to increase our renewable resources with subsidies and an encouraging philosophy.Many wealth professionals have foundations that help underprivileged students in our major cities.Some say,the United States is the best place to start a new business because of the wealth of it's citizens.

I could go on about what America has to offer.Income inequality makes it harder for all Americans to prosper and enjoy her beauty and abundance.Some of us have a lot more than others here and my blog will continue to bring solutions through my readings.My hope for America is that it truly shines as a light in a world of violence and darkness.It can do so by sharing the abundance and bringing resources to those in need.Collectively,we can overcome any adversity.

The Hurt Locker,Tompkins Square Park(1874) and Tax Increases To Save America

On a chilly morning of January 13,1873,fifteen thousand people gathered in Tompkins Square Park to demand government relief and public jobs.They did so because there was a financial collapse on Wall Street in September 1873(no apologies then ,none now).There was no work and NYC unemployed were desperate for food,coal and the means to pay rent and provide milk to their children(sound familiar).William Havermeyer had agreed to address the crowd and hopefully alleviate their concerns.Unfortunately,fear griped the city government(backed by newspapers and the business community) and they turned against the protesters with the the force of the police department(will be used in the near future when protesters appear in the streets for employment).Police commissioner,Abram Duryee,with a squad of officers,tried to disperse the crowd but the unemployed workers resisted(no unemployment insurance then) when they were pushed harshly and Havermeyer broke his word.Havermeyer later explained to the organizers that the purpose of city government isn't to furnish work to the industrious poor....and that other countries had that system but not the United States didn't(Capitalism has always failed the poor,state employment was needed then and today).Two weeks later at a meeting at Cooper Union,Augusta Lilienthal of the German Free-Thinkers Union, stated that the unemployed workers were a portion of positively the best class of our citizens.They were the true taxpayers.They were working men and had assembled to ask for work and for that they were knocked down. He asked,what condition of affairs is this? Journalist and labor advocate,John Swinton,reminded the hall that twenty years ago(1854),Abolitionist sounded as terrible as the word Communist ( income equality,collective bargaining) does today.Let us not wait in this case till our tongues are tied and our hands are manacled(getting close today).Let us not lie supine till our chains are forged,but let the forgers be warned and thwarted in advance.These statements are found in the new book I am reading"There Is Power In A Union" by Philip Dray.One hundred and thirty five years have passed since the Tompkins Square incident. From my perspective,the current employee/employer relationship in America hasn't changed much and the government leaders throughout our land are silent concerning the hardships of our lower,working class.Both parties consistently respond to middle class needs while ignoring the growing inequality developing in the lower class.American style capitalism,worst offender, in developed countries,has completely turned it's back on the working poor by dismantling collective bargaining and moving manufacturing jobs(or any reasonable paying jobs) overseas.A new form of " silent slavery" has developed where wages are kept at poverty levels and worker rights are ignored and buried in the powerless fear of unemployment .Corporations and small businesses are undermining our mighty middle class as insecurity abounds and personal debt increases.Thomas Jefferson understood the hardships of the lower class worker. He was against the British manufacturing environment created by the upper class to exploit the workers in England.He wanted the values that were written in the Bill of Rights to be carried in the workplace in America.George Washington wore "homespun" clothing as a reaction to to the imported fabrics from Great Britain.He stated that he has for too long been a subject to British prejudice...no porter or cheese in my family,but such as is made in America.More products should be made and consumed by Americans to create jobs for the lower class. If capitalism can't provide them, then the government must.They can do so by creating laws that will mandate the consumption of American products.Yes, a restriction on what we can buy to help our fellow citizens live like the middle and upper class in America.Each state could manufacture products to be consumed by it's citizens.The amount and type will be appropriate to the environment and demographics.It's a new form of "homespun"that will break from a form of economics that under serves 30% of our society.Capitalism will continue here but with a new partner who will draw from the lower class to improve living and working conditions for all. Work councils(like the ones in the EU) should be established not only in the state generated jobs but also in the private sector.Labor laws should be established here to provide shared decision making in the workplace for all Americans.Tax increases,not decreases, should be encouraged to reduce the deficit and start the process of government participation in the manufacturing sector.Creating good jobs for the lower class will increase consumption drastically and create more revenue for the government instead of cutting taxes for the rich who sit on their money and don't consume at the lower class ratios.

I saw the film"Hurt Locker" last night and was astonished that the United States continues to exploit the lower class with the "heroes of America" propaganda we constantly are bombarded with in advertisements and statements.The soldiers in the movie (Iraq 2004..Baghdad)were very heroic in their world as bomb dispersal experts.I couldn't believe the U.S. positioned our children in this area of conflict where the population was so against their good will.The extremely dangerous environment(Baghdad in chaos with Americans as targets) only made the decisions by the Executive and Legislative branches more ominous.The decision to send our troops into a country that didn't have an organized opposition to Saddam was so incoherent that future writings should take them to task as the weakest,uninformed session of Congress in our history.Again, it is on the backs of the lower class, not the middle and upper class, that have to carry out the blind decisions of our revengeful,thoughtless leaders.The young men and women are heroes of their distorted world but our representatives are the vile that creates hatred around the world.Our good intentions lack the insight we need to become caretakers of world peace and security. Our call for "national security" has made our world less secure and our children implements for destruction.Jefferson and Washington would be turning in their graves.

The New Health Care System:Everything You Need To Know(Nather)

The new health care plan will not change for the vast majority of citizens(80%).People working with health care covered by their employer won't be affected.In the individual market,where people get health coverage on their own,premiums will go up because the benefits will be better.The higher costs will eventually be canceled out through government subsidies that will cover about half the people.Young adults under 26 will be able to be covered as dependents on their parent's health insurance that allows dependent coverage.Costs to cover the treatment of uninsured people increased the average individual premium by $410 and the family premium by $1,100(about 8% of the premium).Under this plan,everyone should be covered so that percentage should shrink accordingly.Many people will receive subsidies according to income levels(Ind.$14,404/H.P pays 94%..Ind.$43,320...H.P pays 70%..Family of four.$55,125...H.P pays73% etc.).

Small businesses will be able to get a tax credit for up to 35% of their contribution to the premium.In 2014, they can get up to 50% if they get their health insurance through the new health insurance exchanges.Tax-exempt businesses will get up to 35%.If your employer offers a HP that covers less than 60% of your costs or make you pay more than 9.5% of your income,you can apply for a subsidy and get your HP from your state's exchange instead.The exchanges will have different plans to choose from with more coverage costing more.Two national private plans will be offered in 2014 that meet all of the minimum standards of health care programs for federal workers.The new system will close the "donut hole" for drug purchases.By 2013,50% discount on brand-name drugs will be offered.Subsidies will increase for generic drugs.By 2020,there will be a 50% discount on all drugs with medicare covering another 25%.

The Medicare Advantage (private..10 million people)plans cost $11 billion more than regular Medicare in 2009.Under the new law,the government will change the payment formula to these private plans to save money for services.Pilot programs are being developed to test new ways of paying Medicare providers and organizing their services.The point will be to find new ways to spend less on medical care and try to make it more efficient.

Starting in 2014,if you apply for any kind of coverage through your state's insurance exchange,they're supposed to check to see if you qualify for either Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program.If they do,they'll enroll you automatically.Under the new voluntary long-term care coverage program,you'd get a least $50 a day in benefits.You would pay premiums through payroll deductions.All new private HP will have to cover preventive services without you sharing the costs.Breast cancer screenings will be covered under Preventive Services Task Force guidelines.The new law makes a push for "comparative effectiveness research" which tries to find the best procedures and treatments for certain conditions.The Independent Payment Advisory Board will recommend ways to cut Medicare spending but it won't be able to ration care,cut your benefits,raise your premiums or taxes,or change who is eligible for Medicare.

In October 2009,the Institute of Medicine estimated that a third of all health care spending in the U.S.($800 billion) goes to care that doesn't make us any better."Medical homes" will be encouraged as a place that has a team that understands your medical needs(doctor,nurse,pharmacist,arrangements to see specialists or hospitals,protect you from other providers who want to give unnecessary tests/medications).

The solution for paying for the new plan will be spread broadly.It will be paid buy the wealthy,the most generous health plans, and cutting the fat out of Medicare and health industry.There will be a tax on "Cadillac Plans" worth more than $10,200 for an individual and $27,500 for a family.The medical expenses deduction will have a higher level before you can deduct from your taxes.The Medicare providers will  receive increases at a slower level for services.Payments to medicare advantage plans will be frozen at their current levels.There will be cuts to hospitals that treat the uninsured.If your income is over $170,000,you will have to pay higher premiums for medicare Part B,which covers physician and outpatient services.High income individuals will have to pay higher medicare payroll taxes than everyone else(1.45 to 2.35%..3.8% on investments.

The book is well written and provides all the answers.

Federal Reserve: How Does It Really Operate? Watch Out For Bernie

I'm a college graduate(only 25% of us in America) ,with a masters(even smaller percentage), and still can't figure out how much money the Federal Reserve has(with some research have found out, I think).I have recently read and reported on many economic books but still can't grasp where all the money($3.3 trillion in short term loans for emergency funds for banks and corporations starting in 2007..dwarfing the TARP program by the Treasury Dept.)comes from(selling Treasury securities,again I think).Does the Federal Reserve have a lot of money from member banks(reserve balance of 3-10% of member deposits),fees charged for processing and clearing checks and the selling of  Treasury securities? As the U.S government's bank, do they charge the government fees for processing their transactions and managing their numerous accounts.Bernie Sanders,Senator from Vermont,is angry at the Federal Reserve for lending money to U.S. and foreign banks at the discount rate(close to zero)during the great recession of 2008 without any consultation or disclosure.Sanders accuses the banks of not lending to businesses(purpose of loans) to stimulate the economy but used the money to make a safe profit by buying Treasury securities.The end result is the continuation of the recession for many citizens who remain unemployed.The Fed was forced to disclose who it lent the money to by the courts. It had refused to give the information to Congress since 2008(wanted to remain independent from political over site).The information has recently come out and is listed on the Fed's website.Go see the 21,000 transactions.According to the Fed,no credit losses were suffered at the end of this process.

According to my brief research, the Federal Reserve supports itself by generating income from interest earned from(1) government securities that it acquirers through open market operations(2) foreign currency investments and (3)bank/depository institution loans that it makes using the discount rate.Any money left over after paying it's expenses is sent to the U.S. Treasury.One can find income and expenses on the Board of Governors Annual Report on it's website.

The Federal Reserve also "prints money"that means it will hold an auction to buy assets like bonds or mortgage backed securities from banks.Then they will issue a credit to the bank's account,creating new money with the hope that the bank will lend the money to businesses and consumers.All this is foreign to someone like me and most Americans don't understand the financial service world.What about our national debt? How does this play a part?As of September,2010,the "Total Public Debt Outstanding" was $13.56 trillion.The U.S. has been in debt since it's inception.The Civil War,WW1,WW2,inflation from 1950-80,War On Terror 2001-2010 and the great recession of 2008 greatly increased our deficit over the history of the U.S.It was 256.8 billion when I was born with a population of 150 million.The population has doubled and the debit increased by a factor of 54.2.Foreigners hold 27.9% of our debt while the Fed holds 49.37%.Pensions(2.5%),mutual funds(4.74%),savings bonds(2.055).Do we owe the fed or ourselves money if the Fed holds about half the debt(U.S Treasury Securities)?I'm still confused..I'm going out to paint.

We Need More Than A Thousand Points Of Light

I'm up early today to watch a friend run 50 miles on his fiftieth birthday to raise money and awareness about leukemia.Leukemia has been a darkness in the world and a deadly problem for all of us our whole lives.Raising private money( I gave today and will give to others) for deadly diseases bothers me because I feel research should be a priority in this country and publicly funded to the fullest of our ability. I know our taxes pay for research and many private companies give money to universities to find cures to these diseases but we have been coming up short for so many years. I get discouraged and angry that we haven't found solutions to many of our horrible health problems.All across the country,people are raising money for the numerous inflictions that darken our world.Arizona has recently denied lung transplants to people on medicaid due to state financial debt.A young,exchange student from Afghanistan is running part of the way with my friend today to help support his cause.I understand she is a wonderful young woman and I'm looking forward to see her today and talk to her about her country and stay in America.The U.S. is spending $120 billion a year to bring Jeffersonian democracy to her country.It looks like we won't be successful after 104 months there with a total cost approaching a trillion dollars(she only has electricity a few hours daily).We went there because we wanted revenge and we stay because we don't want to lose face as a superpower, according to some experts.We are paying the Taliban $120 million/year to leave our supply lines alone.If we leave the country, the Taliban (or a similar violent entity)will take over and dictate laws, through force, to the people.We are stuck in a dilemma that brings only  more darkness.The decision to go after the terrorist that brought destruction to our shores was valid but we should have been more patient in doing so( I was against invasion from the beginning).The Taliban let the terrorist train in their country but there was no love between the two groups.We could have given them money to solve our problem if we weren't so revengeful with blood on our brains and in our hearts.The decision(both parties agreed) was more of a political move to feed that hunger than a thoughtful approach to protect our citizens.Homeland security,which has cost us billions, came after we made the decision to try to destroy the leadership of Afghanistan.Unfortunately,we didn't solve the problem with force and the Taliban are growing stronger every year.Slow and steady diplomacy(with bilateral cooperation concerning financial aid,building of schools and hospitals) should have been the course but we have missed another opportunity to be successful in a troubled country.

Money,money and more money goes into the military budget without much dissent from our major political parties.The War Resister's budget has defense spending at 54% of the total annual expenditures($1449 billion out of$2,650) .This percentage includes the cost of the two wars(Afghanistan,Iraq...$200 billion),current spending($765 billion) and past military expenditures($484 billion).The annual interest on past military spending is $390 billion(80% of our national debt).If only this money could be reduced and spent differently.

I just came back from the road race and met the young woman from Afghanistan.I talked to her about her city(Bamyan area) and dreams for the future. She is very pure and sweet with hope for herself and family.She is also very intelligent and wants to be a doctor to serve the poor in her country.I asked her about her neighborhood and if she felt safe walking to school.She stated that walking is fun(they don't have a car) and that she has never had any violent trouble with other children from her city. She also told me that the majority of the citizen are illiterate and poor and that she considers herself middle class( father is a doctor,mother a nurse).She stated that she never witnessed any violence between the Taliban and the Americans.

I get the feeling the vast majority of  citizens in Afghanistan want to live in peace and only want what we want.Reasonable health,shelter,food,jobs and the ability to live in a secure environment.Their religion might restrict them at times(discrimination) but it also makes their environment safe if the Taliban(or other fundamentalists) stay out of their way.The typical citizen needs a chance to have an education so they can overcome illiteracy and become intelligent, productive members of  Afghan society.

Bush's"Points of Light" strategy was a compassionate approach to solve the world's social problems and many citizens have answered the call over the twenty years in this country and around the world. Many individuals(Left and Right) have established foundations to alleviate numerous negative social conditions in the U.S. and abroad.Unfortunately,the "Points of Light"approach is not enough to solve the horrendous problems of the world. These lights don't even help the vast majority of poor in America.Stopping the military madness is the first step on the road to a healthier planet.We have to stop spending half our money on defense.Our country can be the leader in reducing military spending. Many countries around the world spend 2-4% of the GDP annually on their military machines. The U.S spends more money on defense than all of the combined total of developed countries. If we start decreasing by 10% annually,we could not only reduce our own deficit,but also start planning to really help the lower class in this country and the under served around the world.My Afghan friend might just have a rewarding life as a doctor helping the poor with a little help from this military reduction.Let the Deficit Commission start with defense spending before raising the age on full benefit social security.

The Knicks Start Work Council:Influenced By German Model Of Shared Decision Making In The Workplace

I was at this mansion(home of lap dancer for HVC hedge fund) yesterday in Dutches,Co. N.Y. talking to the Knicks about work councils and the lack of defense in the second quarters,especially Amare Stoudemire on any center he faces.Yes,he leaves his man to make weak-side blocks but his man has been scoring as much as Amare every night.I recommended that they play a triangle and two on high scoring guards for two reasons.The move will enable Amare to get additional help from teammates on the opposing center or power forward and have a continuous double team on the shooting guards.At an early point in our discussions,Landry Fields,brilliant rookie, inquired about the work councils and I proceeded to tell them that they should have one and make shared decisions with the coach and his staff so everyone should get equal  playing time to support the craft they are developing(especially anyone under 25 yrs. old...most of the Knicks).I told them that Mike D'Antoni,Herb Williams,Phil Weber and additional staff shouldn't make all the decisions and that a work council(three elected players in this employment arrangement) could and should bargain with them for the type,place and time of the practice sessions. In addition,the strategies(philosophy),starting five,bench arrangements and minutes all should be done collaboratively with decisions by both the work council and coaches.I told them that some players(7 to 8) were discriminated against because they didn't have the playing time to demonstrate their skills.This limitation of time on the court degraded their confidence and eroded their professional skills.Everyone who ever played the game knows that 75% of the game is psychological and time on the bench undermines their worth as a person and as a worker.D'Antoni started to say that it was unfair to the coaches because they needed to have a winning season to survive in management.The answer I gave to D'Antoni was that he needed to talk to the commissioner so every team would play with the same arrangement.The players had empathy for the coaches situation but it was up to them to make recommendations and tell Stern about the new working conditions for the Knicks.The players were enthusiastic and understood that the work council would bring value to their workplace and all the undermining at practice would disappear.

We watch T.V. 4.6 hrs. per day in the U.S.(I watch every Knick game) while Germany(3.5 and dropping) and ultra-left Sweden(2.7).Geoghegan(Were You Born On The Wrong Continent) states Germans still read big,fat papers everyday to remain informed because they have a stake in the workplace and need to know about the internal and global economies.78% of Germans read a newspaper every day for an average of twenty-eight minutes.Germany has 23 million in paid circulation,while the vastly larger U.S(4 times bigger). has only 34 million.Worker engagement(work councils) increases a stake in acting politically to protect their economic system.They have a stake in reading political news in depth(not just watching pro-business T.V.).For those H.S grads with no skills living outside unionized Germany,this process is meaningless and non-existent.They are totally dependent and hopeless concerning worker rights in American style capitalism(unless they are part of the weakened 11% in U.S. unions).

Germany is also very green.Only in Germany would the government buy up enough DVDs of Al Gore's"An Inconvenient Truth" to play in every classroom.Germany is in pole position in several fast-growing “green tech” areas, including renewable energy and automotive efficiency.The German government has been sending steady green signals to the market for years. It passed a trend-setting recycling law in 1991 and was a pioneer of “feed-in tariffs”, obliging utilities to buy power generated by renewable sources at prices that reflect their higher costs. Now renewables account for 15% of electricity and German manufacturers of solar cells and wind-power turbines are among the world’s leaders.

Felton to Amare to Gallinari to Chandler to Fields to Turiaf to etc. If the Knicks can do it why can't everyone have some ownership in the workplace and the stability to plan for the future with some reason. We are all in this together...lets rent a boat and sail to the Caymans and return our money for those unemployment benefits we can't afford...let's increase the income rate for those over $250,000 from 35% to 50%(they hide most of it anyway).