The “Change We Need” is enormous and, as I’ve stated in previous posts, I believe the “rubble” from 8 years of George W Bush will be showing its ugly head for years to come.  It is going to be very difficult to get out from under the mess and it is going to take a considerable amount of time.  Everyone needs to be realistic about the challenge that lies ahead.  Of course, the first thing to accomplish is to make sure there is no mistaking that the republican “mantra” of “trickle down” economics is at an end.  What has been happening is more like “trickle up” and the wealth of the richest nation in the history of the world has been funnelled up to a small number of mega-millionaire-billionaires.  Dealing with this problem should be high on the list of places to start for the incoming Obama administration.

Bill Clinton managed to bring the American budget into balance, but many of the decisions he made have had a lasting downward effect on the working people of America.  The reason I bring this up is that his economic policies are often mentioned as suggestions as to direction for the new administration.  I would submit that would not be the “Change We Need.”  Clinton was a significant supporter of “Globalization” which has led to, what I consider, out of control behavior on the part of so-called multi-national corporations.  We are fast losing what is left of our manufacturing base and companies are outsourcing every aspect of their business they can.  There seems to be little left of the sense of patriotism and loyalty that were part of major corporations back in my youth.  In the 60’s and 70’s it was not unusual at all for people to spend their entire careers working for the same company.  And blue collar workers could work their career at one place, purchase a home in the process, and put their children through college.

What we have evolved to are companies that are constantly combining with other companies as a way to eliminate workers, reduce benefits for workers, and keep workers on edge worrying about whether or not they will have a job tomorrow.  It is not uncommon for “customer service” to be provided by call centers in India, Pakistan, the Phillipines and many companies are constantly moving manufacturing to the country with the cheepest labor and the lowest taxes.  In fact, many US corporations are moving their headquarters to foreign countries in an attempt to reduce or eliminate the need to pay US taxes.

Now, many might say that all of this is just good business.  It surely has been in the eyes of American politicians (of both parties) that have allowed themselves to be bought off by these corporations in the form of huge contributions while they say it is only natural for corporations to focus on the bottom line and their stockholders.  The main example that comes to my mind is Halliburton, the oil services corporation which was led by Dick Cheney prior to his eight years as Vice President and benefitted to the tune of billions in no-bid government contracts just in Iraq during the occupation.  At the first sign they were going to be investigated for fraud in relation to these sweetheart deals seemingly coming direct from the White House Halliburton moved their headquarters to Dubai freeing it from the obligation to pay taxes to the US government from which it was gaining billions of dollars.  STOPPING THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR IS A GREAT PLACE TO START for the “Change We Need.”

Multi-national corporations have minimal liability for their actions and they are acting with no regard to the people and the nation which provides the base for them to operate profitably.  The whole mindset has to change in how we look at this as a nation.  The other day I forced myself to watch a debate on a similar topic on Fox “News.”  The person representing the “Conservative” viewpoint said something like: “If we force these companies to pay taxes and act responsibly (my interpretation) they will move offshore.”  Well, my thought is let them move offshore and our government needs to re-institute tariffs that ultimately lets these companies know that if they are going to do business in this country they are going to participate in the economic health of the “commons.”  That is to say, they are going to pay their fair share of the expense of paying for a functioning national economy.

I have already suggested the importance of raising the gas tax and repealing the “Bush taxcuts” as ways to generate revenue and support the changes necessary for the US to address as we move forward.  I have also made my thoughts clear about the need to investigate the corruption and lawbreaking of the Bush administration (in fact, any lawbreakers in Washington) in order to make it clear that “business as usual” has changed in our government.  I believe another important “first step” is to make sure that we deal with the abuses of these multi-national corporations which have acted like they are more important than our government.  They are funneling millions to our politicians and expecting a free ride in return.  It is time for us to expect these corporations to be willing to act with a sense of patriotism for the right to do business in this country.  I believe if they decide to go elsewhere because they don’t want to pay taxes or operate responsibly – someone else will fill the void.  If Halliburton wants to be located in Dubai let them do business in Dubai!