Paying for Hurricane Relief
Could Common Cause post a petition for citizens to sign in support of a Federal Income Tax surcharge to pay for Katrina relief and rebuilding, as well as World War II like "Liberty Bonds" to which citizens or friends around the world could subscribe to help finance them? A reasonable, temporary, surcharge on every individual and corporation's tax liability for the next 5 years, supplemented by the bonds, could begin to cover relief and rebuilding while we fight for repeal of tax cuts for the wealthy and the estate tax
I appreciate the work being done by charities and volunteers, but if we accept our moral responsibility to help Katrina's victims, we should also accept financial responsibility - rather than passing it on to our grandchildren, deducting it from funds for social services and programs, or expecting the victims to beg or face "conditions" for receiving relief not reflective of democratic choice or supervised by elected officials.
Politicians may fear to call for increased taxes in the current environment - but if we could get enough signatories, perhaps they could respond to our demand. Such national democratic financing might also send a message to Pres. Bush and conservatives who are now taking advantage of Katrina to further weaken democracy and government.
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