NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | APRIL 13-19, 2011 | BOHEMIAN.COM
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Rhapsodies Direct Deposit
Taking action against corporate tax dodgers BY MARK GREEN SOLOMONS ohemian writer Leilani Clark helped inform me of the grassroots organization US Uncut spreading to make corporate tax cheats accountable, starting in Great Britain and expanding in the United States to counter the Tea Party (“Closing the Gap: US Uncut, the ‘progressive Tea Party,’ demands corporations pay their fair share,” March 9). I initiated my own action: to open an account at Redwood Credit Union. Decisions in the State Legislature and Congress punish middle-class working Americans. There is a solution to cutting our budget, beyond Gov. Brown’s tax proposal or the federal cuts. Why not make the richest of the rich pay their fair share in taxes, just like anyone else?
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The $3 in my wallet is more than the combined income tax liability of multibillionaire top Fortune 500 companies like Bank of America, Exxon Mobil, GE and Citigroup combined. That should be a clear red flag to our leaders that the richest of the rich are gaming the system. Tax avoidance is immoral. In the United States, there is a corporate culture of tax avoidance. Before one more teacher is fired or one more education program cut or food assistance for the poor eliminated, the richest of the rich—i.e., Bank of America and the other corporations listed above—need to pay their fair share, just like anyone else. As a geriatric social worker in the elder-care industry, I am flabbergasted at the shortsightedness of legislators in Sacramento proposing cuts in Adult Day Health Care, leaving frail elders with no choice but to go to more expensive nursing homes. Here is a chance to be proactive! US Uncut, MoveOn.org and Move Your Money all advocate that we speak with our checkbooks and transfer our bank accounts from Bank of America (and others) to local credit unions. Join me on Saturday, April 16, at the Redwood Credit Union in San Rafael’s Montecito Plaza at 10:30am to open an account. Or be seen at Bank of America in Fairfax on tax day— Monday, April 18, at 9am—to hold this giant corporate tax cheat accountable. I pay, you pay—why doesn’t B of A? Mark Green Solomons is a former social service director from Fairfax. For April 18 actions at Bank of America branches in Sonoma, Santa Rosa and San Rafael, see www.timetomakethempay.us. We welcome your contribution. To have your topical essay of 350 words considered for publication, write to openmic@bohemian.com.
A Record Store Worker Writes In
In the article “Fifty Years of Howlin’: A visit with Arhoolie Records’ Chris Strachwitz,” Robert Kravolec states: “An older gentlemen, also doing inventory, gives me the once over, adding a few cagey questions and eyefuls of boredom.” As the “older gentleman” mentioned, allow me to clarify. The day Mr. Kravolec visited, we were closed to the public and in the midst of our annual inventory. Mr. Kravolec may have misunderstood, Chris Strachwitz (pictured) does not frequent the retail store. He is more easily reached through his office at Arhoolie Records. We were rather busy attempting to meet a deadline, but nonetheless took time to protect him from any needless inquiry. I recall that Mr. Kravolec failed to clearly identify himself or his business, hence the cagey questions. As for the eyefuls of boredom, this may well be in the imagination of Mr. Kravolec. In closing, I would also recommend that Mr. Kravolec refrain from resorting to any unneeded derogatory descriptions like mousey to describe our staff. Perhaps I’m missing the point. If so, my apologies.
J. C. GARRETT Down Home Music, El Cerrito
Tax All Meat and Dairy Products This country would be in better shape, physically and financially, if we implemented a tax on meat, eggs and dairy products. At least then the tax code would reflect our social incentives and burdens, the tax would help to curb the self-destructive health impacts of consumption of these foods, and revenues could compensate society for the associated devastating environmental impacts. It’s hardly a radical concept, and there are already
similar taxes on tobacco and alcohol products, as well as some states taxing soft drinks and other junk foods.
Revenues could reimburse Medicare and Medicaid for treating victims of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and other chronic killer diseases, all linked conclusively with consumption of animal products, and even pay for the restoration of waterways and wildlife habitats devastated by meat and dairy production. Benjamin Franklin said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” However, death can be deferred and taxes reduced selectively with a tax on meat and dairy products.
LARRY ROGAWITZ Santa Rosa
Well-Oiled Wall Street Why is it that our country will involve itself in illegal and immoral military engagements, tolerate massive environmental destruction and give tax incentives and preferential treatment—only to allow our energy sources to be threatened by speculators and gamblers on Wall Street? How is that protecting our interests? Am I the only one to notice that the first thing that happened after the crash of 2008 was that gas dropped radically in price? Then we bailed out the banks, but instead of loaning that money to small businesses, they ran out and bought gas and oil shares with the money—driving up the price. Gas is again rising to unsustainable prices for the workingclass to afford. Fear of unrest in the Middle East is being used as an excuse. It threatens our fragile recovery. Why isn’t it part of our National Defense Policy to restrict speculation on necessary commodities such as oil, which has such a direct influence on our economy?
J. T. YOUNGER Santa Cruz