Why Regulate Capitalism?

The picture of this little boy really is impactful, but in truth, I actually don’t need a photograph; I simply think of:

• Endless wars to support and grow the military-industrial complex

• 22 million American children living in poverty

• Rollbacks in banking regulations making us vulnerable to economic recessions or depressions, the brunt of which will not be borne by the perpetrators, but by you and me

• Law-makers responsible only to large donors

• Socialism for the rich / Bailouts for huge corporations

• Disintegration of organized labor

• 40% of Americans can’t afford an unexpected expense of more than $400

• Looting the U.S. Treasury to create huge tax cuts for billionaires

• U.S. president profiting from his office with complete impunity

• Rolling back environmental standards to make business operations more profitable

• Suing states to force them to repeal renewable energy portfolio standards

• Reducing funding and cutting programs for public schooling

• Minimum wages that require people to work two or three jobs

• Planned cuts for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

• For-profit prisons and detention centers providing inhumane conditions

• Tax loopholes for the rich