Long-term solution needed for economy
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
In the March 26 Valley Journal, Senator Taylor (R-SD6) wrung her hands about creating jobs in Montana. But when Democrats proposed job-creating bills for Montanans, Republicans shot them down. And according to Senator Taylor, government jobs don’t count – we have to pay for them – duh. Are there any jobs that we don’t eventually pay for? Suggest to a Republican that we can recover thousands of jobs that Americans lost overseas by having companies bring them back or by curtailing huge corporate profits and have them return profits for jobs/benefits, and the hair goes up on the back of their heads.
Last week, Senator Taylor lamented the fact that the state doesn’t have enough money to fund all the important infrastructure activities such as schools, roads, etc. And yet when a common-sense bill to reduce a big tax-break given to oil companies at the expense of Montana citizens (the holiday tax), thus bringing millions to state coffers was offered, Republicans rejected it. But they have no trouble forcing us to support private religious schools with our tax money. Does the word hypocritical come to mind? To me the problem is both the economic system and its political backers.
Capitalism is a self-destructive economic system that goes against religious teachings worldwide. Why? Because it selfishly builds on a foundation of more and more exploitation, more and more destruction of the earth’s ecosystems for the benefit of the few. Republicans have only one answer to the jobs/monetary situation in Montana, and that is to exploit more resources – trees, oil, coal, minerals, people, water, whatever is still out there. The fact is there is no long-term solution to job problems and monetary shortages under capitalism. Not when the whole enchilada is for individuals and private corporations to accumulate all the wealth/capital at the expense of the commons – and that is the goal of capitalism. Fortunately, some economists have moved outside of the box in their thinking. Our future rests with them, not the capitalist dinosaurs who currently control the Montana legislature.
Kirwin Werner
Ronan
