How to overcome budget woes

APPROXIMATELY 2,000 people turned out to the Rhode Island State House recently to protest budget cuts targeting disabled people proposed by Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri and the Democratic General Assembly.

Despite the level of enthusiasm at the protest--and the need for it as well--the message was limited. The central organizers did not want any demands raised besides the immediate demand to stop the cuts; in particular, they objected to the demand to tax the rich.

It is definitely true that disabled people are among those who don't deserve any cuts in the budget. It is also true that workers in general, and particular groups of workers including the elderly, homeless, teachers and state workers, should not have to be hit with budget cuts.

Instead, the richest people--like the despised Gov. Carcieri and the enabling members of the General Assembly--deserve to have their taxes raised substantially to cover any deficits caused by their poor budgeting and mishandling. Eyesores such as the G-Tech building in Providence also deserve heavy tax burdens.

This alone would solve a great portion of the budgetary woes--but it is always off the table when the economy is controlled by the very rich.

Most importantly, the working class must organize themselves without strategies relying on the Democratic Party. The Democrats control the General Assembly and have passed Gov. Cariceri's budgets every time, with hardly a fight. These budgets have squeezed every notch on an already tight belt for working people.

The time is here for a movement to stand up for every vulnerable and working class person in Rhode Island and everywhere else--and put the burden on the backs of the rich whose wealth was created by exploitation.
Greg Morse and Shaun Joseph, Providence, R.I.