Note: This article was updated 10/10/16.
A new environment demands a new economy. Since we are destroying the earth with the present economy and since we are facing fundamentalist Muslim enemies intent on our destruction, and since we have radical international goals, we must have a new economy. This economy must be dedicated to meet all the basic needs of all the citizens, encourage an ever-increasing quality of life for all, have maximum financial savings, and have maximum investment for economic growth. These economic goals imply a minimum of consumption of luxury goods.
The economy must follow the Japanese model more than the historical American model. Americans could be encouraged to save and invest rather than spend. They could be encouraged to give as much as possible to achieve our international goals.
This could easily be done by having high taxes on luxury goods and either no taxes, or subsidies, for necessary goods. The Increase in quality of life could include some of the following goals:
– No-interest, 30 year educational loans for all Americans regardless of age. This would allow for constant re-training and re-educating. Free education as much as possible
– Low crime rates
– More subsidies to the arts and public entertainment
– More public and less private beaches
– No tax on capital gains for individuals earning less than $200,000 a year
– Little tax on small businesses producing green goods or services, so that individuals would have a better chance to invest in a new business
– No tax, or subsidies, for green goods. These goods would include small houses, small cars, and healthy foods.
– High tax on luxury and destructive goods. These goods would include: destructive foods, especially meat products and imports of luxury goods, especially from China.
A national policy would be created to guide American businesses so that they produce essential and healthy goods. They could produce more healthy goods, not only for a higher quality of life but also for a healthier earth.
The high tax on destructive goods would result in less production and consumption of these goods. People would loose some jobs. But so what? What good is a job if you’re doing harm? This is the no-interest education loans come in. The worker could be re-trained in a productive field.
And so what if less destructive goods are produced and consumed. For example, so what if people ate less sugar and less meat? So what if they smoked less cigarettes and drank less alcohol?
Some might argue that the government is interfering with their right to consume whatever they want. This argument would be valid if these consumers paid for the destructive effects of their consumption. If they paid for the health care for their diabetes and their cancer. If they paid for the global warming damage caused by the animal diet.
Great article RG. Keep up the good work. Green Power!!!
Tx for your feeedback.