Source: flimjo.com

‘No new taxes’ has been a conservative mantra for generations.  Lately, it’s been taken beyond the campaign trail, and into the streets.  But why are so many Americans opposed to taxes and who does the system serve anyway?

We take a look at a tax revolt movement you might not have heard about, including upper income folks asking for tax increases on themselves.  And we compare the tax burdens and benefits in Europe and the United States.

Featuring:

Jim McDermott, Oregon lawyer; Chuck Sheketoff, Oregon Center for Public Policy Executive Director; Jon Shure, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities Deputy Director; Marcy Westerling, Rural Organizing Project, Scappoose Executive Director; Marcy Westerling, Rural Organizing Project Executive Director; Tom Duley, Alabama Arise board chairman; Kimble Forrister, Alabama Arise coordinator; Gwendolyn Gray, Alabama Arise member; Steven Hill, Political Reform Program Director at the New America Foundation & author of ‘Europe’s Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Hope for an Insecure Age’

Thanks to contributing producer, Abby Scher.

And thanks to Joe Hendricks at WSLR Radio & Jan Nichols at the NC Justice Center for technical assistance and our tape synchers Chris Lehman, Don Gronnin, Robert Frazier & Kelly Walker.

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Grassroots Groups Call for Change in the Tax System

Besides the Tea Party, there are other grassroots tax movements building strength in places like Oregon, Alabama and North Carolina.  These citizens are calling for higher taxes, to dig their states out of the mess created by the economic crisis.  Raise taxes on the wealthy, they say, so the burden falls more equitably on those best able to pay.  Generally overlooked by the national media, these campaigners are winning many of their battles, and as correspondent Abby Scher reports, they’re growing in number every day.

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Author Compares U.S. Tax System with Those of European Countries

Making Contact‘s Andrew Stelzer interviews Steven Hill , author of ‘Europe’s Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Hope for an Insecure Age’, about the difference in tax benefits and burdens in Europe and the US.

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For more information:

Alabama Arise
Montgomery, AL

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Washington, DC

Oregon Center for Public Policy
Silverton, OR

Rural Organizing Project
Scappoose, OR

Steven Hill

Wealth for the Common Good

Articles, Blogs, Films, Reports, Other:

‘Americans pay fewer taxes than Europeans’
An article by Steven Hill

‘Creating a Fair and Adequate Revenue System’
A report by North Carolina Justice Center

‘Europe’s Promise: Why the European Way is the Best Hope for an Insecure Age’
A book by Steven Hill

‘I Want to Pay More Taxes’
An article by Jim McDermott, The Oregonian, April 12, 2009

‘Impact of State Income Taxes on Low-Income Families in 2008’
A report by Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

‘Reversing the Great Tax Shift: Seven Steps to Finance Our Economic Recovery Fairly’
An article by John Cavanagh, Chuck Collins, Alison Goldberg & Sam Pizzigati

‘Tax Fraud: Debunking the Claim that higher income-tax rates reduce GDP’
An article by Eliot Spitzer

‘Taxing the Poor’
A PBS NOW documentary on Alabama Arise, April 11, 2008

‘The Tea Party and Misconceptions about Taxes’

10 Excellent Reasons Not to Hate Taxes
A book by Stephanie Greenwood

Warren Buffett Tells Tom Brokaw, Raise My Taxes!

‘Why Tax the Rich? Efficiency, Equity, and Progressive Taxation’
A journal written by Reuven S. Avi-Yonah

Music:

Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Alabama A&M Univ. Gospel Choir
Money, Money, Money by Abba
Me and the IRS by Johnny Paycheck

Professor Ira Chernus. Source: University of Colorado at Boulder

Author and professor Ira Chernus examines the connections between conservative religious doctrine, “moral values,” and the Bush Administration’s national security policies. According to Chernus, what’s driving U.S. policy may not be what you think.

Ira Chernus has been a supporter of National Radio Project.

Featuring:

Ira Chernus, professor of Religious Studies at University of Colorado at Boulder, author of “Monsters to Destroy, The Neoconservative War on Terror and Sin.”

Senior Producer/Host: Tena Rubio
Freelance Associate Producer: Emily Polk 
Intern: Alexis McCrimmon

For more information:

Ira Chernus, Religious Studies – Boulder, CO

Aaron Rester, CHIASMOS Communications Coordinator – Chicago, IL

World Beyond the Headlines Lecture Series

A patch of blue in a sea of red: the Brea Congregational Church in Orange County, California. Source: Justin Beck

Faith in God is a powerful motivator in people’s lives. Powerful enough to shape attitudes about everything from foreign policy to poverty at home.

On this special edition, part two of “Left, Right and Christian,” we look at faith and politics in the reddest county in the nation — Orange County, California. We expected to find the religious right — and we did — but we also found a few surprises along the way.

Featuring:

Nigel Morris, pastor, Vineyard Christian Fellowship; Gini Braley, teacher and director, Vineyard Partner School; Betsy Newman, teacher and co-director, Vineyard Partner School; Dwight Smith, Catholic worker and owner of Isaiah House; Rick Marshall, pastor, Brea Congregational Church; Dave Nunley, moderator, Brea Congregational Church; Benjamin Lopez, legislative analyst and lobbyist, Traditional Values Coalition.

This week’s hosts: Justin Beck and Meaghen Keyser. Contributing producer: Pauline Bartolone.

For more information:

Vineyard USA – Stafford, TX

Isaiah House – Santa Ana, CA

Brea Congregational Church – Brea, CA

Traditional Values Coalition (California Office) – Anaheim, CA

Lupe Moreno, a devout Charismatic Christian and Republican activist, outside her Santa Ana, Calif. home. Source: Justin Beck

Given all the natural and manmade disasters of Biblical proportions just in the first half of this decade, a lot of people are saying a lot of prayers. In the United States, it so happens that most of those praying are Christian. Even if you’re not a Christian, but you still care about the fate of the planet, it’s worth understanding how the power of faith shapes society’s attitudes and behaviors.

On this special edition, the first of a two-part series, we journey through the reddest county in the nation – Orange County, California. Along the way, we visit a homeless shelter run by a Catholic relief worker, the Charismatics – Christians who believe in miracles and faith healing – as well as politically passionate churchgoers and grassroots organizers.

This week’s hosts: Justin Beck and Pauline Bartolone. Contributing producer: Meaghen Keyser.

Featuring:

Wendy and Neville McDonald, pastors at Healing Word International; George and Louise Giacoppe, volunteers for the Democratic party; Lupe Moreno, immigration reform activist and president of Santa Ana Republican Women; Dwight Smith, Catholic worker and owner of Isaiah House.

For more information:

Healing Word International - Tustin, CA

Latino Americans for Immigration Reform – Rosamond, CA

Isaiah House – Santa Ana, CA

Featuring:

Praful Bidwai, syndicated columnist; Dr. Goyal, former organizer and author of The RSS; Shamsul Islam, Delhi University lecturer; Michelle Bertho, San Francisco State University lecturer; Rafael Krafft, reporter;Abdi Yusuf, Director of the Somali Development Center; Thomas Fusco, therapist.

For more information:

Somali Development Center

More helpful links:

Crime Against Humanity — Gujarat 2002: A report on the investigations, findings and recommendations of the 8-member Concerned Citizens’ Tribunal, headed by Justice VR Krishna Lyer, Justice PB Sawant and Justice Hosbet Suresh.
www.sabrang.com
www.pucl.org
www.secularindia.com

Featuring:

Frederick Clarkson, author of “Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy”; Hal Turner, short-wave radio announcer; William Pierce, chairman of the National Alliance; Pastor Pete Peters, host of “Scriptures for America”; Ann Coulter, columnist; James Latham, Radio for Peace International; Steve Anderson, former host of United Patriot Radio; Chip Berlet, Public Research Associates; Peter Montgomery, communications director at People for the American Way; John Hickey, Missouri Citizens Education Fund.

For more information:

“Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy”
Common Courage Press – Monroe, Maine

Political Research Associates – Somerville, Massachusetts

People for the American Way