Looking Beyond 2020
Those Americans who hoped that the new Biden regime would be a breath of fresh air, after four years of Trump, must be coming to the realization that a new era is not dawning.
As the months turn into years, Trump’s legacy will continue to be a struggle to overcome. Trump said no to a $15/hour minimum wage and Biden concurs. Trump said no to Medicare for All, and Biden concurs. Trump said no to free tuition, and Biden concurs.
There hasn’t been a raise in the federal minimum wage since Barack Obama’s first term as president.. The first federal minimum wage rate, in 1938, was 25 cents/hour. The last raise was to $7.25/hour on July 24, 2009.
Some states have higher minimum wages than are provided for by the federal law. California’s new minimum wage rates are $14 for workplaces with 26 or more employees, and $13 for smaller facilities. Only DC has a higher rate, $15. Oregon’s rate is $12, going to $12.75 on July 1. Washington’s rate is $13.69.
A minimum wage increase is essential due to the rapid increase in the poverty rate (up to 15.2 percent for Blacks) as a result of the pandemic. A full-time worker with a family of four must earn at least $12.60 per hour to be above the poverty level.
In truth, $15 is not enough. The minumum wage should be indexed to cost-of-living increases, as is social security. If the minimum wage does not take account of increases in the cost of living, then it becomes less than $15 in real wages. The least demand for a new minimum wage should be “$15 plus the cost of living.”
Is the FDA corrupt?
How else do you explain the Food and Drug Administration authorizing widespread use of Johnson & Johnson’s poor excuse for a vaccine? Its vaccine is only 66 percent effective in preventing moderate to severe Covid-19. Both Pfizer and Moderna’s efficacy rates were above 94 percent. In Phase Three Trials in the U.S., the vaccine was 72 percent effective, while in South Africa, it scored on 57 percent. And here’s the worst part for seniors: the vaccine’s efficacy for those older than age 60 was only 42.3 percent.
Undoubtably Johnson & Johnson’s has big money invested in the vaccine, or promised by the federal government, and therefore, must push something out on the populace. Apologists are rushing to the airwaves and internet to obscure the facts.
One Good Thing About COVID-19
About 10 vaccines for Covid-19 have been produced around the world. Only two (three counting J&J) of those were produced in the United States. The fight against Covid has shown the surprising weakness of the imperial power. No longer can the U.S. claim to be the leader in science and technology, while the rest of the world trails behind. Effective vaccines have been produced in the EU, Russia, China, India and Cuba. These vaccines are mostly going to developing countries that cannot afford the corporate price tag of Pfizer and Moderna. The people of the world are healing themselves with or without the help of the U.S. The end of the unipolar world is exposed for all to see. This may be bad news for those who profit from the military-industrial complex, but it is good news for the rest of us. The indispensable country is no more.
Mumia has Covid-19
Mumia Abu-Jamal, a hero to many of us, and one of the best known political prisoners in the U.S. has contracted Covid-19. This is not surprising, since prisoners are more at risk than the rest of us due to crowded conditions and lack of medical care. There is a virtual rally for Mumia from 2-4pm Eastern time, Saturday, March 6 at https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10160949376387729&set=a.10152549519437729 Please make at least this minimal show of support for Mumia.
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