Given yesterday’s headline that the American economy pulled out of recession in 2009, many people feel abandoned and angry. They’re out of work, mired in debt and facing homelessness at record levels according to recent reports. Accordingly, we have compiled a list of 10 measures the federal and state governments could implement right now to address the needs of those burdened the most by the recession. Most of the proposed measures will sound extreme and impractical to some readers. However, those readers should keep in mind that we are living in extreme times and our current spending on national security, war and the industrial-prison complex at the expense of domestic spending is impractical.
1. Reverse all foreclosures in the hardest hit urban communities, place the original title holders back in their homes, and restore the equity that was lost due to sham construction loans, elderly abuse, sub-prime lending, etc.: such a measure would not only punish the real wrong-doers, but would immediately rejuvenate now blighted communities and replenish tax coffers by putting families back in their homes and restoring their stolen wealth.
2. Ban the usage of credit histories, bankruptcy filings, real estate liens, tax liens and other financial records in employee screening: such a measure would protect vulnerable groups such as divorced woman, minorities and the poor from being unilaterally excluded from employment.
3. Allow “in pro per” plaintiffs to collect attorneys’ fees and lift the penalty caps consumer law matters: such a measure would place individuals on equal footing with businesses in the court system.
4. Require a judgment on the merits in a court of law before a non-mortgage related lien can be placed on real property: this measure would insure that any mechanics, utility, tax or other liens are legitimate and not the result of someone merely filing notarized paper work with a county recorder.
5. Ban the use of non-violent crime records in employee screening and require mandatory expungement of non-violent criminal records from public records after release from jail: this would allow rehabilitated non-violent ex-criminals to find employment.
6. Require “for-cause termination” at work: such a measure would give employees notice that improvement is needed in specified areas and would allow said employee time to make improvements.
7. Require commercial vendors of personal data such as PeopleSmart and Experian to issue to persons free, full and comprehensive reports of all the data in their systems to each individual listed in their databases whenever new information is added: such a measure would insure that these companies maintain accurate records and would prevent the extortion of money from those who merely want to make sure the information listed is accurate.
8. Require that commercial vendors of personal data first obtain an “opt-in” from every person (and his/her estate) whose information is included in the system; such a measure would protect individuals from privacy invasions, and would insure that these companies are not profiting from the stories of living people without compensating them for using their likeness in a commercial endeavor.
9. Eliminate mandatory minimum tax and late filing penalties for businesses that earned no income: such a measure would prevent unearned, unconscionable state and federal tax windfalls at the expense of poor and struggling mom and pop small businesses.
10. Ban the privatization of public parking enforcement: this would insure that city workers remain employed and that cash-cow parking fees go to the public treasury.