- Re-establish the depression era WPA to reduce the current severe unemployment. Focus on public infrastructure projects i.e. bridges, roads, schools, water treatment plants, upgrading railroad tracks to accommodate high speed trains, expand commercial railroad operations to reduce truck traffic on the nation's roads.
- Reduce the prison population by paroling all non-violent offenders and those sentenced for drug violations. Expand drug rehabilitation centers as alternatives to incarceration.
- Grant amnesty to all current illegal aliens with children born in the U.S. Grant all other illegal aliens temporary amnesty if they agree to follow a path toward U.S. citizenship.
- Reduce the cost of college student loans with zero percent interest rates and eliminate repayment for all who work in public service i.e. public education, social service, Peace Corps, et al for a minimum of three years after graduation.
- Establish apprenticeship programs for non-college bound students in the construction trades i.e. carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, masonry, fire suppression, elevator installation and maintenance and the like, utilizing existing contractor companies and offering tax break incentives for them to hire and take on such apprentices.
- Engage in fair trade with other countries that abide by their workers, pay them fair compensation in non slave like conditions and not trade with countries that do engage in these practices.
All the aforementioned recommendations were not meant to be interpreted as an exhaustive and comprehensive list of necessary changes to bring about a fairer and more just society. Omissions were inevitable.
But the occupy movement in just over six weeks is revolutionizing thinking in ways thought impossible, unrealistic, too altruistic and naà ¯ve not that long ago.
So the spirit of this piece should be seen as an attempt to suggest changes that could help usher in a more just and egalitarian society that would replace our current corrupt plutocracy of rich oligarchs.
Let's remember this country, even with its faults, was once the beacon to the world and the Statue of Liberty with its inscription, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free-- says it all.
We need to re-establish this country as an island of hope, not some fear obsessed, reactionary society threatened by "others" in the world. That's one of the important things that has resulted from the occupy movement; its sense of honesty, integrity, non violence, fairness and justice that represents the 99% of the people.
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