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Tax Day Protest in Palo Alto Targets Apple Too

by Action League
Palo Alto's traditional Tax Day protests against military spending vibrated the city's downtown in a bigger way than usual this year. Rallies rocked in both of Palo Alto's large plazas and a march afterwards swung by the Apple store on University Ave. Some of the demonstrators sang songs in front of the store, then entered the establishment with their demand: hi tech firms, stop donating to the Republican party now!
sm_taxcrowdbyhal.jpg
Palo Alto's traditional Tax Day protests against military spending vibrated the city's downtown in a bigger way than usual this year. Rallies rocked in both of Palo Alto's large plazas with a march afterwards that swung by the Apple store. Protesters stopped for over an hour in front of the store and then went inside. There they lambasted hi tech firms, including Apple, for supporting the Republican party.

This year's protest was against Trump's refusal to release his tax returns as well as his Pentagon-spending increase. Demonstrators said his unauthorized and illegal acts of war are drawing us closer to World War III, and his lack of transparency about his taxes is indication that he has a lot to hide.

The Raging Grannies led the protest in front of the Apple store, then led demonstrators inside the store. In song they asked why Tim Cook contributed money to Speaker Ryan and demanded that the corporation not betray principles of justice. Employees were encouraged to sign a petition sponsored by the group Unseat.
§Chicken don
by Action League
sm_taxapplechickenbyhal.jpg
Sounds like a Japanese dish with chicken and rice in a bowl. But it means Don(ald) Trump is too chicken to show his taxes. This was featured item in rally at Lytton Plaza. In this rally alone there were over 400 people. More people participated in a rally in MLK Jr. Plaza.
§Raging Grannies outside Apple
by Action League
sm_appletaxmbwa4fbgu.jpg
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by Marty Hart-Landsberg
Millions of people count on Social Security for their survival. Over 60 percent of seniors rely on Social Security payments for at least half their income. Approximately one-third of seniors rely on Social Security payments for at least 90 percent of their income.

http://news.streetroots.org/2017/04/17/social-security-works-don-t-let-trump-destroy-it

Not surprisingly, a strong majority of Americans support doing whatever it takes to ensure Social Security’s future. A 2014 survey sponsored by the National Academy of Social Insurance found that 86 percent of those polled believed that “current Social Security benefits do not provide enough income for retirees,” 72 percent favored “raising future Social Security benefits in order to provide a more secure retirement for working Americans,” and 83 percent agreed that “it is critical to preserve Social Security benefits for future generations, even if it means increasing taxes paid by top earners.”

In sum, Social Security is not in crisis. It is a strong program, and if necessary, a simple reform can ensure its continuing smooth operation for the foreseeable future. In fact, two bills have recently been introduced to do just that. The Social Security Expansion Act and the Social Security 2011 Act both include new taxes on high-income earners, higher minimum benefit levels, and use of a new senior-oriented consumer price index for calculating yearly benefit increases. The Social Security Expansion Act is projected to extend the system’s solvency by 60 years; the Social Security 2011 Act by 75 years.

What does need our attention is the broader workings of our economy. Among the most pressing issues is the disappearance of secure, well-paying jobs. In fact, a growing number of analysts worry that the labor market has become so bad for workers that we may be facing the end of retirement; low pay and the lack of benefits will force people to work until they literally drop. That we have come to this point is the real crisis.

Martin Hart-Landsberg is a professor of economics emeritus at Lewis and Clark College. Street Smart Economics is a periodic series written by professors emeriti in economics for Street Roots.
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