PDA at the Inaugural Peace Ball (video)
No, this is not a picture of the Peace Ball. I was just trying to get your attention. That's Barack and Michelle, of course.
After the jump, check out Loneprotestor's video of the Peace Ball.
Progressive Democrats of America
11 European countries pass Robin Hood Tax on financial transactions
Eleven European countries, who collectively account for two-thirds of the EU's economy, have passed a new financial transaction tax.
Also known as the Robin Hood Tax in the US, a financial transaction tax charges a small percentage fee for every stock market deal. The new European law will charge a rate of 0.1% on any trade of shares or bonds and 0.01% on any financial derivative contract, according to an article in Think Progress. These tiny percentages would raise an estimated 57 billion euros per year if all 27 of the European countries adopted the law. (At an exchange rate of 1 EU = $1.33, that is an estimated $75.8 billion in US dollars per year of revenue generation.) In addition to raising funds, the financial transaction tax discourages speculative computerized trading. Also know as "rent seeking," computers are set up to buy stocks and sell them quickly– sometimes when the profit is just pennies. If you do enough of this automated micro-trading, you can make a bundle of money; but this speculative behavior adds volitility to the market and produces nothing except fot the gamblers who are in the game. The Ed Schultz Show has a great explanation here.
In all, 40 countries worldwide have adopted a financial transaction tax. The 11 countries who have passed the Robin Hood Tax recently include two European powerhouses– Germany and France– plus Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece, and Estonia. The financial problems facing Greece, Spain, and Italy have been in the news for years. This tax will help cash-strapped governments to become more stable.
Gosh, what other country is facing dire financial choices and needs an infusion of cash? Find out how the Robin Hood Tax would help the US economy after the jump.
Mr Parraz goes to Washington (video)
This past Saturday, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) sponsored the People's Inauguration in Washington, DC.
Citizens for a Better Arizona leader Randy Parraz was one of the speakers. Thanks to Loneprotestor, you can see a video of his speech after the jump.
PDA Tucson’s Phil Lopes runs for Dem Party Vice Chair
On Saturday, January 26, 2013, the Arizona Democratic Party will hold its reorganization meeting in Phoenix. New state party officers will be elected by elected precinct committee (PC) people. If you are a progressive and an elected, please consider voting for Phil Lopes. If you are a PC and can't make the meeting, contact your legislative district chair and give someone your proxy vote. Here is the proxy form.
Below is Lopes' candidate statement…
Phil Lopes for Vice Chair
Dear AZ State Democratic Committee member,This letter is to ask for your vote for the position of Vice-Chair of the AZ Democratic Party. I would be honored to have your support and vote. I am running for Vice-Chair to:
- strengthen the party, especially in public policy advocacy, and,
- to improve the public’s perception of the Party
PDA People’s Inauguration live– NOW
by Pamela Powers Hannley The People's Inauguration– sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America (PDA)– is live streaming now here. Great stuff– War on Poverty, immigration reform, organizing the unemployed, Robin Hood Tax, eminent domain for economic development. Jesse Jackson, Randy Parraz, Congressman John Conyers, and labor leaders just spoke. Randy Parraz: "Change is coming to … Read more