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DESCRIPTION:PSL Forum and Discussion\nCapitalist Crisis and the California 
 Budget\nFriday, July 31, 7pm\n\nCalifornia is facing a budget deficit of 
 nearly $20 billion. Why are we facing this situation? Is it really because 
 there are no resources to pay for these basic needs? No! It is because 
 trillions of dollars are being used not to help our communities and the 
 people most in need but to save and reward the richest banks, insurance 
 companies and corporations that have created the worst economic crisis 
 since the Great Depression.\n\nPrior to the economic crisis, the state of 
 California covered its expenses from property taxes that soared during the 
 housing boom, the retail sales tax, payroll taxes and personal income 
 taxes. The state budget was drafted with the assumption that these revenues 
 would continue to rise. Once the housing crisis hit, the bottom fell out of 
 the state’s fiscal planning. To make matters worse, during the economic 
 boom, members of the legislature voted huge tax breaks for their friends in 
 big business. If the big businesses were paying taxes at the same rate they 
 did 20 years ago, there would be no state budget crisis at all!\n\nToday, 
 the debate in Sacramento is centered around how the shortfall will be 
 broken on the backs of working people. Ruling class politicians tell 
 working people that there is just no money, so we all have to brace for 
 difficult times. But the fact that the government can give trillions of 
 dollars of bail-out money to banks and corporations completely dispels the 
 claim that there is no money available for the people.\n\nHealth care is a 
 fundamental human right. Yet 47 million people in the United States have no 
 health care coverage whatsoever. Millions more have limited access to 
 health care services. The ruling class treats health care not as a right 
 but as a commodity that exists for the profit of pharmaceutical and 
 insurance company owners.\n\nThe economic crisis has exacerbated the health 
 care crisis. It has affected access to coverage as millions have lost their 
 jobs—directly losing health care or losing the income that paid for 
 health care.\nWhile workers are losing jobs, insurance, homes and savings, 
 the Obama administration has expressed no obligation, let alone any urgency 
 in fulfilling the right to health care. Such urgency has applied to bailing 
 out bankers, CEOs, and the capitalist class—who caused the crisis. They 
 have been the recipients of the most massive transfer of wealth from the 
 working class to the ruling class in history.\n\nWhat the administration 
 has done is initiate a debate on health care reform. However, that debate 
 falls far short, because it fails to recognize health care as a right and 
 seeks to protect the profits of the health care industry. Single-payer 
 health care—a comprehensive, public plan for covering every person in the 
 United States—is the only currently proposed reform that could move 
 towards a solution of the U.S. health care crisis.\n\nHear reports on a 
 socialist perspective on the California budget crisis, the health care 
 crisis, why the capitalist state continues to fail working people in 
 delivering the most basic necessities, and how to fight against continued 
 attacks on people’s basic rights.\n\n\nFor more info, or to reserve free 
 childcare (please call at least one day in advance if you would like 
 childcare) contact PSL at 415-821-6171.\n\nCheck out our 
 website:\nhttp://www.pslweb.org/\nDaily News & Analysis from a Marxist 
 Perspective\n\nThe Party for Socialism and Liberation has a website filled 
 with great political material from a Marxist perspective. On it, you can 
 get news and analysis, breaking stories, learn about PSL events across the 
 country, download audio and video and other political resources, find out 
 how to get involved with the PSL and much more. Go to the website and look 
 around, bookmark it and share it with your friends and family. Check 
 http://www.pslweb.org/ each day for updated information and news. Make 
 socialism a part of your everyday life!\n\nSubscribe to\nSocialism and 
 Liberation Journal\nand check out our bi-weekly 
 newspaper\nhttp://www.pslweb.org/\nDaily News & Analysis from a Marxist 
 Perspective\n\nSocialism and Liberation Journal is a quarterly publication 
 for activists by activists. Get a Marxist analysis of the critical 
 political developments of the day, reports on liberation struggles around 
 the world, and educational articles with content that every activist should 
 learn. Go to http://www.pslweb.org/ to read current selections and back 
 issues and to find out how to subscribe. Liberation is our biweekly 
 newspaper. Go to http://www.pslweb.org/ to read it and find out more about 
 the working class struggle.\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/07/27/18612697.php
SUMMARY:PSL Forum: Capitalist Crisis and the California Budget
LOCATION:2489 Mission St. Rm. 28, San Francisco\n$3 - $5 donation requested, no one 
 turned away for lack of funds.\n(Refreshments served. Cross street 21st. 
 Near 24th St. BART. MUNI #14, 49, 26. Parking garage located one block west 
 on 21st. St. btwn. Mission & Valencia, parking cost $2/hr.)\n
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/07/27/18612697.php
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