Did You Know

The 300,000 new jobs created in March, 2004, heralded by Bush as evidence of the success of his tax cuts, were mostly in the low-paying service sector; manufacturing jobs did not increase at all.

¤ In April 2003, Bush visited a Timken Company manufacturing plant in Ohio. Assuring workers that his tax cuts would help the economy, he stated: "[T]he future of this company is bright and therefore, the future of employment is bright for the families that work here." That same factory is now closing -- putting about 1,300 people out of work and devastating the local community.

¤ On average, one year’s income for a U.S. worker equals one day’s income for a U.S. CEO. Since 1980, annual income for an average full-time production, non-supervisory worker increased $159; yearly income for an average CEO increased $6.7 million.

¤ Due to cuts in capital-gains and dividend taxes, Bush Cabinet members will save an average of $42,000 this year. The median U.S. household income in 2002 was $42,409. Families making over $1 million in 2004 will enjoy an average tax cut of $123,600. Middle-class families will receive an average tax cut of $647.

¤ The cost of the Bush tax cuts in 2004 is enough to give $93,793 to each of the 2.9 million people who’ve lost their jobs since he took office. Since 2002, Bush has given away $197 billion in tax cuts to the top 1% of U.S. taxpayers. Current state budget shortfalls are estimated at $200 billion.

¤ Bush’s budget proposes to cut over $1 billion (12 percent) from Section 8 housing funds in 2005.

¤ The Bush Administration underfunded its education bill by $9 billion. Such unfunded mandates force states and municipalities to either raise property taxes or to cut services and fire teachers.

¤ Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest military contractor, had $69.1 billion in military contracts in 2002-2003. Lockheed VP Bruce Jackson was a finance chair of the Bush for President campaign.

¤ For the cost of one Trident submarine (the U.S. has 18), 40,000 homeless people could be adequately housed.

¤ The world’s nations spend $1 trillion on the military annually. One quarter of that could: provide clean water for all who need it, and provide shelter for all who need it, and eliminate starvation and malnutrition, and provide healthcare for all, and stop soil erosion and deforestation, and stabilize world population.