The New Enlightenment

34 public policies that, if instituted, will create a fundamentally more just and democratic U.S. They are adaptable worldwide and, as a result, • Worker-owned and controlled businesses will perform most economic activity at the end of a 20-year transition period. • Worker-owned and controlled media companies will create a new and vigorous media culture, more responsive and accountable to the majority. • The dominating importance of private money in elections will end. • Average citizens in deliberative groups involving 0.1% of the citizenry will develop some public policies. • Social Security payments will increase by $500/month • We will institute much more progressive income tax rates and a highly progressive wealth tax. • Pollution taxes will both raise revenue and reduce pollution. • Corporate tax system reforms will raise much more taxes from corporate profits and inherently end tax haven abuse. • We will replace the estate tax with a highly progressive inheritance tax without forcing the sale of inherited family farms and other businesses. • We will institute a financial transactions tax. • We will have a much larger middle class.