DEPARTMENTS
ANTI-WAR
DEATH PENALTY
ELECTIONS
ENVIRONMENT
GLBT ISSUES
HEMP
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
REVIEWS
|
Departments National Issues What They Should Fight For Meyerson encourages Democrats to "go to war against Democratic Wall Street elites," to win back the white working class through progressive economic policies. I completely agree, but want to quibble with how Meyerson proposes we do this. Meyerson begins by claiming that Democrats are all agreed that they presented a strong unified front in last year's elections, that "minorities are not complaining that the party's voter mobilization efforts were insufficient," that "Kerry was surely the strongest candidate in the Democratic field last year." Already, before he's begun his argument, Meyerson has lost a lot of activists. He goes on, quickly, before presenting data and arguments about economics, to prescribe positions on abortion, religion, and national security, without justifying them in any way. But, if, as Meyerson claims and I believe, the largest issue in the election was national security, surely advising us to "be for" national security is insufficient. Surely no one could have done that in the way that most militaro-centrist liberals understand it any better than did John Kerry. And yet, he lost to the constituencies that place the most emphasis on that issue: veterans, active military, and white people. He won among non-veterans/military and non-whites. Meyerson goes on to point out Kerry's weaknesses on economics. Meyerson's certainty that Kerry was "the strongest" candidate more than likely includes consideration of Kerry's support for the war – albeit qualified support that Kerry himself was not opposed to differing with at those moments when he did not unequivocally stand behind or renounce it, with certain qualifications and considerations. But that contortionist's performance was the result of trying to differ with an opponent while agreeing with him. I would urge Meyerson, and really the entire staff of the American Prospect, to consider applying to foreign affairs the same idea he applies to economics. That is, rather than continuing to lose with Republican Lite, develop distinct Democratic ideas and see how they play. The world, and our little corner of it, are being made measurably less safe by the Bush Administration. Terrorism has increased, not decreased. Illegal imperialistic ventures, whether launched with a Yippee Kai Yea or great reservations and careful diplomacy tend to DECREASE national security. So, yes, let's be "for" national security by taking steps to reduce warfare, weapons buildup, and antagonism. Let's promote alliances, build a department of peace, and craft agreements to eliminate arms. Let's work to boost the living standards of those struggling in the world. Let's make that "being for national security." As long as being for national security is understood as whatever the Republicans do, then being for it and against Republicans is doomed. On the economy, Meyerson comes halfway to where I'd like to see him. He supports strong stands against privatizing Social Security and against CAFTA. But he asks for a broader vision and has a hard time formulating it. Attempting to do so, he points to two likely gubernatorial candidates in New York and California, Eliot Spitzer and Phil Angelides. He praises them for taking on corporate power and abuse. And rightly so. But the victories they have won, as Meyerson describes them, are too arcane to be called a broad vision. And it's unclear what positions these candidates will take on many economic fronts. Before dumping our eggs in the baskets of two stand-ins for Kerry as our savior, we should develop what the platform is that we support. Then we can demand that our candidates support it, too, if they want to be our candidates. Such a platform would need to include strong opposition to CAFTA, but also repeal of NAFTA and withdrawal from the WTO, the creation of new, fair, bilateral agreements based around workers' rights and protection of the environment. Single-payer health care, restoration of the right to organize through the Employee Free Choice Act, restoration of value to the minimum wage, a jobs program building infrastructure and public transit and alternative energy facilities -- these would all be part of such a platform. So would serious investment in education, including free preschool and college. A tax policy in which corporations and millionaires pay their fair share would be key. Such a platform reaches beyond current debates and has the potential to attract the white rural working class, but only if they are part of developing and implementing it. And that will happen if we urbanites work with them to do so. Referring to "the God of justice" and banging our chests about national security will help us very little. --- David Swanson is a Board Member of Progressive Democrats of America (http://www.pdamerica.org). |
|
Recent National Issues Articles Rumsfeld admits to "ghosting" detainee A man without a country Impeach the Liar-in-Chief Bush wiretaps threaten national security Which Christmas is the 'War Against Christmas' against? Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project plans economic summit in New York City Fear of the devil It's time to impeach Bush for these blatant violations of the law December 3 in the USA: a partial report Bush spews more irresponsible rhetoric as senate Extends Patriot Act for Six Months The Constitution in Crisis report Privatize Me...Corporatize Me.... Blackwaterize Me... USA Patriot Act defeated: Libertarians celebrate victory The solution we aren't considering Panic attack Eugene McCarthy, prophet with honor The iron fist of Jesus Progressive primary challenge to Hilary aunched An invitation to a tea party Precarious lives Criminal trial related to California energy crisis may start soon Hey board members, leave our kids alone! A Congressman for impeachment Friday night Congress: what was that? Teach our children well Greenhouse School secures major art donation Parental guidance suggested Our mothers (and Thomas Paine) warned us about people like the disciples of Strauss Despite his demeanor, Rove's still a Target Armistice Day 2005 The Bush-Cheney ethics refresher course Vice President lied as White House sought to defuse leak inquiry 53% of Americans support impeachment; ImpeachPAC announced! I can't wait Nothing to Lose The real Rosa Parks How has it come to this? Bush's wheels falling off Miers, White House surrender to ultraconservatives Prosecutor secures indictment in CIA outing case, lawyers say Hard conversations about the big easy Coalition of 75 groups demand end to Pentagon's youth database Vice President's role in outing of CIA agent under examination, sources close to prosecutor say Hard questions about the big easy Times reporter entangled in leak case had unusual relationship with military, Iraqi group Try and catch the wind More from the stormfront gulf central A deep look at corruption culture Dems Go After Bennett, Salem Radio Network, FCC Bill Bennett’s comments emerge from an ideology that is classic white supremacy, Rev. Jesse Jackson says Why the nomination of Harriet has to be looked at below the radar In support of weakness on national security Bill Frist, The Former 2008 Presidential Candidate Winds of change blow through DC, Bush flees More New Orleans stories From the stormfront: experiencing Rita in New Orleans The GOP’s fiscal policies turned a natural disaster into a man-made catastrophe The Devil in the Details: Carter-Baker, California, and the Integrity of American Elections Hurricane Katrina-Our Experiences A Fraction of Democracy Bring back New Orleans: the politics of disaster Rev. Jackson Recommends a 21st Century Marshall Plan That Reinvests in the Gulf Coast Division of funeral corp. charged with desecrating corpses hired to collect deceased victims of hurricane Katrina FEMA Chief Brown paid millions in false claims to help Bush win Fla. votes Indefinite Detention Seems like more people died than prospered under Pres Bush’s leadership Politics, timing and the so-called terrorist Nuradin Abdi: the mall bomber who wasn't Paul Allen's other yacht Katrina: A tragedy made worse The President’s priorities: state of marriage took precedence over state of Louisiana Notes from inside New Orleans Rev. Jackson Makes Second Rescue Mission into New Orleans Bush Strafes New Orleans, Where's Huey Long? 911 in New Orleans Global Warming and Widespread Blackouts Are Just as Deadly as Terrorism The mothers are coming! Update from Leonard Peltier Leonard has been transferred to USP Lewisburg Against Discouragement Open Letter to Cindy Sheehan, Crawford, Texas Regarding the 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Lawyers, guns and money: Just put down that lawsuit, pardner, and no one gets hurt Forgotten Victims of America’s Plutocracy Spine, spine everywhere a spine Speaking truth to Roberts Business as usual with Judge Roberts; straight corporate, with Pepto-Bismol chaser The Record of Judge John Roberts The Enemy of Our Enemy May Still Be the Enemy of Democracy Mr. Rove and the Access of Evil: Tell Us Your "Source," Judy The Economy Turned the Corner and Is Headed in the Wrong Direction July 4th Declaration of Impeachment They Died for Their Country Energy adviser who solicited Enron to help write national energy policy to be named Chair of FERC Big Food Strikes Back; Ag industry aims to strip local control of food supplies The fantastical world of Studley McMuffin Counter-Recruitment: Preventing the Military from Getting More Youth for their Wars: An Interview with Counter-Recruitment Activist Clint Coppernoll A matter of education... Violations of Civil Liberties are an American Tradition Rumsfeld: Beyond the Point of No Return Peltier hearing to address Lakota Nation soverignty Extraordinarily rancid justices Former Army Sec, Enron VP, Thomas White Wants Gov't Funding For New Energy Project Imposing minority views When is Someone Going to Toss Rumsfeld into a Cage? Republicans: The Anti-Christian, Christian Party Watergate Proves That Even Presidents Will Break Laws To Achieve Goals Oral Histories of the 1970 Kent State Shootings Blurb: End the filibuster -- in 2015 The Beginning Of The End Of The Age Of Reason Nuking Democracy Conscientious Objection on Trial: The Court Martial of Keith Benderman Barnum on Steroids Mother’s Day Without Mom An Open Letter to Howard Dean Appeals Court Nominee Janice Rogers Brown Merits the Filibuster Activists Spur Historic Call to Exit Iraq John Bolton & the Battle for Reality Videos expose false arrests at 2004 Republican Convention protests in New York Wal-Mart's Free Market Fallacy Howard Dean Becomes Leader of the Other Pro-War Party; Dean on Iraq: “We're There and We Can't Get Out” You have to pick your team What They Should Fight For Vigilante Republicans Congresswoman Cynthia Mckinney Urges Reform of Voting Process at Historic Conference Abortion and Schiavo -- The stories we tell How and Why We're Working to Block the Bankruptcy Bill Statement on the Passing of Terri Schiavo Veterans for peace call for Congressional action to impeach George W. Bush and Richard Cheney Zealot and Proud of It Non Volunteers, Non-Recruiters, And A Non War Meet Your New FCC Chairman: Kevin Martin E.P.A. Nominee Supports Testing of Chemicals on Human Subjects A luncheon break with Michael Jackson Gannongate and Asian Pacific America I'd rather not say good-bye, Dan Free Trade and Frivolous Lawsuits Experiencing Hunter, Experiencing Death: A Eulogy The inevitability trap Bush’s Judicial Nominations are Hardly Mainstream Senators Clinton and Boxer, Representative Tubbs Jones and others unveil major election reform bill The difference between bi-partisanship and non-partisanship Bush & the Rise of 'Managed-Democracy' Yesterday's Gallup Poll Showing Bush Approval At 57% Had 9% More Republicans Than Democrats J20 Through my eyes Bush's Budget: The War on Working People Continues Bush’s Budget is at Odds With His Rhetoric Direct Action For Peace? State of the Union speech falls short, says Rev. Jesse Jackson The Black Perspective Save American Democracy: Curb Corporate Power Who's Paying for all this Freedom? Yes, there is a crisis in Social Security Agitation Time The 10 Worst Corporations of 2004 They Doth Protest Too Little Thousands take to the streets to oppose the inauguration of George W. Bush A Warm Oasis in a Snow Storm; The Progressive Democrat Summit in Washington The Politics of SpongeBob Mis-Defining Terrorism Marines stretching movement Bush’s Mythical Mandate and Social Security Piratization Happy Birthday Martin Luther King, Jr. Bush’s Choice for Energy Secretary Was One of Texas’ Top Five Worst Polluters Bush, God, Fox, and the International Criminal Court The real reason Bush wants to privatize Social Security CBS' cowardice and conflicts behind purge Bring them home -- Sooner rather than later Read National Issues Articles by Year: |
FREE PRESS EMAIL UPDATE
Donate to the Free Press Election Protection Fund to help us investigate and monitor election fraud in this year's election.
FOLLOW US ON
twitter
facebook
SEARCH THE FREEPRESS
1021 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43205 | 614.253.2571 | truth@freepress.org
All content © 1970-2012 The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer