Sanders and Clinton currently agree on the following:
1) National minimum wage should be raised to AT LEAST 12%;
2) Full implementation of the Dream Act and legal path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants;
3) Ending mass incarceration and institutional racism. 4) support for Labor Law Reform;
4)raising taxes on the wealthy;
5) big investments in education -- either free, or heavily subsidized college expenses and reform of student loan interest rates;
6) Big investments in infrastructure;
7) vigorous investments in energy conversion and support for climate change action;
8) caution or opposition in support of trade agreements where workers jobs are at risk;
9) substantial increases in taxes on wealth and Wall Street, and an agreement that too-big-to-fail corps need to be broken up;
10) strengthen social security, not weaken it;
11) guaranteed family leave.
On most of these questions, not all, Sanders proposals go farther, but it seems to me there is VERY LARGE room for common ground. Sanders has said, and I completely agree with him on this: "No president -- including Sanders -- can overcome the power of wealth and the billionaire reactionary caucus without mass movements of the people." That remains true no matter who is president. We need a 1000 Sanders-style candidacies in every state, not just a national one.
I have not re-read Obama's agenda from 2008 in detail, but I think the already agreed common ground is more progressive than any in memory.
That leaves foreign policy. Clinton is worse, IMO, there. I do not support her pro Israeli position, nor her desire to intervene militarily in Syria and Ukraine. At the same time, I confess my little bag of tools (basically an imperial vs anti-imperial framework) I have used since the 60's to try and understand foreign policy does not explain much anymore in the era of globalization. They don't get me to practical solutions. -- Nor do I have any different road map. I tend to find Bernie's approach -- who on foreign policy seems closer to Obama than Hillary -- resisting intervention, a more balanced approach to Israel and the Mideast, and a truer path to a much smaller military budget footprint.
Nonetheless, despite these differences, I believe if we close ranks on the common ground, the Rs CAN be crushed in NOvember. Sweet Jesus let that be true!!!Trump has provided a Sterling opportunity that we will be criminal morons not to take advantage of; and heroes to the latest generation if do our duty and save our country from the catastrophe that the R corruptions have wrought.
If Congress and the Senate and the Presidency can be won -- then the remaining arguments, discussions, negotiations, etc between progressive and centrist, working class and liberal forces can HAVE A REAL AND PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE LIVES OF WORKING PEOPLE. LETS DO IT. LEAVE BEHIND THE PLAGUE OF SECTARIANISM!
John Case
Harpers Ferry, WV
Harpers Ferry, WV
The Winners and Losers Radio Show
7-9 AM Weekdays, WSHC-Listen Live, Shepherd University
Sign UP HERE to get the Weekly Program Notes.
No comments:
Post a Comment