Frankly, I wish I had a better way to process my thinking than a web log. That's nothing against web logs. In fact, thank goodness for them, say I. And if a parceled-out essay on what we should do now is the only way to present the facts, so be it.
What concerns me is the inadequacy of the Democratic approach. In point of fact, the Democratic Party has no coherent approach at this point. Having toyed with "new" Democrats, a "third way," and such compromises with big business, the Democrats have no true alternative to the Republican laissez-faire philosophy. This used to be known as the "What's good for General Motors is good for America" approach to governing. The role of government was, and for the Republicans, especially and also for too many Democrats still is, Let business roll on doing what it does best and the government should get out of the way.
What the Depression showed was the fallacy of this philosophy. We are now marking the 80th anniversary of a period, little-known now, called The Second Hundred Days. This was the opening of the first Congress elected after FDR took office. As David McCullough explains in Truman, the emergency legislation to help feed people had been passed. Now it was time for reform, to try to prevent the Depression from ever recurring. Legislation such as a bill to regulate price-gouging by utility companies became law. One of the numerous Democrats to vote for such legislation was the new Senator from Missouri, Harry S. Truman. More legislation to protect the average citizen was on its way.
I propose a grand celebration of the Second Hundred Days. Such a celebration can both educate and inspire. For instance, why cannot Democrats propose a strengthening of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, to prevent such media megaliths as Comcast/NBC? (Even Lenin knew the first step to a revolution was getting control of the media.) Then can come a baring of the true purpose of the likes of Koch & Koch, and Scaife. Surely, powerful and wealthy Hollywood denizens can fund such an effort.
There is so much more to be done. The accomplishments of Democrats since 2009 can be touted. A careful but aggressive defense of the Affordable Care Act can be made. This is a perfect time to advocate "Mend It, Don't End It." (What is Dick Morris doing now? -- just asking)
More -- a pro-active effort needs to be made to strengthen and expand Social Security, one of the greatest accomplishments of the 1935 Congressional session. Organized efforts to expand Social Security are already underway.
But, most importantly, there needs to be a much stronger emphasis put on good American jobs. We need to bring jobs back home. Pay needs to go up.
And I haven't mentioned doing something about "underwater" mortgages -- or reclaiming the people's power over the banks through a restoration of Glass-Steagall.
With a program like this, a Hillary Clinton presidency needs a great deal of justifying. For Mrs. Clinton, for all her value and valor, could find herself in the middle of an economic melt-down (there are signs of this), without a program. Would she be independent enough of big-money sources, to get the job done?
And, importantly, what in God's name is to be done to lift people's spirits *now*? Am I going to be thrilled by the Clinton announcement next month? Or will I see another soap-selling job with merely window-dressing for a people's economic agenda?
What concerns me is the inadequacy of the Democratic approach. In point of fact, the Democratic Party has no coherent approach at this point. Having toyed with "new" Democrats, a "third way," and such compromises with big business, the Democrats have no true alternative to the Republican laissez-faire philosophy. This used to be known as the "What's good for General Motors is good for America" approach to governing. The role of government was, and for the Republicans, especially and also for too many Democrats still is, Let business roll on doing what it does best and the government should get out of the way.
What the Depression showed was the fallacy of this philosophy. We are now marking the 80th anniversary of a period, little-known now, called The Second Hundred Days. This was the opening of the first Congress elected after FDR took office. As David McCullough explains in Truman, the emergency legislation to help feed people had been passed. Now it was time for reform, to try to prevent the Depression from ever recurring. Legislation such as a bill to regulate price-gouging by utility companies became law. One of the numerous Democrats to vote for such legislation was the new Senator from Missouri, Harry S. Truman. More legislation to protect the average citizen was on its way.
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| Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt |
There is so much more to be done. The accomplishments of Democrats since 2009 can be touted. A careful but aggressive defense of the Affordable Care Act can be made. This is a perfect time to advocate "Mend It, Don't End It." (What is Dick Morris doing now? -- just asking)
More -- a pro-active effort needs to be made to strengthen and expand Social Security, one of the greatest accomplishments of the 1935 Congressional session. Organized efforts to expand Social Security are already underway.
But, most importantly, there needs to be a much stronger emphasis put on good American jobs. We need to bring jobs back home. Pay needs to go up.
And I haven't mentioned doing something about "underwater" mortgages -- or reclaiming the people's power over the banks through a restoration of Glass-Steagall.
With a program like this, a Hillary Clinton presidency needs a great deal of justifying. For Mrs. Clinton, for all her value and valor, could find herself in the middle of an economic melt-down (there are signs of this), without a program. Would she be independent enough of big-money sources, to get the job done?
And, importantly, what in God's name is to be done to lift people's spirits *now*? Am I going to be thrilled by the Clinton announcement next month? Or will I see another soap-selling job with merely window-dressing for a people's economic agenda?
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