12 Steps to Realizing the U.S.'s New Populist Movement

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/12-key-steps-realizing-uss-new-populist-movement



1. Revive Sustainable Economic Growth, Creating Jobs for All.

In the turbulent months after the economic collapse the rallying cry was jobs. Grass-roots citizen organizations and think tanks agitated publicly for a big, bold economic recovery program based on investing in getting Americans back to work. This organizing helped build momentum to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in February of 2009. Citizen and labor groups held demonstrations at aging bridges and schools in hundreds of communities, making the point that America has lots of needs for investments that would put people to work immediately, while making our economy more productive for the long term. The Recovery Act succeeded in stopping America's plunge into a deep recession, but should have been seen as only a first step toward economic revival.

***SNIP

2. Invest in America's Infrastructure and in New Jobs for the 21st Century.

Immediate action to stimulate growth and achieve full employment is the number one priority of most Americans. But when we ask the experts and elected officials what will drive long-term job creation, too many turn pessimistic, mumbling warnings about globalization, the rise of technology, and the failure of the U.S. education system. We know from bitter experience that conservative "growth plans" — tax cuts, austerity and deregulation — don't work. They lead only to speculative booms, growing inequality, and then financial collapse.

***SNIP


3. Make Work Pay — and Fight to Reduce Inequality in America.

Across America over the past two years, underpaid fast food workers have bravely engaged in rolling strikes to launch a protest movement with a simple compelling goal: no American who works full time should raise a family in poverty. Workers at OUR Walmart (Organization United for Respect at Walmart) have been publicly demanding justice and fair pay for low-wage employees at the world's second-largest corporation. And a massive nationwide organizing campaign is pressuring Congress to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 and to index it to inflation.

***SNIP

4. If the Rising American Electorate Succeeds, America Succeeds.

The face of America is changing: African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, women and young people all depend on a robust economy to achieve their economic goals and to support their families. But all of these groups have suffered from discrimination in the workforce that limits the ability of many to get good jobs, earn a living wage, or fully contribute to the economy. In their demands for an economy that works for all of us, representing the "rising American electorate, they represent a powerful and growing populist force.

[CJCRANE]

1. K&R.

[LiberalAndProud]

2. That's an impressive agenda.

But if we don't pay attention in 2014, the elections in 2016 may be too far away. Now is our time.

[NuttyFluffers]

3. good winning ideas.

a full throated offense supporting the people is what we need right now, and the more angles of populist attack the better.

[xchrom]

4. you can't win a war if you don't start one. nt

[NuttyFluffers]

5. and you can't survive when refusing to recognize being attacked.

bipartisanship is dead, and has been dead since 1989. read david brock apologetic confessional & others to see how the hardline anti-communist right had to rebuild a new boogeyman to keep their whipped up base. they turned their aim inward, inside our own country itself, to leftist dems and have been fighting a holy war ever since.

the new civil war has been raging for at least a quarter century now, time for sleeping beauties to wake up.

[Savannahmann]

6. Here's why Democrats won't do it.

The first problem is the economic issues. It isn't just minimum wage. It isn't just inequality. It's the jobs that make the economy work. Blue collar jobs in manufacturing and in support. I'll explain what I mean by support instead of service in a moment.

Ford and GM have invested huge amounts of money in their Mexican facilities. At the same time, Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW, and Kia have invested in operations domestically. So we know that it is profitable to run a factory in the United States, because the "foreign" companies do it. So why can't the American companies operate their facilities profitably? Volkswagen for example is a diversified company producing a number of products from high end super-cars, to economical family cars through their many subsidiaries. GM by comparison tries to have all of that in the one name.

I mentioned support. Look at Yacht Maintenance. There are some small yards scattered here and there that do yacht repairs and refits, but nothing major, nothing like what is easily found overseas. On the island of Malta for example, there is a new and very busy Yacht refit yard which is state of the art. Why can't we have something like that here? Are you suggesting that the quality of work from a yard in Malta would be superior to the work done here? Yes I am well aware of the ecological impact of yachts, but we're not going to eliminate them, and they are not all gigantic super vessels that dwarf destroyers and cruisers. Some are fairly small, family oriented vacation boats, or even retirees. Why not crank up a yacht yard which would incorporate wind and solar power during the refit? Blue collar jobs in working on the yacht, state of the art technology incorporated into the boats, and the chance to further the science of green earth.

But what is the biggest thing holding us back as a party in incorporating those twelve steps to success? It is our determination to avoid bad news from sticking to our elected officials. 55 million people are unemployed and uncounted. That is our Government saying that 1/6th of the population doesn't count. We are afraid of what would happen if we counted those people, and so our Democratic party elected officials ignore them as completely as possible. We talk about full employment, but we can't get there if there are no jobs, and to get jobs, we have to start cutting the trade agreements instead of negotiating new ones.

Look at the NSA/FBI/DHS/all of the above spying stuff as an example of the determination to avoid bad news from sticking to us. The first excuse we heard was we had to do all that spying because if we didn't, and an attack happened, we would be blamed. Attacks happened, and we weren't blamed by anyone except the fringe lunatics who blame us if it rains, or if it doesn't. So by washing our hands of thte situation, we allow others to define and debate it without us. Do you realize what that is doing to our party? When Paul Ryan can go to Berkeley and get donations, and a standing ovation talking about issues that had been traditionally ours, defense of the civil rights, you know that we have screwed up somewhere.

There is a simple thing going on. It is best explained by the analogy of the Doctor and the terminal patient. Option A has the Doctor telling the patient. "My you're looking better today, you're going to be fine, wait and see." Option B has the Doctor telling the patient. "You're not going to make it, and there's nothing I can do."

We are choosing Option A. 55 million Americans out of work and un counted. Look at our great unemployment numbers, the recovery is in full swing. We're doing great aren't we? The Stock Market playground for the rich is zooming right ahead, and isn't that great? For those who aren't doing great we tell them this is the "New Normal" which is about as insulting as you can get. For that to work, we have to say fuck you poor people, I got mine, you're just stupid, unlucky, or lazy, or something. Do you realize what happens if that does become the new normal? THAT IS THE BATTLECRY OF THE FUCKING REPUBLICAN PARTY!

So we won't do those things, because it would mean that Democrats would have to admit that the economy is not doing wonderfully.

[myrna minx]

7. K&R.

[senseandsensibility]

8. k and r

Worthy goals, indeed.