Renewing the American Dream requires opportunity. Opportunity for work. Opportunity to get a job.
Unfortunately, we are obviously beset by a crises in the lack of jobs (not to mention good jobs).
In looking to solutions, there is this troubling message about claiming that "the government can't create jobs."
Clearly, this claim flies in the face of history and reality:
The Government Can Create Jobs | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG
It also flies in the face of the fact that the alternative job creator that is suggested we should rely upon -- private industry -- is creating a woefully inadequate number of jobs currently. Furthermore, it is clear that we cannot depend on it to do so anytime soon as long as exists the economic reality of depressed demand for their products and services. And that demand will not rise as long as average Americans -- the long-neglected middle class and 99% -- continue to suffer through chronic joblessness, underemployment, and wage stagnation. It is a vicious cycle (which will not be fixed by the other big deception: that somehow "less regulation" and "lower corporate taxes" will somehow spur job growth).
One thing that would really help to take us out of this viciousness is a WPA-CCC type government jobs program. There are plenty of jobs that need to be done -- from repairing bridges to cleaning up parks -- and personally I am convinced that not only would the unemployed by happy to be able to earn some real wages, but most Americans would be happy to see tax dollars to something so worthwhile.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
The Ongoing Price of 9/11
This sums up some of the most important facts surrounding the wars and defense budgets since 9/11:
Anthony Gregory: The Priceless Price of the Post-9/11 Decade
The only thing missing here is the answer to the question: what do we do now?
The additional fact is that we can make ourselves more secure, and have the forces to combat the real 21st century threats to this country, while savings hundreds of billions a year. Well respected and thoughtful individuals and groups have studied the issue and offer some suggestions for how to proceed:
http://www.cdi.org/program/index.cfm?programid=37
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/10/barney_frank_ron_paul_and_55_o.html
What stands in the way is a military-industrial complex, a group of powerful and wealthy interests that are using their influence to get their way in Congress -- whether or not those decisions are indeed in the best interests of our armed services or our country.
Certainly, we need to eliminate the military trappings, systems, and weapons that were designed for the large-scale conventional and nuclear wars that were planned for during the Cold War of the last century, but which contribute nothing -- and in fact detract -- from our ability to fight the conflicts of the new century. This includes main battle tanks, pursuing numerous advanced stealthy bombers and fighters, nuclear submarines, and maintaining so many (11) carrier battle groups. It also includes our massive nuclear arsenals and network of hundreds of military bases around the globe -- in addition to our wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan -- are not only unnecessary and expensive, but actually make us less safe, contributing to resentment of American military presence. The increasingly costly and unwise use of mercenary forces ("independent contractors") must be ended as well.
At the same time, we need to renew focus on defending us from the real threat posed by militant violent Islamacism. In combating this threat on the modern "battlefield," we must have the special forces, asymmetrical (non-traditional conventional) forces, and intelligence forces sufficient to do so. However, we must also better acknowledge that non-military means are at least as effective in opposing, diffusing, and reducing this threat.
In addition, not only must better provision be made to ensure that those on the battlefield have the equipment they need -- it is unacceptable to ever send soldiers and Marines into combat without proper body armor or armoured vehicles -- but our veterans must be honored with the medical (included mental health care) they need, as well as more adequate assistance with paying for education and obtaining employment in the civilian sector.
In a broader sense, a government and society which such a massive focus on militarism and war-fighting (we do, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, at the very least because we spend as much on the military as the rest of the world combined), is not conducive or compatible with either democracy or fulfillment of the American Dream. Our current levels of military spending are not sustainable. We need to not only face this reality, but do something about it, before it is too late.
Anthony Gregory: The Priceless Price of the Post-9/11 Decade
The only thing missing here is the answer to the question: what do we do now?
The additional fact is that we can make ourselves more secure, and have the forces to combat the real 21st century threats to this country, while savings hundreds of billions a year. Well respected and thoughtful individuals and groups have studied the issue and offer some suggestions for how to proceed:
http://www.cdi.org/program/index.cfm?programid=37
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/10/barney_frank_ron_paul_and_55_o.html
What stands in the way is a military-industrial complex, a group of powerful and wealthy interests that are using their influence to get their way in Congress -- whether or not those decisions are indeed in the best interests of our armed services or our country.
Certainly, we need to eliminate the military trappings, systems, and weapons that were designed for the large-scale conventional and nuclear wars that were planned for during the Cold War of the last century, but which contribute nothing -- and in fact detract -- from our ability to fight the conflicts of the new century. This includes main battle tanks, pursuing numerous advanced stealthy bombers and fighters, nuclear submarines, and maintaining so many (11) carrier battle groups. It also includes our massive nuclear arsenals and network of hundreds of military bases around the globe -- in addition to our wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan -- are not only unnecessary and expensive, but actually make us less safe, contributing to resentment of American military presence. The increasingly costly and unwise use of mercenary forces ("independent contractors") must be ended as well.
At the same time, we need to renew focus on defending us from the real threat posed by militant violent Islamacism. In combating this threat on the modern "battlefield," we must have the special forces, asymmetrical (non-traditional conventional) forces, and intelligence forces sufficient to do so. However, we must also better acknowledge that non-military means are at least as effective in opposing, diffusing, and reducing this threat.
In addition, not only must better provision be made to ensure that those on the battlefield have the equipment they need -- it is unacceptable to ever send soldiers and Marines into combat without proper body armor or armoured vehicles -- but our veterans must be honored with the medical (included mental health care) they need, as well as more adequate assistance with paying for education and obtaining employment in the civilian sector.
In a broader sense, a government and society which such a massive focus on militarism and war-fighting (we do, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, at the very least because we spend as much on the military as the rest of the world combined), is not conducive or compatible with either democracy or fulfillment of the American Dream. Our current levels of military spending are not sustainable. We need to not only face this reality, but do something about it, before it is too late.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The Exploration of Space and the American Dream
AFP: Astronauts brace for emotional shuttle landing
Unfortunately, along with the shuttle, we are going to lose so much of our experience and expertise in space exploration. We are instead left with an uncertain future.
This uncertainty is due to no small part to a decade marked by a lack of leadership. We are beset by presidents more concerned with launching missiles to destroy our fellow human beings than with building the rockets that will help lift humankind up in a spirit of cooperation; more committed to spending hundreds of billions on destruction than a relative paltry sum on exploration; more focused on sending talented, devoted Americans off to be maimed and scarred forever, rather than on missions that leave us all with a legacy of hope and wonder.
We must demand a future devoted to our best instincts and values, rather than plagued with war and death.
The dream of space exploration has become inextricably woven into the American Dream. To lose it, we lose a piece of ourselves. For even though a relative few have ventured into the heavens, they have take all of us with them. Whether it's the display of bravery or the hope of discovery, the lure of the unknown or the frontiers of science, the human story or the history of the universe, we are drawn into the spectacular drama of it all. It embodies so much of the best of our values as Americans, as well as the best of humanity. Especially when the course is laid through the efforts of individuals heralding from all corners of our Earth.
In our fascination with spaceflight, we all capture a youthful spirit. As a kid, I was caught up in the fascination. The children of tomorrow should be able to be similarly inspired. Let us make it so.
Unfortunately, along with the shuttle, we are going to lose so much of our experience and expertise in space exploration. We are instead left with an uncertain future.
This uncertainty is due to no small part to a decade marked by a lack of leadership. We are beset by presidents more concerned with launching missiles to destroy our fellow human beings than with building the rockets that will help lift humankind up in a spirit of cooperation; more committed to spending hundreds of billions on destruction than a relative paltry sum on exploration; more focused on sending talented, devoted Americans off to be maimed and scarred forever, rather than on missions that leave us all with a legacy of hope and wonder.
We must demand a future devoted to our best instincts and values, rather than plagued with war and death.
The dream of space exploration has become inextricably woven into the American Dream. To lose it, we lose a piece of ourselves. For even though a relative few have ventured into the heavens, they have take all of us with them. Whether it's the display of bravery or the hope of discovery, the lure of the unknown or the frontiers of science, the human story or the history of the universe, we are drawn into the spectacular drama of it all. It embodies so much of the best of our values as Americans, as well as the best of humanity. Especially when the course is laid through the efforts of individuals heralding from all corners of our Earth.
In our fascination with spaceflight, we all capture a youthful spirit. As a kid, I was caught up in the fascination. The children of tomorrow should be able to be similarly inspired. Let us make it so.
Monday, April 18, 2011
"No We Can't"?
"We shall extract our resources, and we shall provide a market for products. We will provide a government that is as pliable as possible towards the encouragement of those two things, and all else is communism."
Daily Kos: No We Can't
This sentence, in my mind, is the essence of the American Nightmare that Hunter describes here and attributes to the Republicans. And the idea that America as a society, as a country, can accomplish nothing Together anymore -- with the possible exception of ongoing war, as he hints at briefly -- is truly disheartening. And unfortunately, despite the rhetoric of "Yes We Can," it doesn't appear that the Democrats, whom Hunter doesn't mention, for the most part offer much of an American Dream as an alternative. The vision that was heralded in 2008 seems to have proven to be largely an empty one. The results serving as merely a pale shadow of the possibility that could be represented by a real New American Dream. This would be a realized vision of a country in which militarism and empire are shed in favor of health care for all, the best education in the world, full employment, real democracy, and incredible national accomplishments such as a completely sustainable energy economy, the banishment of crippling diseases, and exploration of space. While fascinating, wonders of the consumer marketplace such as the iPad is not truly the product of "We the People" that will help fulfill and sustain the American Dream. While the American Dream is deeply personal, at the same time integral to it is the attainment of "great things" as a people, as a country, and as a society.
Daily Kos: No We Can't
This sentence, in my mind, is the essence of the American Nightmare that Hunter describes here and attributes to the Republicans. And the idea that America as a society, as a country, can accomplish nothing Together anymore -- with the possible exception of ongoing war, as he hints at briefly -- is truly disheartening. And unfortunately, despite the rhetoric of "Yes We Can," it doesn't appear that the Democrats, whom Hunter doesn't mention, for the most part offer much of an American Dream as an alternative. The vision that was heralded in 2008 seems to have proven to be largely an empty one. The results serving as merely a pale shadow of the possibility that could be represented by a real New American Dream. This would be a realized vision of a country in which militarism and empire are shed in favor of health care for all, the best education in the world, full employment, real democracy, and incredible national accomplishments such as a completely sustainable energy economy, the banishment of crippling diseases, and exploration of space. While fascinating, wonders of the consumer marketplace such as the iPad is not truly the product of "We the People" that will help fulfill and sustain the American Dream. While the American Dream is deeply personal, at the same time integral to it is the attainment of "great things" as a people, as a country, and as a society.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Warfare on Working People Threatens the American Dream
Fire the Rich — Features — Utne Reader
The author here is indeed correct: the American Dream is under threat, as the wealthiest among us continue to use their greater influence to make the system benefit them, at the detriment of 95% of the rest of the population. If class warfare has been declared, is was declared long ago by the wealthy and not -- as too-opt alleged -- by working people who are trying to restore balance, fairness, and a chance at attaining the American Dream.
The author here is indeed correct: the American Dream is under threat, as the wealthiest among us continue to use their greater influence to make the system benefit them, at the detriment of 95% of the rest of the population. If class warfare has been declared, is was declared long ago by the wealthy and not -- as too-opt alleged -- by working people who are trying to restore balance, fairness, and a chance at attaining the American Dream.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Are we fatally distracted by faulty political assumptions in this post-election period?
If we are going to renew the American Dream, and make progress towards it in the political realm, we need to keep our eye on the ball, and operate from a place of political reality. Our understanding of the needs and wants of the American people must be correct. When considering compromise positions, we must have a factual perception of where the parties involved stand. Unfortunately, in the most recent post-election environment, our politics are driven by significant misunderstandings that are keeping us from making desperately needed progress.
The following piece features two of these misunderstandings:
NationalJournal.com - The Cook Report: Hang On Tight - Friday, February 18, 2011
While the general analysis of it is interesting, there are two unfortunate assumptions which have been all too common in this recent post-election period.
1. That the focus of American's concerns is the budget deficit.
This is a misnomer, and revisionist history. All the polls both pre- and post- election revealed what Americans are really concerned about. And my personal experience talking to literally hundreds of voters over many weeks during the election can attest to it. People are concerned about jobs and the economy. Period. Health care and education are a distant second. Our wars and the budget are barely on the radar right now.
Now, we can certainly debate over whether this is what we should be most concerned about, but this conservative fantasy that somehow Americans are obsessed with cutting spending and balancing the budget asap has infected our media and public dialogue. On the contray, Americans want to see good jobs, and farbeit from anti-government on this issue, are closely divided on whether the stimulus even went far enough. We need to change the dialogue, guiding by a correct understanding of the real desires of the American people.
2. The Republicans are "good at cutting spending."
A conventional wisdom that has little basis in reality. One only has to look at the 8 years of the Bush administration for evidence to the contrary. And Republicans (generally) have never seen a defense program, a war, a corporate tax expenditure, a fossil fuel industry subsidy, or a highway funding project that they didn't like. We need to change our language to reflect reality. Only then can we have a real discussion regarding federal government expenditures and revenues, and how best to address the budget situation into the future. For while the budget problem needs to be addressed in the long term, the short-term emergency is an unacceptably high employment rate and declining real wages. This is a problem that left unattended will destroy the middle class, and our country with it. However, the good news is, if it is properly addressed, it will go a long ways to resolving the budget deficit, as the relatively good economic times of the mid and late '90s can attest.
The following piece features two of these misunderstandings:
NationalJournal.com - The Cook Report: Hang On Tight - Friday, February 18, 2011
While the general analysis of it is interesting, there are two unfortunate assumptions which have been all too common in this recent post-election period.
1. That the focus of American's concerns is the budget deficit.
This is a misnomer, and revisionist history. All the polls both pre- and post- election revealed what Americans are really concerned about. And my personal experience talking to literally hundreds of voters over many weeks during the election can attest to it. People are concerned about jobs and the economy. Period. Health care and education are a distant second. Our wars and the budget are barely on the radar right now.
Now, we can certainly debate over whether this is what we should be most concerned about, but this conservative fantasy that somehow Americans are obsessed with cutting spending and balancing the budget asap has infected our media and public dialogue. On the contray, Americans want to see good jobs, and farbeit from anti-government on this issue, are closely divided on whether the stimulus even went far enough. We need to change the dialogue, guiding by a correct understanding of the real desires of the American people.
2. The Republicans are "good at cutting spending."
A conventional wisdom that has little basis in reality. One only has to look at the 8 years of the Bush administration for evidence to the contrary. And Republicans (generally) have never seen a defense program, a war, a corporate tax expenditure, a fossil fuel industry subsidy, or a highway funding project that they didn't like. We need to change our language to reflect reality. Only then can we have a real discussion regarding federal government expenditures and revenues, and how best to address the budget situation into the future. For while the budget problem needs to be addressed in the long term, the short-term emergency is an unacceptably high employment rate and declining real wages. This is a problem that left unattended will destroy the middle class, and our country with it. However, the good news is, if it is properly addressed, it will go a long ways to resolving the budget deficit, as the relatively good economic times of the mid and late '90s can attest.
Friday, February 11, 2011
The People of Egypt Have Taugh Us Something About Liberty & Democracy
The People of Egypt Have Done It! They Have Driven Mubarak Out! | Common Dreams
They have indeed done it. And it is more than just a victory for themselves. In doing so, they teach us an important lesson about liberty and democracy. These are lessons which should inform and inspire. There are in fact 4 important lessons which we as Americans should take to heart as we consider how view the world, how we act here at home, and how we fulfill the American Dream:
1. The Nature of Arab & Muslim Societies & Cultures
For some time -- and especially after 9/11 -- our media, entertainment, and culture has generally portrayed Muslim and Arabic peoples and cultures in a negative light, as extremists and terrorists. It is emphasized on a daily basis by political pudits and in action movies. It was evident in the comments of news reporters in their analysis of the days recent events, in their words of surprise that the demonstrators had not erupted into violence rebellion.
Now, the people have Egypt, in a profound and powerful way, have demonstrated the inappropriateness of those comments, the inaccuracy of those words, the offensiveness of those images, and the untruth in those portrayals. (Hopefully it will bring to light a history that stands in contrast to the negative characterizations: http://www.davidswanson.org/content/nonviolent-activism-middle-eastern ). They have shown not just incredible courage and resilience, but restraint and savvy. In fact, their movement has not only done us one better in terms of rejecting violence, but also in effectiveness.
2. The Nature of Leadership & Democracy
From almost the beginning, media also kept looking for a leader for this movement. Oft heard was the refrain "there is yet to be a face of this movement." On the contrary, there was a face. Or rather, a multitude of faces. They have shown not only the possibility, but the power and benefit, of movements which are democratic and decentralized, leaderful and not simply led. Their power was in their number and their commitment, and not simply in the speeches of visages of a single individual.
3. The Power of Nonviolence
Over and over again, we demonstrate how we believe that political change against oppressive regimes and illigimate dictators is accomplished through clash of arms and military force. It was a message that our country's "leaders" repeated ad nauseum as we invaded Iraq, and continue to do so as we continue the war in Afghanistan. But as the nonviolence revolutions demonstrated in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union two decades ago -- and Gandhi before them in India -- the Egyptian people remind us of the power of nonviolent action to effect real change. And it is change much preferable to that which comes from war, as we compare the dignity and hope of recent days in Egypt with the death and destruction of recent years in Iraq and Afghanistan. In truth, this contrast shows that the idea that real peace can come from war, that democracy can come from the decision of the few to invade, that justice can come from unjust conflict, is a big lie.
4. The Power of the People
We look to leaders and military might as the impetus and force for change. That, when the true power lies within ourselves as citizens. The people of Egypt reminds us how there is nothing that the people cannot accomplish if they unite together, with courage and determination, organized and committed.
*******
These are the lessons for us. The only question is: will we heed them? Will our elected officials do so? I have real hope that the American people will be inspired. Unfortunately, I have less faith in our elected "leaders." It begins with the policies that lead us to (once again) support self-aggrandizing oppressive dictators and brutish police forces using American-made tear gas. It continues with the belated and hesitant support of the protestors by our government, the ongoing billions to a military that stood by and watched peaceful demonstrators were killed by molotov cocktails, and the government support for a Patriot Act that commits into law some of the very trappings of tyranny that we decry in the Egyptian authoritarian rule (http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/02/11-2).
We are now faced with a choice: are we going to be on the side of independent peoples striving for justice, liberty, opportunity, democracy, and self-determination, or are we going be compelled by militarism, fear, nativism, empire, and selfishness. Are we going to be guided by the values of the American Dream, or the perverse American Nightmare that threatens to destroy us.
They have indeed done it. And it is more than just a victory for themselves. In doing so, they teach us an important lesson about liberty and democracy. These are lessons which should inform and inspire. There are in fact 4 important lessons which we as Americans should take to heart as we consider how view the world, how we act here at home, and how we fulfill the American Dream:
1. The Nature of Arab & Muslim Societies & Cultures
For some time -- and especially after 9/11 -- our media, entertainment, and culture has generally portrayed Muslim and Arabic peoples and cultures in a negative light, as extremists and terrorists. It is emphasized on a daily basis by political pudits and in action movies. It was evident in the comments of news reporters in their analysis of the days recent events, in their words of surprise that the demonstrators had not erupted into violence rebellion.
Now, the people have Egypt, in a profound and powerful way, have demonstrated the inappropriateness of those comments, the inaccuracy of those words, the offensiveness of those images, and the untruth in those portrayals. (Hopefully it will bring to light a history that stands in contrast to the negative characterizations: http://www.davidswanson.org/content/nonviolent-activism-middle-eastern ). They have shown not just incredible courage and resilience, but restraint and savvy. In fact, their movement has not only done us one better in terms of rejecting violence, but also in effectiveness.
2. The Nature of Leadership & Democracy
From almost the beginning, media also kept looking for a leader for this movement. Oft heard was the refrain "there is yet to be a face of this movement." On the contrary, there was a face. Or rather, a multitude of faces. They have shown not only the possibility, but the power and benefit, of movements which are democratic and decentralized, leaderful and not simply led. Their power was in their number and their commitment, and not simply in the speeches of visages of a single individual.
3. The Power of Nonviolence
Over and over again, we demonstrate how we believe that political change against oppressive regimes and illigimate dictators is accomplished through clash of arms and military force. It was a message that our country's "leaders" repeated ad nauseum as we invaded Iraq, and continue to do so as we continue the war in Afghanistan. But as the nonviolence revolutions demonstrated in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union two decades ago -- and Gandhi before them in India -- the Egyptian people remind us of the power of nonviolent action to effect real change. And it is change much preferable to that which comes from war, as we compare the dignity and hope of recent days in Egypt with the death and destruction of recent years in Iraq and Afghanistan. In truth, this contrast shows that the idea that real peace can come from war, that democracy can come from the decision of the few to invade, that justice can come from unjust conflict, is a big lie.
4. The Power of the People
We look to leaders and military might as the impetus and force for change. That, when the true power lies within ourselves as citizens. The people of Egypt reminds us how there is nothing that the people cannot accomplish if they unite together, with courage and determination, organized and committed.
*******
These are the lessons for us. The only question is: will we heed them? Will our elected officials do so? I have real hope that the American people will be inspired. Unfortunately, I have less faith in our elected "leaders." It begins with the policies that lead us to (once again) support self-aggrandizing oppressive dictators and brutish police forces using American-made tear gas. It continues with the belated and hesitant support of the protestors by our government, the ongoing billions to a military that stood by and watched peaceful demonstrators were killed by molotov cocktails, and the government support for a Patriot Act that commits into law some of the very trappings of tyranny that we decry in the Egyptian authoritarian rule (http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/02/11-2).
We are now faced with a choice: are we going to be on the side of independent peoples striving for justice, liberty, opportunity, democracy, and self-determination, or are we going be compelled by militarism, fear, nativism, empire, and selfishness. Are we going to be guided by the values of the American Dream, or the perverse American Nightmare that threatens to destroy us.
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