MAGI
07/19/06, 07:23 am
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060717/kvh
moral compass | posted July 12, 2006 (web only)
A Politics of the Common Good
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of The Nation, delivered this speech at the 2006 Take Back America Conference in Washington, DC, June 12. It is published here as part of The Nation's Moral Compass series, highlighting the spoken word.
"Let's celebrate this gathering--of people of moxie, passion and conviction. Progressives across the country are building a feisty, populist politics, an actual movement based on real conviction, serious about taking power: one committed to changing course--ending a disastrous war that is undermining our security; building a more perfect union, fighting for national health care, addressing the investment deficit, fueling that moon shot for energy independence, draining the swamp of corruption and incompetence that is the hallmark of this congress and administration, and driving Democrats toward a real and renewed politics of the common good.
It's going to be tough. This is a long battle. Let's be real clear: the administration, the people in power are extremists, not conservatives, with little to no respect for truth in public debate. They will do anything to hold on to their power and say anything about those who disagree with them. But we must call them out--and in doing so, build a politics of decency, sanity which speaks to the generosity of the American people. That will require taking on other powerful forces: corporate power for one, and a Democratic leadership that is sometimes too fearful of its own shadow. But I believe progressives can make real and significant advances in American politics over the next years. My optimism is fueled by how this country has turned against this disastrous war, and done so with virtually no political leadership. It is fueled partly because not just we, but the general public, are fed up with the immorality and slash-and-burn economics of the corporate agenda. People are really concerned, even agitated, about job security, ravaged pensions, the deterioration of work and wages, the lack of affordable educational opportunity for their kids.
What we need to do is explain loud and clear, to a status quo beltway class, that we are the mainstream--that there is another center, one which relates to the way people actually live. After all, poll after poll shows that a majority of Americans support national health care, energy independence, an end to this unnecessary war, a principled foreign policy that will make them secure--not a messianic crusade that is championed by too many beltway types, one that may cost us $2 trillion, while neglecting our decaying infrastructure at home, and fair trade that counters unprecedented corporate power, and stabilizes not ravages the middle class...I could go on. But it's time to tell the beltway pundits and pollsters where the real center is. "
skip
"Could 2006 be the year the progressive movement became a movement? Take a look.
The netroots, antiwar and community activists have Joe Lieberman on the run. And a challenger like Ned Lamont in Connecticut will send a message even if he loses--as did Marcy Winograd in California in her primary against Jane Harman--politics is often simplified into winning and losing--and we want to win--but politics is also a process of changing the balance of forces. Winograd revealed the depths of anti-war sentiment among Democrats and delivered a message for 2008. And in New York, labor activist Jonathan Tasini's candidacy helped lead the New York State Democratic Convention to pass a resolution urging a safe and orderly withdrawal of us forces. And forceful populists like Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester, Bernie Sanders will transform the debate if elected to the senate. What we all agree on is the need to get out there in the arenas where the mass public actually has some power politically--yes, at the voting booth, as well as through forging insider/outsider, political/movement alliances and coalitions--which also build electoral power. "
more........
:thumbup:
moral compass | posted July 12, 2006 (web only)
A Politics of the Common Good
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of The Nation, delivered this speech at the 2006 Take Back America Conference in Washington, DC, June 12. It is published here as part of The Nation's Moral Compass series, highlighting the spoken word.
"Let's celebrate this gathering--of people of moxie, passion and conviction. Progressives across the country are building a feisty, populist politics, an actual movement based on real conviction, serious about taking power: one committed to changing course--ending a disastrous war that is undermining our security; building a more perfect union, fighting for national health care, addressing the investment deficit, fueling that moon shot for energy independence, draining the swamp of corruption and incompetence that is the hallmark of this congress and administration, and driving Democrats toward a real and renewed politics of the common good.
It's going to be tough. This is a long battle. Let's be real clear: the administration, the people in power are extremists, not conservatives, with little to no respect for truth in public debate. They will do anything to hold on to their power and say anything about those who disagree with them. But we must call them out--and in doing so, build a politics of decency, sanity which speaks to the generosity of the American people. That will require taking on other powerful forces: corporate power for one, and a Democratic leadership that is sometimes too fearful of its own shadow. But I believe progressives can make real and significant advances in American politics over the next years. My optimism is fueled by how this country has turned against this disastrous war, and done so with virtually no political leadership. It is fueled partly because not just we, but the general public, are fed up with the immorality and slash-and-burn economics of the corporate agenda. People are really concerned, even agitated, about job security, ravaged pensions, the deterioration of work and wages, the lack of affordable educational opportunity for their kids.
What we need to do is explain loud and clear, to a status quo beltway class, that we are the mainstream--that there is another center, one which relates to the way people actually live. After all, poll after poll shows that a majority of Americans support national health care, energy independence, an end to this unnecessary war, a principled foreign policy that will make them secure--not a messianic crusade that is championed by too many beltway types, one that may cost us $2 trillion, while neglecting our decaying infrastructure at home, and fair trade that counters unprecedented corporate power, and stabilizes not ravages the middle class...I could go on. But it's time to tell the beltway pundits and pollsters where the real center is. "
skip
"Could 2006 be the year the progressive movement became a movement? Take a look.
The netroots, antiwar and community activists have Joe Lieberman on the run. And a challenger like Ned Lamont in Connecticut will send a message even if he loses--as did Marcy Winograd in California in her primary against Jane Harman--politics is often simplified into winning and losing--and we want to win--but politics is also a process of changing the balance of forces. Winograd revealed the depths of anti-war sentiment among Democrats and delivered a message for 2008. And in New York, labor activist Jonathan Tasini's candidacy helped lead the New York State Democratic Convention to pass a resolution urging a safe and orderly withdrawal of us forces. And forceful populists like Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester, Bernie Sanders will transform the debate if elected to the senate. What we all agree on is the need to get out there in the arenas where the mass public actually has some power politically--yes, at the voting booth, as well as through forging insider/outsider, political/movement alliances and coalitions--which also build electoral power. "
more........
:thumbup: