Tests For Democrats: Doing The Right Thing Also Politically Expedient

[Itsthetruth]

CounterPunch
June 14, 2005

Tests for Democrats
Doing the Right Thing Also Politically Expedient
By STEVE BREYMAN
Steve Breyman directs the Ecological Economics, Values and Policy Program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.


The Invasion and Occupation of Iraq

A growing majority of Americans now believe the war was or is not worth fighting. As the number of Gold Star Mothers proliferates (even as they don't permit non-US citizens membership), the Army can't fill its ranks, the VA cuts benefits for returning veterans, and even Tom Friedman calls for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay gulag, resolutions for immediate withdrawal ought to be the first order of business on the Hill. No dithering over "exit plans" or asking for pledges from the Bush administration that they don't have imperial intentions in Mesopotamia (can you imagine!?). Instead, clarity and principle: troops out now. The Democratic leadership has only fear to fear: law, morality, economics, and diplomacy are also all on the side of withdrawal and aid for rebuilding. Democratic Governors and State Legislatures ought to start fighting with the Commander-in-Chief now to bring home their National Guardsmen (aka natural Democratic constituents). Sixty-two percent of the public now believes the US ought to "reduce its military presence" in the Middle East. Where are the presumptive Democratic presidential nominees in calling for removal of US bases from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or Kuwait?

Health Care

Polls consistently show large majorities in favor of a single-payer universal health care program like Medicare. Problem is that the insurance companies and pharmaceutical firms, among other beneficiaries of the status quo, oppose a rational health system. Some 31% per cent of what we spend on health care goes for "administrative costs." We spend twice per capita what Western Europeans do. Forty-four million of us don't even have meager HMO coverage. Fifteen hundred dollars of the price of every new GM car goes to pay for health care costs for company workers and pensioners. Are Democratic leaders so addicted to campaign contributions from short-sighted corporations and so afraid of being called "socialists" that they can't capitalize on what could ensure them of electoral victories for decades to come?

Social Security and Private Pensions

On one of the few issues where Congressional Democrats have held fast to something resembling principle, they're winning. Polls are running 50-60% against Bush's privatization scheme. The longer W spends on the road with his tightly controlled audiences and pre-screened softball questions, the worse the numbers become for him and Charles Schwab. No doubt there's still time for ambitious Dems to foolishly "compromise" with those who'd turn your hard-earned money over to Wall Street, so don't hold your breath.

Long Odds

Other tests for the Democrats where public opinion would be on the side of unbending and principled opposition to the Republicans: trade policy, government secrecy (70% worried about it), the environment (extraordinary contradiction between Bush policies and public preferences), budget priorities (e.g., education, renewable energy, job training, etc.), the PATRIOT Act, and dozens of other possibilities.

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