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***I am trying to use this as an editorial. Your feedback is requested and needed. Thanks!***
Race is Political Smokescreen For A Poisoned Economy
Presidential Candidate, Howard Dean, was recently challenged on his comments that he “wanted to be the candidate for the guys with Confederate Flag decal on their truck.” Dr. Dean, who has a lifetime “A” rating with the NRA, was accused of racial insensitivity by other Presidential candidates, and initially did not apologize for the remarks. The following day, he apologized, and explained that he comments were “clumsy,” but that the issue of race in America must be addressed in this election, particularly the way race is used by corrupt politicians as smokescreen.
Race is used as a smokescreen to hide the terrible economic reality that average Americans face. Race is used by smokescreen by both parties. Both parties do this to keep Americans from recognizing the poison that ruining our economy.
Democrats have the support of a large majority of minorities and are seen by some as pandering to these communities, but in recent years Democrats have not stood up economically for these communities, which are generally not rich communities. Non-wealthy Americans did not see their wages and salaries go up at a pace to match the overall economic gains of the Clinton years. The quality of jobs available to non-wealthy Americans may have actually decreased, and their benefits shrink. While it is true that Democrats represent some identifiable minority interests, it is also true that Democrats do not adequately address their economic interests.
Race is also important for Republicans. For the last 20 plus years, Republicans have been running against welfare queens, affirmative action, reverse racism, and any federal spending project perceived to be unfairly helpful to the poor. Many whites feel that reverse racism and preferential treatment is a serious problem—one that negatively affects the job opportunities for middle, lower, and working class whites. While some feel these are important issues for whites, they can also realize that the Bush Administration has been nothing but hostile to the economic interests of middle, lower, and working class white communities. The examples—from elimination of white-collar overtime, to no increase in minimum wage, to turning a blind eye to corporate theft of employee retirement savings and benefits—are numerous.
Both the white and minority communities, then, would seem to have much in common. A lack of upward mobility. An increasing personal and/or family debt. Increased college costs, education costs, increased need for new and expensive insurance to cover losses to life, home, and health. An inability to find a good or even decent job with benefits and a future. The combined effect of these economic losses for average Americans is poisoning our economy.
Our economy is polluted. Our current government is not for the people. It is for the fabulously wealthy and it is for international corporations that show no allegiance to this country, only to the bonuses of already well-paid executives. These corporations are the ones poisoning the water.
Accepting this fact that the economy is poisoned does not mean that you have to suddenly like Bill Clinton, if you happen to be someone who dislikes or despises Bill Clinton. President Clinton’s economic record, while excellent in broad terms, was deeply compromised by NAFTA and other trans-global trade agreements. The loss of manufacturing jobs—the good, honest, all-American jobs that pay well and provide for family, health, and future—began to go away. Remember when Ross Perot warned Al Gore of the “great sucking sound” of jobs flying to Mexico? 8 years later, we can see Ross Perot was right about NAFTA. As of today, only 4% of clothes worn by Americans.
10,000 Wal-Marts with 1,000,000 employees cannot replace the wages, the purpose, the duty provided by a good manufacturing job. Especially as the amount of manufacturing jobs continue to be destroyed by poor trade agreements and executive corruption. Over the last 39 months, all since President George H. Bush came into office, manufacturing jobs have decreased. Every month. But at the same time, the wealthiest have seen their estate and dividend taxed eliminated. Corporations have gone completely offshore—paying no taxes while holding taxpayers hostage to pay for their facilities, their stadiums, and their debt.
Accept it. These corporations have polluted our economy. The water you and those you drink is poisoned. And it is getting much worse.
Under the Bush Administration, there is now more poison than economy. Huge, unrestricted contracts to the biggest and least American global companies are now the function of government. This is especially true for military corporations, and there are not a lot of start-up, rags to riches military companies out there. Do you know anyone with 100 billion dollars in start-up capital? If not, you are not part of this new economy. Except the part you play in being eating alive by it. This new economy is poison.
Due to the economic corruption of the Bush Administration, which only accelerated and expanded the economic corruption of the Clinton Administration, there is only one choice for voters of all parties on November 2, 2004. On that day, all Republicans politicians must be seen as Bush Republicans. Bush Republicans have been proven to ignore the economic interests of ordinary Americans. They are hostile to our economic interests. They have not earned our vote.
Some Democrats have re-examined their stances on NAFTA and many call for heavy requirements to be placed on foreign trade partners, to ensure those countries take care of their workers, like we used to be here in America. These Democrats have earned our vote. Even if you disagree with their smokescreen or their legitimate policies, these Democrats are your only chance.
The economy is polluted and we are tired of being sick. That is the reason to vote for only Democrats in your local, state, and national elections in 2004. Only vote Democrat. A message must be sent.
The message is: we average Americans know that our economy is poisoned, and we demand our political representatives fix the system that has created the poison. They must immediately stop the loss of manufacturing jobs, the shrinking and narrowing of union jobs, and they must address the wages of those working in the new jobs currently available in the new economy. Retail and service workers should be allowed to form unions, so those jobs, too, will provide what people need and what jobs used to provide.
Ignore the smokescreen of race, stop drinking that poison, and vote Democrat in 2004. Pretend or, hopefully, realize voting Democrat in 2004 is like voting for Erin Brokovich. Vote for her to battle the polluters, and when she wins the election, keep both eyes on her to make sure she wins your case--and restores the economic health of middle, lower, and working class Americans.
You’ll know these Democrats care about you when your life and opportunities improve, and when our economy is no longer poisoned.
Vote only Democrat in 2004, and if they fail, we will send a different message in 2006.
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