Most liberals/progressives are hoping for an Obama victory in November, and rightfully so, but we should stop for a moment to consider the things that are too often left unsaid, even by most liberal/progressive candidates, for fear of alienating mainstream voters. We pay a high price for that silence.
A short list of things that need to be discussed openly, but rarely are, by Obama and most other candidates:
America’s excessive and unquestioned militarism. Even though we face no major military threats, our military budget is about equal to that of the rest of the world combined. The military budget is considered sacred, a cash cow for corporate interests that can never be questioned. A real left/liberal party would insist on cutting back significantly, and would effectively educate the public about the wisdom of doing so.
Our culture of incarceration. All candidates, left and right, are expected to be “tough on crime,” but meanwhile we have become a country that has locked up huge percentages of our population. Some minority communities are much more likely to send their young men to prison than to college. Yet it’s inappropriate to even talk about it as a serious social issue. Instead, candidates are just expected to talk even tougher about locking up bad guys, etc.
Religion in government. The religious right controls the GOP, but Democrats are also failing to speak out against excessive religious conservatism in the public arena. Obama even says he wants to expand faith-based initiatives! Jefferson’s wall of separation has been decimated, from both sides of the aisle.
Corporate domination. Every candidate must pay homage to the all-important concept of “free enterprise,” and nothing can be said directly about the fundamental problem of excessive corporate power. By controling immense wealth, to the point that only they have the ability to consistently communicate effectively via the mass media, corporate interests mold public attitudes to their liking. As such we’ve become a nation of passive, insecure, uninformed, fearful consumers – not the ideal recipe for an engaged citizenry and participatory democracy.
Excessive symbolic patriotism. A little flag waving is fine, but this country has elevated symbolic gestures of patriotism far above their rightful place. Actual engagement in political discourse, protest, demonstration, etc., are frowned upon by the great majority, whereas one can be kicked out of a ballpark for failing to stand for the singing of “God Bless America!” What’s up with that?
There are more, but this short list is a good start. When Democrats can speak openly and maturely about these kind of issues, rather than avoid them for fear of appearing weak, we’ll be in a much better place.
I was thinking about your list and felt it could lead to an interesting discussion on a number of topics. Thought I’d pick one.
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p>I was reflecting on the “excessive symbolic patriotism” thing. On the one hand, it seems like a matter of taste. (“Let’s stop all this hokie flag stuff and get to work!”)
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p>On the other hand, I’ve been struck recently at how the very male crowds at Palin-McCain rallies chant “U-S-A! U-S-A!” in their very low male voices. You and I might think of our liberalism and our patriotism as separate. Not so for these attendees at Republican rallies: their conservatism and patriotism are intertwined, almost inseparable. At least that’s how I hear it.
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p>During the Vietnam War, this got very polarized with the hawks embracing the flag so much that we doves had to work extra hard to “reclaim” it.
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p>A final reflection: Many conservatives do not appear to be willing to accept Obama as a legitimate president — just as they refused to regard Clinton as legitimate. Those who you think that way have no trouble conflating their politics and their patriotism.
They absolutely go together, which is why I’m a progressive. Progressive values ARE the ultimate in American values. After all, I consider the following to be the ultimate progressive mantra:
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p>”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
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p>It is the progressives that call on the United States to live up to her values of equality, or as that ultimate patriotic statement The Pledge of Allegiance concludes, liberty and justice for all. Progressives defend freedoms of conscience and rights of due process protected by the Bill of Rights.
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p>Symbolism is nice and I’m actually one of the first to jump when I notice the US flag displayed incorrectly or treated disrespectfully. However, what’s really important, like with religion, is what you really believe and practice, not how well you spout platitudes.
… there is more tribalism on the right than on the left. The flag thing is just a symbol of that tribalism.