Against Fortress Liberalism

[TBF]

TBF note: We ostensibly have a rule in here about not getting into US Electoral politics, but since that rule was allowed to be broken with a piece on the virtues of incrementalism, I am providing the other side of the argument. Solidarity.

Bill Clinton’s eight-year term in the White House gave us an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit and a small children’s health insurance program — but also NAFTA, the 1994 crime bill, welfare reform, the Defense of Marriage Act, financial deregulation, and a grand bargain to gut Social Security that was only thwarted by a timely sex scandal. The pragmatic, piecemeal, and irreproachably moderate achievements of Jimmy Carter are still more dispiriting. Even judged by the charitable standards of American liberalism, the forty-year balance sheet of “incremental progress” is decidedly negative.

For forty years, liberals have accepted defeat and called it “incremental progress.” Bernie Sanders offers a different way forward.
by Matt Karp 4/18/16

The primary campaign between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders has produced the most direct ideological battle the Democratic Party has seen in a generation. It’s not just the policy differences that separate Sanders’s blunt social-democratic platform from Clinton’s neoliberal grab bag. The two candidates embody clashing theories of politics — alternative visions of how to achieve progressive goals within the American political system.

The Bernie Sanders model of change has all the subtlety of an index finger raised high above a debate podium. Lay out a bold, unapologetic vision of reform that speaks directly to people’s basic needs. Connect that vision to existing popular struggles, while mobilizing a broad and passionate coalition to support it (#NotMeUs). Ride this wave of democratic energy to overwhelm right-wing opposition and enact major structural reforms.

The Hillary Clinton model of change, on the other hand, begins not with policy or people but with a politician. Choose an experienced, practical leader who explicitly rejects unrealistic goals. Rally around that leader’s personal qualifications, while defending past achievements and stressing the value of party loyalty (#ImWithHer). Draw on the leader’s expertise to grind away at Congress and accumulate incremental victories that add up to significant reform.

For most of the Left, Clinton-style “incrementalism” is just a code word to disguise what is effectively a right-wing retrenchment. Nevertheless many self-identified progressives have backed Clinton’s “theory of politics” as the most realistic path to achieve Sanders’s objectives ...

More here: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/04/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-dnc-primary-moderates/

[KPN]

1. Spot on! Good for you fore posting.

[99th_Monkey]

2. KnR for The Bern. n/t

[pmorlan1]

3. I posted this

in GD-P when it first came out. It got trashed by Hillary supporters.

[pangaia]

4. Pretty darn accurate.

Except for the part about Clinton's experience, leadership, personal qualifications and past achievements.

[whereisjustice]

5. And to call Hillary "progress" is also such a lie.

[JDPriestly]

6. Excellent article!

[Cryptoad]

7. Funny Bern been in Congress 27 years

and has not progressively attacked any of the problem u list. Liz has done more in 4 years than Bern has in 26, Progressives hooked their carts to the wrong horse with Bern. BTW , as ususal u whine about lack of progress but never mention that real reform can only take place when u control Congress.(60 votes in Senate and majority in House) ,,,,,,,,,

[whereisjustice]

8. Um... you mean like corporate written TPP and ACA, seems like things get done when corporations

are left to write public policy. That "impotent" president shit doesn't fly.

Mean while my insurance rates are scheduled to go up a huge amount along with my deductable.

And tuition for kids at state school is approaching $100,000

And rent is up.

And food costs are up.

Oh - my wages? lol

Fuck Hillary's Pollyanna vision of American exceptionalism brought to us by Wall Street.

[Cryptoad]

11. Since u are re rwriting history to suit u,

ACA exist because of Bern's yes vote for ACA. HRC didnt' vote on ACA, but its her fault? That is funny

[whereisjustice]

12. since you are making shit up I didn't say... I'll just call you part of the problem

[zalinda]

9. This is not true, she has had more publicity than Bernie. eom

Bernie has been slugging away for 27 years, as you note. He has made tons of progress, only he has done it under the radar.

For example:

Some of what he did while in the house:

Passed an amendment to “require offenders who are convicted of fraud and other white collar crime to give appropriate notice to victims and other persons in cases where there are multiple victims eligible to receive restitution.”

Passed an amendment that improved Postsecondary Education. It administered a competitive grant program to institutions of higher education seeking to reduce costs through the purchase of goods and services. This saved colleges and taxpayers both money.

He amended the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 2003, stopping the IRS from being able to use funds that “violate current pension age discrimination laws.”

He expanded free health care and won a $100 million increase in funding by using his amendment powers. This added community health centers that gave out a variety of free health care services.

Prevented child labor by passing an amendment to a general appropriations bill. This stated that the U.S. will not appropriate funds for the importation of goods made by the hands of minors.


Some of his work in the Senate:

Passed an amendment making sure that solar water heaters provide at least 30 percent of hot water for new federal buildings. This is forcing us to use green energy.

Made sure to it that bailout funds weren’t used to replace laid-off U.S. workers with exploited and poorly-paid foreign workers.

Helped ensure that child care was being offered to parents in the Armed Forces by requiring the Comptroller General to provide accurate reporting on what was being done.

Required a public database be made available showing the names of senior Department officials seeking employment with defense contractors. This helped crack down on corruption.

Required that the TRICARE program provide treatment to veterans affected by certain types of autism. It wasn’t previously being done.

Was praised by John McCain(R-AZ) and Sen. Jack Reed(D-RI) for overhauling the Veterans Administration. Was said to have done such an excellent job of bringing all parties to a deal, that it wouldn’t have gotten done without Sanders’ work.


There is much more, but Hillary supporters tend to not read about them. They would much rather put blinders on a support their gal.

Z

[Cryptoad]

13. I've read every thing Bern has done in Congress.

In my book He is a slacker! but to each their own, but please keep those $27 a rollin in !

[TBF]

14. Immature comments from someone

determined to attack the challenger to the presumptive nominee. As far as campaign finance, Secretary Clinton will be completely beholden to those who are funding her as those contributions are way higher than $27/person. But some folks prefer oligarchy. What I can't figure out is why they are presuming to post in a progressive socialist group??

[Cryptoad]

15. How lost u r

most the people who voted for HRC can not afford to donate any money to the process.. not even $27,,,, Thanks to Hillary for getting out and secure funding for the representation of real poor people of the Democratic Party. Bern has shown his disdain for the truly poor with his tax plan... u know that one nobody talks abt no more....... u know the one where he has people living in poverty paying more taxes...... geez

[zalinda]

16. Really? How lost are you?

Bernie is not asking people who live in poverty to pay more taxes, he's asking those who are rich and not paying any taxes to pay their fair share. If taxes did go up it would be to cover health care that they are now paying into for Obama care. They would actually end up with more money int their pockets.

It's from Citizens for Tax Justice

http://ctj.org/ctjreports/2016/02/bernie_sanders_health_care_tax_plan_would_raise_13_trillion_yet_increase_after-tax_incomes_for_all_i.php#.VzAQcjGuqSp

Z

FYI: I donated $27 to Bernie, but that was all I could afford. I get less than $800 on SSI, and Hillary has said she will consider cutting it.

[TBF]

17. Got it - you're happy with the banks running the show.

Again, why are you posting in socialist progressives? This particular sentence is one that you really need to read: "Throw-away comments from newcomers who haven't posted in here before, especially of the "snark" variety, are not welcome and will not be tolerated. Either contribute in a positive way or you will be banned on either a temporary or permanent basis."

Here is our statement:

Socialist Progressives Group - SOP


Welcome to the Socialist Progressives Group. Posts in this group should generally be supportive of socialism and socialists. We are largely anti-capitalist and will not tolerate red-baiting. We welcome leftists of all persuasion as allowed per the admin's TOS. Democratic (ballot box) socialism, revolutionary socialism, Syndicalists and autonomists are all ok. Pure black flag (as opposed to red/black) anarchists who would rather organize with any anarchist than socialists, including anarcho-capitalists and libertarians, will not be welcome. If you don't know what kind of anarchist you are, cool, so long as you don't hijack and red-bait. This includes no "you're a dictator-lover" if you support the Russian Revolution. CPUSA members, please chime in.

Social Democrats are welcome with the explanation that if someone believes in "regulated" capitalism and social programs, they're a Keynesian, not a socialist. We welcome your questions as long as you're pleasant and don't red bait or shift the discussion away from socialism. You'll find many of us support Obama and his re-election given our two-party system, but this is not the forum to talk about the intricacies of elections - see the Politics forum for those conversations. We are more concerned with safe-guarding the working class gains we've made in this country thus far and encouraging the peaceful transition to socialism. Please no Trotsky or Stalin baiting, we've all seen it fracture groups and do not want to fight that battle again.

*** Updated 7/21/2014: We've been in this group for a couple of years now and we are excited to see the growth in readership. Please be aware, however, that this is a protected group. Our purpose is to view issues through a working class lens. As capitalism has become a global force we are in solidarity with workers worldwide. Expect that we will discuss the effects of capitalism on the working class in all areas - whether it agrees with the view of the current administration or not. Sometimes visitors to our group seem determined to contribute only because they feel the need to protect certain politicians or viewpoints. If you care to add a substantive and productive comment on the OPs here, in the spirit of our SOP, that kind of contribution is welcomed. Throw-away comments from newcomers who haven't posted in here before, especially of the "snark" variety, are not welcome and will not be tolerated. Either contribute in a positive way or you will be banned on either a temporary or permanent basis.

[Ikonoklast]

10. Hillary will NOT STOP her Republican pals in Congress from looting Social Security.

She'll throw up her hands, shrug and say, "I did my best, but they were too much for me!".

The older Democratic voters who are either already or soon to be retired who support her are the ones that will get fucked the hardest by another Clinton administration hell bent on stealing their retirement money, and it amazes me that they are the demographic which are her biggest supporters.

Hillary has yet to say she *will not* gut Social Security, she is using weasel words right now, no talk of strengthening it, no promises not to privatize it, no talk of anything except vague "We're going to fix it" statements.

Hillary will "fix" Social Security by giving it away to her owners at Goldman Sachs.