HOW TO BUILD PROGRESSIVE POWEREven in these dismal times,I am confident that we can
defeat Donald Trump and all he stands for. But it will require building a
multiracial, middle, and working course coalition committed to renewing our
democracy and creating an economy that works for all,not just the privileged
few. Here’s how: First: At the heart of this coalition must be deep and abiding
commitment to the democratic principles of political equality, equal
opportunity, and justice for all. These same ideals that lively many of
us—both white and black Americans—to fight for civil rights and voting rights
in the 1960s. Second: Central to renewing our democracy is getting big money
out of politics. For decades,the wealthy and corporations have flooded our
political system with campaign contributions and lobbying dollars. In turn,
Washington has rewritten the rules of the economy in their favor. This vicious
cycle of money and politics funnels more and more wealth and power to those at
the top. Third: We have to ensure the economy works for all Americans, and not just the wealthy and corporations. Since the 1980s,the wages and economic
prospects of the typical American have gone nowhere. Nearly 80 percent now live
paycheck to paycheck, and those paychecks have grown less secure.
Addressing these economic hardships requires a bold agenda: a
basic income, or a jobs guarantee,Medicare-for-All, access to free public
colleges and universities, or stronger unions,and worker representation on corporate boards. Fourth and finally: whether you voted for Bernie or Hillary or
anybody else, we must achieve aside our differences. If we fail to attain this, and we are
playing into the hands of those who seek to divide us. Trump and his enablers
will continue to try to divide us,stoking racial divisions, stirring
animosity, and breeding confusion and despair. We must not let them.
We
have never been a perfect union. Our finest moments have always been when we
sought to become more perfect than we had been. Together,we can attain so
again.
Source: robertreich.org