-
Even the Europeans Rethink the Welfare State
April 21, 2013 | 4 comments
-
ObamaCare for Everyone Except Obama’s Appointees
March 8, 2013 | 3 comments
-
The Sensitive Saudis: They Want Democracy for Everyone Else
March 5, 2013 | 3 comments
-
Remember, There Is No Spending Problem!
February 26, 2013 | 1 comment
-
Another Useful Reminder that Communism was Loathsome
February 24, 2013 | 16 comments
The Spectacle Blog
What more can be added to Michael Lerner’s argument for a real liberal to run against Barack Obama. Wrote Lerner in the Washington Post:
The basic platform for such a candidate is clear: Unequivocally call for an immediate end to the presence of U.S. troops, advisers and private U.S.-based security firms in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, and replace the “war on terror” with a Global Marshall Plan that roots homeland security in a strategy of generosity and concern for the well-being of everyone on the planet. Domestically, call for a massive jobs program; a freeze on mortgage foreclosures; a national bank that would offer interest-free loans to those seeking to create or expand small businesses; immediate implementation of the parts of the Obama health-care plan that would benefit ordinary citizens and build support for a health plan for all citizens; dramatically lower prices for drugs that treat critical diseases such as AIDS and cancer; a strong tax on carbon emissions; and immediate prosecution of those government employees involved in torture or coverups to justify the invasion of Iraq. This candidate should push for the media to provide free and equal time to all major candidates for national office as well as for constitutional amendments requiring only public financing in elections and, separately, for corporations to prove every five years to a jury of ordinary citizens that they have a satisfactory history of environmental responsibility (as is sought by the Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment, or ESRA, advocated by the Network of Spiritual Progressives).
This policy platform must be matched with a willingness to talk clearly about the spiritual and ethical need for a new bottom line - one of love, kindness and generosity. We need a progressive push for a new New Deal, which in the 21st century could be the Caring Society: “Caring for Each Other and the Earth.”
I should say this was supposedly written by Michael Lerner, Hillary Clinton’s “politics of meaning” guru. I suspect someone from the Spectator really penned this as a parody. Come on Wlady, fess up!
View all comments (19) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Doug Bandow
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/12/05/when-liberalism-becomes-a-cari
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
Pete| 12.5.10 @ 9:43AM
That's some deranged stuff.
JmsA| 12.5.10 @ 5:57PM
That's just par for the course for them.
A Stephens| 12.5.10 @ 10:43AM
Seriously, this had to have been overheard while the little girl was sitting on Santa's lap. No real grownup actually thinks that way. I'm sure the part not reported had to go something like,
"and everyone should get a puppy, and we could have warm cookies every day, and please don't give Sarah Palin any presents, because she hit a fish".
Oldefarte| 12.5.10 @ 10:44AM
I would add that LIBERALISM's agenda would be that taxiation by government would have two lines: [1]how much income did you make last year? and [2] write a check for that amount and send it to the IRS!!!!!!!!!!
Wisenheimer| 12.5.10 @ 11:34AM
How about this, Mr. Lerner:
There are any number of failed nation-states in Europe that value your ideals more than they value freedom.
Choose one and take the first convenient flight out.
RJ| 12.5.10 @ 11:35AM
Imagine, American political leadership evolving from the Founding Fathers to present day statists. The Constitution is followed by Michael Lerner's op ed. George Washington changes into Barack Obama. James Madison morfs into Hillary Clinton. Alexander Hamilton becomes Al Gore. It is too depressing to think about it further. Charles Darwin must be turning over in his grave.
ncatty| 12.5.10 @ 11:56AM
You really need to follow the link and read Lerner's suggestions for the ideal candidate. They include Barbara Lee, Bernie Sanders, Al Franken and, my favorite, Susan Sarandon!
melanerpes| 12.5.10 @ 12:36PM
How do Lerner's platform's planks cohere? Answer: In their utter indifference to the creation of wealth, and their obsession with its correct rationing, as defined by him, of course.
Eric Cartman| 12.5.10 @ 12:47PM
All that's missing is "Dear Santa" and "P.S. We left you some Kashi Energy Bars and a cup of Silk (soy milk), Love Mikey"
George S| 12.5.10 @ 2:03PM
Yet Obama campaigned on none of those liberal policies in 2008. In fact he called for tax cuts (the 95% drone), more troops in Afghanistan (Iraq the Great Distraction), military action against Pakistan (remember?), and for oil companies to get busy drilling in their leased fields. He was against single payer health care by criticizing Hillary's mandates and McCain's taxing of employee insurance plans. And, he never mentioned taxing carbon; he "supported" clean coal technology.
So, Rabbi, how did he ever get elected in the first place? Hint: those outside the asylum vote too.
BD57| 12.5.10 @ 2:18PM
What's really incoherent is believing this "program" could ever be financed.
We can't afford the nanny state we have NOW and this fool wants more.
Wlady Pleszczynski| 12.5.10 @ 4:30PM
Doug: If not for my commitment to love, kindness, and generosity, you'd be hearing from my lawyer.
Jeff Perren | 12.5.10 @ 4:37PM
I think Bandow nailed it at the end. This is a parody from The Onion, right?
On the other hand, about 20% of Americans self-identify as liberals, so it might be legit after all. Interesting, how disconnected from reality one man can become, though.
PCC| 12.5.10 @ 9:42PM
Why can't we all just get along? All you need is love. Give peace a chance.
Answers1| 12.6.10 @ 12:35AM
They forgot open borders, free college tuition, mandatory diversity and multiculturalism training for whites.
uncle curmudgeon| 12.6.10 @ 7:36AM
He left out the chocolate fountains that Saddam lovingly installed in all of the day-care centers we blew up. I guess we'll just need to depend on the crazy FAGs to uphold the left wing of the Democratic Party.
Deborah D | 12.6.10 @ 8:37AM
Wow! How old is this guy anyway? This sounds like a high school freshman. I remember asking a question in my freshman English class -- why do there have to be wars? That's the exact kind of thinking that column exhibits. This guy lives in his head, not the real world -- fantasyland is not a real place, but don't anyone break that to him. Liberalism = smallmindedness.
Franco| 12.6.10 @ 9:10AM
My own political party, "Clowns and Bunnies United Against Capitalism", makes the same point in its platform.
And we like warm cookies.
Dale Cord| 12.6.10 @ 10:31AM
Hillary and Bill should have been incarcerated in a maximum security asylum way before they occupied the Oval Office in Washington, along with Obama,George Bush Senior, and Junior. For that matter all of the senators Republican and Democrats, should have been sharing a rubber room and straight jacket with these criminally insane parasites,who have been feeding off of the citizens of America far to long . Is anybody out there with a IQ higher than a zit zee fly? Tell me if you can, what in the name of all that is sacred, have these Lier's,Cheaters,Murderer's,Prostitutes,Rapist's,Child Molester's, Extortionist's, Adulterous fagots, done in the last 100 years to make our country a safe haven for it's population? We the people who are suppose to be the "Employers" of those in Washington, and those Employee's are suppose to be sub-servant to our needs and safety, have abdicated our responsibility ,as "Employer" to insure that our rules and regulation are followed in our manifesto The Constitution so we can have a successful life in our country from the cradle to the grave, and if these Employee's do not follow our laws and rules, it is our responsibility to fire them! Our lives will only be as good as those we hire to serve us.period!