Redistributionism as a recurring theme
Ed links to this recap from a spring 1996 meeting of the Chicago chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, and guess who is involved? That’s right, Barack Obama!
Barack Obama observed that Martin Luther King’s March on Washington in the 1960s wasn’t simply about civil rights but demanded jobs as well. Now the issue is again coming to the front, but he wished the issue was on the Democratic agenda not just on [Pat] Buchanan’s.
One of the themes that has emerged in Barack Obama’s campaign is “what does it take to create productive communities”, not just consumptive communities. It is an issue that joins some of the best instincts of the conservatives with the better instincts of the left. He felt the state government has three constructive roles to play.
The first is “human capital development”. By this he meant public education, welfare reform, and a “workforce preparation strategy”. Public education requires equality in funding. It’s not that money is the only solution to public education’s problems but it’s a start toward a solution. The current proposals for welfare reform are intended to eliminate welfare but it’s also true that the status quo is not tenable. A true welfare system would provide for medical care, child care and job training. While Barack Obama did not use this term, it sounded very much like the “social wage” approach used by many social democratic labor parties. By “workforce preparation strategy”, Barack Obama simply meant a coordinated, purposeful program of job training instead of the ad hoc, fragmented approach used by the State of Illinois today.
The state government can also play a role in redistribution, the allocation of wages and jobs. As Barack Obama noted, when someone gets paid $10 million to eliminate 4,000 jobs, the voters in his district know this is an issue of power not economics. The government can use as tools labor law reform, public works and contracts.
Linked with:
- Another Day, Another Unearthe Socialism Speech from the One « Trust, But Verify
- The Scary Part of Obama’s Redistribution Comments | Counting Sheep
- The Right Side of Life » Blog Archive » Sen. Obama: SCOTUS Should Consider “redistribution of wealth,” Other Issues, Not Legislative Branch
- Obama’s “redistribution” hits keep on coming « Crush Liberalism
- On Wealth Redistribution: or not: « Beyond the Code
- The Cool Blue Blog
- Obama: Don’t Expect Me To Keep My Promises – Video | BigMouthFrog
- Obama the Marxist Part III : Stop The ACLU
- The Obaminator 1995: “Rev Wright is the best the Black Church has to offer” » Winds Of Jihad
October 28, 2008 - 03:30 PM on October 28th, 2008
[...] By this he meant public education , welfare reform, and a “workforce preparation strategyâ€. Public education requires equality in fundingRedistributionism as a recurring theme [...]
October 28, 2008 - 11:25 PM on October 28th, 2008
Look all of us progressives know exactly what Obama means by redistribution of wealth and of course it is just what the great Karl Marx defined. It is unfair for the rich to hoard all the wealth and if they won’t give it up we will just take it.
Obama can’t discuss this openly because most of the voters would never understand it. But they want it, and you’ll see on Nov. 4 how much they want it!