To the editor:
In the lively and much appreciated discussion in the Squirrel on the Democratic candidates, I have seen people I respect supporting Hillary Clinton. While it would be historic to elect a woman president, I am concerned more about the rest of the history that will some day be written about the next four or eight years.
As a country, we are approaching turning points in several critical areas. Will we continue policies that generate income inequality and financial instability? Will we keep on pouring resources into being the world’s top cop? Will we come to grips with how we treat “those people,” be they black Americans or brown immigrants? Will we throw people out of the lifeboat of our heath care and safety net systems in order to keep them financially afloat?
From my perspective, Mr. Sanders is on the right side on all of these questions. He would take on the banks and question corporate-oriented trade agreements. He would show restraint in sending our troops into the world’s hot spots. He has been dedicated to civil rights his entire adult life. He would pursue rational, tested policies to assure effective and efficient health care.
Ms. Clinton, not so much. She is cozy with Wall Street, which is indebted to her husband for helping repeal the Glass-Steagall Act. Mr. Clinton also brought us corporate-friendly free trade with NAFTA, and Ms. Clinton was for the pending TPP trade agreement until grassroots opposition caused her to pause. As a senator, Ms. Clinton voted to invade Iraq, and as Secretary of State convinced President Obama to intervene in Libya. Despite her apparent popularity with African-Americans, her record on civil rights is checkered. On health and welfare issues, she speaks Washington-speak and favors policies that are yielding a slow-motion train wreck.
Pragmatic folks say the hill facing Mr. Sanders is just too steep. Well, as they say, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Or, perhaps more apropos to our locale, every revolution starts with a single shot. We did that once. I’m for doing it again.
Sincerely,
Gary Taylor
2 Beaver Pond Rd.
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Well done on exposing the Clinton myth with citation of fact. Myth is more powerful than reality and the Clintons have perpetuated their myth of altruism. Recall that the infamous Dick Morris was one of Bill Clinton’s advisors. The Clintons are professional politicians and will ‘pivot’ to get elected. Many thousands of people both in leadership positions and in the trenches have dedicated their lives to improving the lot of the underserved and minorities more effectively. I don’t understand the notion that the Clintons have altruistically dedicated their careers to helping people. Jimmy Carter helps people. Mother Theresa dedicated her life to helping people. Thousands of community citizens in soup kitchens, etc. dedicate their lives to helping people. None to my knowledge have become wealthy doing so by demanding huge speaking fees. The Clintons as a result of ‘public service’ benefitted enormously financially amassing a net worth of 100 million dollars. I am simply at a loss to understand how people cannot at least question the morality. Until Bernie Sanders forced Hillary Clinton to pivot, I cannot recall that she has ever made an issue of the wealth disparity in America, which continues to increase. I have nothing against making money and accruing wealth. I do question the means of accumulation especially when it is a consequence of public service. Of course, this speaks to the fundamental problem of a corrupt political system awash in money. As I’ve started many times the Clintons are masters of the system.
Revolutionary change doesn’t happen overnight. The Revolutionary War spanned eight years and it was fought by a relatively small number of dedicated patriots that stayed the course. The seeds of the American Revolution started a decade before April 1775 and one might consider didn’t end until April 1865. Bernie has awakened hope in a new generation. Huzzay for the Spirit of 2016!