When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Saturday, November 03, 2001
Here is a summary by Starhawk.
That sounds fairly simple, doesn't it?
Those who do not understand the Left should keep in mind this one thing: We may have political democracy, but we do not have economic democracy.
Until we do, we are neither free nor secure. And more and more feel we don't really have political democracy, as the candidates we get to vote for were not selected by us and do not answer to us.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
What does the left want?
Here is a summary by Starhawk.
- We want enterprises to be rooted in communities and responsible to communities and to future generations.
- We want producers to be accountable for the true social and ecological costs of what they produce.
- We say there is a commons that needs to be protected, that there are resources that are too vital to life, too precious or sacred to be exploited for the profit of the few, including those things that sustain life: water, traditional lands and productive farmland, the collective heritage of ecological and genetic diversity, the earth's climate, the habitats of rare species and of endangered human cultures, sacred places, and our collective cultural and intellectual knowledge.
- We say that those who labor are entitled, as a bare minimum, to safety, to just compensation that allows for life, hope and dignity, and to have the power to determine the conditions of their work.
- We say that as humans we have a collective responsibility for the well being of others, that life is fraught with uncertainty, bad luck, injury, disease, and loss, and that we need to help each other bear those losses, provide generously and graciously the means for all to have food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, and the possibility to realize their dreams and aspirations. Only then will we have true security.
- We say that democracy means people having a voice in the decisions that affect them, including economic decisions.
That sounds fairly simple, doesn't it?
Those who do not understand the Left should keep in mind this one thing: We may have political democracy, but we do not have economic democracy.
Until we do, we are neither free nor secure. And more and more feel we don't really have political democracy, as the candidates we get to vote for were not selected by us and do not answer to us.
Palema
2:05 PM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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