Kshama Sawant: ‘What Does Socialism Mean to You?’

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Derik Schneider

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Source:Socialist Alternative– rally for a 15 dollar minimum wage in Seattle,Washington. Seattle is one of the few big cities in America where Socialists don’t seem like escaped mental patients, but rather mainstream. San Francisco and perhaps Portland, Oregon, are big cities like that.

“Everybody knows you have to accept corporate money and work within the two-party system to get elected, right?

Not so with Kshama Sawant.

In November 2013, nearly 100,000 voters elected her to Seattle City Council – as an open Socialist – and she didn’t take a dime in corporate cash!

In a huge political upset, Sawant’s victory sent shockwaves through the political establishment and even around the globe. Sawant is the first independent Socialist elected in a major U.S. city in decades. Her historic breakthrough was covered by every major newspaper in the country, major TV stations, and newspapers around the world.

Now she and her Socialist Alternative political party are leading a movement to implement their main campaign pledge: raising Seattle’s minimum wage to the highest in the country – $15/hour – and the movement is spreading nationally.

How did Sawant and Socialist Alternative succeed in unseating a well-connected, 16-year incumbent Democrat? Is Seattle just a mecca of progressive politics?

“Our campaign is not an isolated event,” claims Kshama Sawant. “In fact, it’s the bellwether for what’s going to happen in the future.”

Sounds nice. But is she dreaming?”

From Socialist Alternative

“Thom Hartmann talks with Kshama Sawant, Seattle City Council Member-Socialist Alternative Website: http://www.seattle.gov/council/ about being the first Socialist elected to that governing body.”

Thom Hartmann_ What Does Socialism Mean to You_ (2014) - Google Search

Source:Thom Hartmann– Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant on the Thom Hartmann Show.

From Thom Hartmann

The type of socialism that Kshama Sawant is talking about her and I guess that Socialist that she portrays herself as, is a Democratic Socialist that he believes the job of government is to see that the needs of people are met, instead of the private sector, especially private, for-profit corporations. And that the job of government (perhaps especially the national government) is to organize the resources of the country, especially in the private sector through taxes and regulations to see that everyone’s needs are met. That there is no poverty or wealth in society.

I don’t think Kshama Sawant is a Communist, but I don’t see her as a Swedish Social Democrat either. In Sweden with their social democracy, taxes on business and foreign trade are low, government budgets tend to be balanced, but taxes on individuals are high to finance their large public welfare state.

I think what you would get with a Kshama Sawant Socialist or a Bernie Sanders Socialist, is taxes so high on wealth and business, to discourage people from becoming independently wealthy and economically independent of government, to try to prevent poverty in the country.

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ESPN: First Take: Jay Gruden To Become Redskins Head Coach

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Erik Schneider

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Source:The New Democrat 

I’m not crazy about the Jay Gruden hire as the next Redskins head coach. He is obviously a talented offensive mind and QB Andy Dalton has played well for him and head coach Marvin Lewis at times for the Cincinnati Bengals. But that alone plus the fact he has such a thin NFL resume and not much of a pro football resume at all. Unless you want to include the arenaball league which is the Arena Football League. Which I don’t because it is a very different league and a different sport as well.

I don’t see Jay Gruden as ready to go from only one NFL assistant coach job to be head coach of the Washington Redskins. One of the most storied franchises in the NFL and also one of the most historically successful franchises as well. Especially when there are other people out there who could’ve been the Redskins head coach with much more of a proven NFL resume. Like Jim Caldwell the Ravens offensive coordinator, Perry Fewell the New York Giants defensive coordinator. And Darryl Bevell the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator.

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PBS NewsHour: Judy Woodruff: Ray LaHood & Ed Rendell Make Push to Revitalize U.S. Infrastructure

Posted on January 8, 2014 by kireschneider

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Source:The New Democrat 

The National Infrastructure Bank is the best answer to solving our infrastructure deficit. Because it would be self-financed because it’s funding would come exclusively from the private sector. Bringing in investors that would get their money back, plus profits on the projects they invest in that the NIB would also get back to pay its bills and even make profits. Based on fees that people would be charged to use the projects like the roads, bridges, airports etc. A NIB at best is around a hundred-billion dollars a year or more. Which would be great if we didn’t have a 1-2 trillion-dollar deficit in infrastructure. So we also need a new infrastructure bill passed by Congress that takes care of most of the infrastructure investment. With the NIB financing infrastructure in this country in the future.

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Bernie Sanders: Video: The War on Poverty

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Derik Schneider

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The New Democrat

Senator Sanders giving several examples of federal programs that have been created to help people in poverty pay their bills and so forth. But didn’t give any examples of how these programs have moved people from poverty and into the middle class with the skills, tools and freedom to be able to take care of themselves. Or are people struggling back fifty-years ago now seeing their kids and grandkids struggle as they are still struggling themselves today. Or are their lives collectively better today than they were then.

Has the trillions of taxpayer dollars that have been spent on the so-called War on Poverty fifty-years later, has it created more economic freedom for people so they can take care of themselves and not need public assistance? Which is what the War on Poverty section of this blog focus’s on. How are these programs working to move people out of poverty and off of public assistance with the freedom to take care of themselves.

I would argue that at best the so-called War on Poverty has a mixed record. Yes it has prevented things like starvation and further homelessness that would’ve gone on top of the homelessness that we are dealing with today as a developed country. And yes of course those are good things. But the War on Poverty has failed to lessen poverty to the point that we see real reductions of poverty in this country. Other than in the 1990s which was a boom decade economically for America.

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Na Radio Asami: Video: NBC Nightly News With John Chancellor and David Brinkley From 1978: Early Days of The Onion News Network?

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Ederik Schneider

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This post was originally posted at The New Democrat on Blogger

Some of these stories sounded like the could’ve been written by The Onion. Like the anti-busing advocate in Boston losing her City Council seat. Politicians collecting public assistance. I know law enforcement, teachers, fireman and the military are underpaid, but if anything politicians are way overpaid, at least at the federal level. And maybe that is why these real public servants, the teachers, law enforcement etc are so underpaid. There’s not enough cookies left in the jar and money in the piggy bank to pay everyone else what they deserve and even need just to pay their bills. As far as blizzards in the Dakotas in the fall, as if I didn’t already have enough incentive to live there. And TV ratings, if you don’t like what is popular, gee here’s an idea, don’t watch it and share that advice with others.
Mel's Diner

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Heritage Foundation: Jennifer Marshall: War on Poverty at 50

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Rik Schneider

Source:The New Democrat 

There have been several posts about the War on Poverty already this week on this blog. And that is because and not to sound repetitive, but 2014 is the 50th Anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson declaring War on Poverty this week. And with poverty still be such a big issue in this country still having roughly twice as much people as compared with the rest of the developed world, now is the perfect time look at what works and what doesn’t when addressing poverty in this country today.

The information, evidence and facts are already in how to address poverty in this country. If the goal is simply to move people out of poverty and into the middle class. Having achieved economic freedom with the tools and income to be able to take care of themselves. Instead of saying that “we have a population in the country with practically nothing and what we are going to do is give these people very little in helping them pay their bills”. And then make the claim they no longer live in poverty because if you add up all of their public cash assistance, they no longer are officially in poverty.

Again we know what works in addressing poverty in America. Yes cash assistance, but short-term so people on poverty know they need to get their acts together so to speak. And improve their employment outlook by finishing their education. And prepare themselves to enter and stay in the workforce with a good full-time job. If you are actually talking about moving people out of poverty and into the middle class.

What doesn’t work as far as moving people out of poverty which is indefinite cash assistance. Coming with no opportunities for these workers to finish their education. Nothing be expected of them as far as improving themselves so they can take care of themselves. Giving them more money if they have additional kids while still on Welfare. Or giving them more money not working than what they could make working. Even if it is a low-skilled low-income job.

The New Deal and Great Society were designed for the most part with some exceptions, to give the less-fortunate some cash assistance to help them pay some of their bills. But without a lot of resources and encouragement or requirements for these people to improve themselves.

And look for work or go back to work. And yes we have had some bad economic times over the last fifty years. But in good economic times you still need good skills to get a good job that you are qualified for. Which is why education and job training are two of the big keys in defeating poverty in this country.
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FOX Sports: ‘Crowd Goes Wild- Dead Spin: Is Hall of Fame Vote a Good Thing?’

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Rik Schneider
FOX Sports_ 'Crowd Goes Wild- Dead Spin_ Is Hall of Fame Vote a Good Thing_'

Source:FOX Sports– talking about the 2014 MLB Hall of Fame class.

“Crowd Goes Wild on this year’s baseball HOF inductions and near misses.”

From FOX Sports

I have no issues with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine going into the Hall of Fame today. No doubt they are two of the best pitchers of their generation. Frank Thomas a great hitter, but a below average first baseman and a long-term designated hitter.

But my main problem with the 2014 Hall of Fame Class were the great players who still haven’t made it. Especially former Detroit Tigers great pitcher Jack Morris the all-time winningest pitcher of the 1980s and one of the best big game pitchers of all-time. And Mike Piazza the greatest hitting catcher of all-time. Who should’ve been a first ballot Hall of Famer.

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ESPN: SportsCenter: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas Elected To Hall of Fame

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Erik Schneider

Source:The New Democrat 

Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine are no doubters as far as first ballot Hall of Famers. Obviously two of the best pitchers of their generation as the guys in the video explained. As far as Frank Thomas who I agree is a Hall of Famer who I would’ve voted for the Hall of Fame. But in the near future and not on the first ballot. Because even though he has great numbers as a hitter and one of the best hitters of this generation. Was below average first baseman who played about half of his career as a designated hitter Once the Chicago White Sox picked up Paul Konerko who is a good first baseman and will also be in the Hall of Fame as well.

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The New Republic: Opinion: Mike Konczal: War on Poverty Turns 50: Three Lessons For Progressives Today

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Erik Schneider

Lyndon Johnson
The New Republic: Opinion: Mike Konczal: War on Poverty Turns 50: Three Lessons For Progressives Today

This post was originally posted at The New Democrat on Blogger

This really should be lessons for today’s so-called Progressives. I’m looking for a word to describe someone who has a big centralize government program, policy or new tax to solve everyone’s problems for them. Which is how people who take the approach that if government is taking care of your economic needs for you, somehow you are not living in poverty anymore. Which is pure nonsense of course, but that is how people with this type of political approach tend to think. Socialist comes to mind and certainly Social Democrat because people of this mindset tend to be democratic. But Socialist might be too simplistic for people of this mindset and Social Democrat well that is two words and not one.

1. Strong Growing Economy
Look, Liberals already know how to reduce poverty and if you stay on this course you dramatically reduce poverty to the point where our poverty numbers are somewhere where Canada and Europe’s are, which is around ten percent. You need a strong economy for everyone where not just jobs are being created with low unemployment. But a lot of good jobs and without that even for people on public assistance who’ve just finished their education or job training, they won’t be able to find a good job for the most part and may now need to get on Unemployment Insurance.

2. Short-Term Cash Assistance
For people on Welfare Insurance so these people can pay their bills in the short-term as they are improving themselves and getting ready to join the workforce full-time with a good job. And the LBJ War on Poverty got the cash assistance part right. Actually the FDR New Deal did that in the 1930s. And President Bill Clinton and Speaker Newt Gingrich got the short-term cash assistance part right in the 1990s with Welfare to Work. So people on Welfare get the message and are motivated to finish their education and prepare themselves to go to work.

3. Education and Job Training
If you are on Welfare Insurance and you do not even have a high school diploma, you are going to have a hard time holding down a fast-food job let alone finding yourself a good job that pays all of your bills. And high school dropouts are not uncommon for people on public assistance. So for those without a high diploma or GED, they need to get that. And then they are going to need to take college courses or be in job training programs to get themselves marketable vocational skills. So they have the skills that they need to get themselves a good job and be able to hold on to it. If they already have their high school diploma, well that is good, but now it is time to be in community college. Or a vocational program to further their education.

4. Job Placement-
Last, but definitely not least job placement, but being placed in a good full-time job. That pays them enough to cover their own cost of living expenses and make them able to leave public assistance all together. And one of the beauties of Welfare to Work is that it combined all four of these factors. And we actually did see in the late 1990s and early 2000s and since people who use to be on Welfare going to work with good full-time jobs and a lot of them managing a business. Or even owning their own business which are real rags to riches stories. That if you call yourself a Progressive, you should be celebrating and not trying to put down.

We know what works in reducing poverty in America. We got that down to actually thirteen percent during the Bill Clinton Administration with polices like this. Then Governor Bill Clinton ran on welfare reform when he was running for president in 1991-92. Republicans especially governors had similar ideas in the early and mid 1990s as well. Actually then Governor Mike Dukakis ran on the same welfare reform ideas when he ran for president in 1988. So we know what to do and Liberal Democrats have supported these proposals for almost thirty years now. It is just a matter of getting back to this approach and having a Republican Party that gets back to their roots. Instead of just saying government has no role here.

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PBS NewsHour: Senate Advances bill to Restore Benefits For Long-Term Unemployed

Posted on January 7, 2014 by kireschneider

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Source:The New Democrat 

Good news for unemployed workers and I did here a couple of positive things even from Speaker of the House John Boehner. Who basically said the current bill in the Senate is dead on arrival in the House. But would be open to an Unemployment Insurance extension. If it includes an amendment that has something to do with putting these workers back to work. And that could be thing things like new help for education and job training so these workers can get new skills. But also even requirements that these workers even do that for the workers who’ve been unemployed for a long time. And as far as paying for the bill, there is so much room in the federal budget to cut including in the tax code. That they should be able to find something to cut without hurting the economy. Sometimes it is just a matter of Congress actually sitting down with each other and talking about issues and how they feel about them. And when they actually do that you see mutual legislation move in both the Senate and House.

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