By The Contrarian--George Vradenburg
AS BEFITS A CONTRARIAN," I DO NOT CALL MYSELF A PROGRESSIVE. GROWING UP IN COLORADO, I USED TO say I was a libertarian conservative from the Rockies. Now I live in Washington, DC, and say I'm a moderate Republican.
Senator McCain, I urge you to help Americans experience the American Dream as a reality in their lives.
The American Dream has the power to mobilize Americans of every background and income level, even as its embrace will take political courage because a true execution of what is needed will anger some in your "base."
The American Dream reflects the belief that, through working hard and playing by the rules, one's life and the lives of one's children will be progressively better. While the belief in the American Dream is fresh, it is not clear how our government is doing anything to help. Senator, you should mobilize American voters around that Dream, commit to implement efforts to help Americans realize that Dream, and hold America accountable by setting a national goal of more than doubling the rate of economic and social mobility of lower-income Americans.
The American Dream is not an unbounded abstraction, but a very real promise for most Americans. It is a robust political organizing concept with a clear policy agenda.
Education. The American Dream requires a powerful and high-performing education system that instills in our children the academic and social skills they need to succeed. The Federal government must force urgent and effective reform of our dismally-performing, locally-managed, union-dominated K-12 educational system. That reform will be advanced, as you have rightly advocated, by the ability of lower-income families to have the same choice as wealthier families to choose the school that works best for their children. Research demonstrates the power of universal pre-K as an element of education reform. And reality dictates that an education agenda requires workforce readiness, job training and vocational education specifically geared for the twenty-first century economy, including clear, demand-driven career pathways to higher-paying jobs.
Equal Opportunity. America must become the most disciplined country in the world in ensuring that minorities, women and immigrants are not prevented by discrimination in achieving their dreams. Equal opportunity must also mean that gay marriage, gays in the military and increased resources for Federal anti-discrimination enforcement should be a prominent part of your agenda, and currently it is not.
Immigration. The promise of the American Dream draws enterprising, risk-taking immigrants from around the world. This country should deliver on its promise by becoming the most welcoming country in the world to newcomers. You have rightly fought for comprehensive immigration reform, and you should not backslide or compromise one inch in that fight
The Economy and Taxes. Free markets and a mobile labor force are the best engines for individual prosperity and freedom; and the burdens a large government creates through taxes on the earnings of American workers should be reduced, wherever consistent with prudent fiscal policies. You are rightly maintaining those principles, but where in your program is there a response to the daily struggle of low-income, working Americans? Growing income inequality in America today should be a matter of deep concern since it means that lower-income Americans and new immigrants are challenged in moving up the income ladder. Seekers of the American Dream need a firm foundation to build for their futures, so a realistic safety net for low-income workers--including an honest solution to impending Social Security and Medicare deficit--is essential in order to keep the American Dream a reality for all.
Foreign Policy. The American Dream is in truth a Global Dream, and I applaud your promotion of a foreign policy based on the principles of universal education, equal opportunity (e.g., women's rights), freedom from oppression, and free trade. War is not our country's tactic of choice and not readily compatible with small government or lower taxes, so 1 encourage you to better balance our security needs with the financial burden of the war in Iraq. National and global security requires attention to terrorists and rogue nations, but the American Dream should inspire the world, not scare it. Swallow hard and embrace Al Gore's inspiring challenge to wean America off fossil fuels in ten years, lest the hard-won earnings of American workers end up funding interests hostile to America.
Senator McCain, America's ability to prosper in the coming century will be dependent on the innovative power of an enterprising people inspired by the American Dream. I urge you to make that Dream a reality for all working Americans.
George Vradenburg is co-publisher of Tikkun.
by The Contrarian--George Vradenburg
For a Letter to the Editor about this column in the following issue of Tikkun, click here.
