Fwd:Gore

[nyork@verinet.com (Nancy York)]

From: Daniel Lyons <dlyons@lamar.colostate.edu>
Subject: Gore
Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 12:12:44 -0600


I got this clear, analytic view from a relative. You might want to pass it
on to Nader people.
  Your piece on Gore/abortion was good; we want to circulate it to
one-issue feminists. (We need to replace abortion with morning-after pill
anyway,as much as possible; that pill can't be forbidden.)
--------
I've had the same thought,  since Gore will take Massachusetts.

Here's my perspective on US politics:  the really important life and death
issues are not up for public debate, by bipartisan agreement -- military
policy, foreign policy and financial policy.  Clinton is carrying out
Reagan's Star Wars program, he hasn't lifted a finger to disarm following the
Soviet breakup, and his Secy of Defense is a Republican.  He is carrying out
Bush's New World Order approach, established NAFTA with Repub. support,
turning foreign policy over to corporate control.  He bombs Iraq weekly,
killing people. Ho hum.  He enthusiastically endorsed Greenspan, a
conservative Republican whose greatest nightmare is an increase in wages.
(And Pres.Kennedy had a Republican Treasury Secy.)  Regarding the
astounding income disparities between rich and poor in the world's richest
country, Clinton-Gore wring their hands and merely offer a small raise in
the minimum wage.

Also, on domestic policy Clinton has quietly carried out the Republican goal
of transferring power from the federal government to the states, the most
visible being welfare "reform".  But he actually did this across the board --
he granted Medicaid waivers to virtually all states, thus effectively
bypassing important federal standards and controls. (Reagan accomplished
this power transfer by block-granting programs,  eliminating fed.
oversight.)
Notice, no public debate, just as there is no public accountability re the
military, State and Treasury Dept. budgets and programs.

So, that leaves public policy issues that have ostensible Demo-Repub
differences.  I'm not saying they are unimportant -- school vouchers, church-
state relations, health care, Soc.Secur (and key Democrats push SS
privatization -- Moynihan, Kerrey, Breaux, Leiberman).  Gore talks universal
health care but his proposals are meager.  Clinton's prescription drug plan
for Medicare is pathetic. These issues are the ones they choose to offer us,
distracting us from the life and death issues.

Many Repub Supreme Ct nominees have been moderate and liberal - Warren,
Souter- and some Demo Appointees have been so-so.  A Democratic Senate
elected Clarence Thomas.  Of course, none of them will challenge the
hegemony of the business world. And Texas jails started burgeoning under
Dem. Gov Ann Richardson.  Notice when CA abolished affirmative action in
the state university system Clinton did nothing to challenge it and
withhold funding.  But he sounds great on civil rights.

Would Bush be worse than his father?  He is bringing in his father's
advisors.  Did you hear how Gore supported the drug industry's fight with
South Africa over its attempt to bring in lower cost AIDS drugs (until
demonstrators embarrassed him)? Gore never mentions lowering drug costs.

It's discouraging how people fail to understand the free trade issue.  Nader
describes how foreign traders haul the US before obscure Swiss courts and
successfully argue that we are restraining free trade by having safety and
environmental restrictions on goods and products.  NAFTA and WTO are
destroying these safeguards.

Sorry for spilling like this -- once I get started....I'm just delighted that
we have a similar perspective.
                                          Art

Ten Key Values of the Greens
     * Social Justice * Community-Based Economics * Nonviolence *
     * Decentralization * Future Focus/Sustainability * Feminism *
     * Personal and Global Responsibility * Respect for Diversity *
              * Grassroots Democracy * Ecological Wisdom *

    


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