| The Fair Deal | | | | federal oversight of workplaceorganizing efforts. |
| One fine summer's evening, my wife Kim and I sat | | | | § Establish emergency access to the federal |
| with a few of our neighbors outon the side porch of | | | | courts for employees to press civil andcriminal claims |
| our house in North Chatham, N.Y., population 503. We | | | | against corporate representatives who interfere with |
| talkedpolitics. | | | | legitimateunion activity. |
| Most of us are Democrats. Some of us are old | | | | 3) National health insurance. |
| enough to have directly benefittedfrom the "New | | | | Enroll all Americans in the efficient, single-payer health |
| Deal" of Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose family estate | | | | program long enjoyed bymembers of Congress. |
| at Hyde Park isjust over in the next county. We all | | | | 4) The "Fair Tax Act." |
| appreciate that the American middle class, as | | | | To ensure that wealthy individuals and corporations |
| weknow it today, was largely created in the | | | | contribute their rightful share: |
| progressive years of FDR's presidency. Andwe all | | | | § No tax on a substantial first portion of |
| fear that our democracy will be destroyed by radical | | | | individual or family income. Above themark, |
| Republicans in the White | | | | assessment based on a steeply graduated income |
| House and Congress who are hell bent on destroying | | | | scale. |
| the New Deal and, therefore,our great middle class. | | | | § Substantial increases in corporate taxation. |
| As FDR and others remind us, you can have two | | | | § Substantial increases in tax law enforcement, |
| percent ofthe people owning more than half the | | | | targeting individuals andcorporations that demonstrate |
| nation's wealth and you can have ademocracy -- but | | | | patterns of avoidance and non-compliance. |
| you can't have both. | | | | 5) The "Fair Campaign Act." |
| In another desperate time at home and abroad, | | | | To help end the corrupting influence of special |
| Franklin Roosevelt drew up someideas about how | | | | interest money in national politicalcampaigns, require |
| the Democratic party could save the Republic. His | | | | media corporations that profit from the free use of |
| ideas workedbecause they were fair. Ideas such as | | | | publicairwaves to provide advertising at no cost to |
| Social Security, a ban on child labor, minimumwage | | | | qualified candidates. |
| law, visionary public works projects, government | | | | The Fair Deal |
| support for farmers and thearts and small business -- | | | | Foreign Policy Platform |
| and the general notion that we're all Americans, | | | | 1) The "War Powers Act" |
| thatwe're all in the enterprise of America together, | | | | Solidify existing statutes and constitutional directives |
| and that we own a government in | | | | with adoption of acomprehensive package of laws |
| Washington that ought to look out for us. Above all, | | | | addressing Congress as the sole legal authority |
| the demonstrable idea that | | | | forcommencing military action abroad. |
| Americans are a people with a decent soul. | | | | Articulate severe criminal consequences to elected |
| We are now caught in our own desperate time. A | | | | government officials -- as well ascorporate officials |
| president of moral vacancyoccupies the White House. | | | | with vested interests in military incursions and those |
| He and his apologists feel no shame for the | | | | appointedto high government position -- who would: |
| thousands ofhusbands and wives and brothers and | | | | § Place our military men and women in harm's |
| sisters and fathers and mothers they havesent to | | | | way under false pretenses. |
| death in a foreign war built on their lies. They have | | | | § Conspire with others, at home or abroad, to |
| no shame in colludingwith criminals, no shame in | | | | cause unjustified engagement inwarfare. |
| stripping away our civil liberties, no shame in | | | | § Abuse political authority and/or endanger the |
| befoulingour environment, no shame in the power | | | | security of the American people byfalsifying or |
| they have amassed for themselves andtheir friends | | | | misrepresenting intelligence service reports and |
| by exploiting fear and ignorance and intolerance -- no | | | | analyses, or byintimidating and/or obstructing the |
| shame inpunishing anyone who would dare question | | | | legitimate conduct and inquiries of intelligenceand/or |
| their conduct in office. | | | | military professionals. |
| It is tempting to mourn, but too late to do so. It is | | | | 3) The "World Citizenship Act" |
| time to organize a new Americanvision. It is time for | | | | To rebuild world trust in America's peaceful and |
| a renewed sense of national purpose and decency. | | | | democratic intentions: |
| Accordingly, my neighbors and I suggest a few ideas | | | | § Declare support and respect for the world |
| on how Democrats mightcreate promise for all by | | | | community by rejoining the |
| promoting fairness for all. | | | | International Court of Justice and the International |
| Thomas Adcock | | | | Criminal Court, institutionsestablished largely due to |
| August 2005 | | | | U.S. leadership in global human rights law. |
| The Fair Deal | | | | § Increase U.S. investment in worldwide efforts |
| Domestic Policy | | | | to improve human rights, laborrights, economic |
| 1) The "Public Investment Act." | | | | development, medical systems delivery and |
| To rebuild and maintain a broad American middle | | | | environmentalprotections. |
| class, the proven guarantor of ourdemocracy, we | | | | § Provide financial incentives for public school |
| must expand on the unprecedented success of the | | | | districts that produce high schoolgraduates who are |
| G.I. Bill of Rightsby extending its benefits to all: | | | | fully fluent in multiple world languages. |
| Federal loan guarantees for home ownership and | | | | 4) The "Fair Labor Act." |
| education. | | | | Amend all international trade agreements to provide |
| 2) The "Living Wage & Fair Workplace Act." | | | | wages and working conditionsat parity with the U.S. |
| Fairness in the workplace creates unity and enhances | | | | standard set in the "Living Wage & Fair |
| the competitive advantage of | | | | Workplace Act" (see |
| American industry. Fairness is good business and good | | | | Domestic Policy Program). |
| profits. Working Americanshave a right to prosperity. | | | | 5) The "Energy Independence Act." |
| To secure a fair chance at prosperity: | | | | Establish an emergency corporation as a joint venture |
| § Establish a wage and salary standard for | | | | of specialists fromgovernment, private industry, labor |
| private employers, in fair proportion toexecutive | | | | unions and environmental groups to researchand |
| remuneration and/or according to the Fair Tax Act | | | | develop alternative fuels and transport methods that |
| (see below). | | | | would create total energyindependence for the U.S. |
| § Remove all barriers to labor unions with strict | | | | |