My job tonight, as my advisors see it, is to remind undecided voters that I’m a safe candidate, an inspirational pragmatist who can—despite my name and my skin color and my suspicious history of activism—be trusted not to upset the glittering apple cart of capitalism.
Let me start by assuring those of you who are undecided: I have never looked down upon success. I started life as a bi-racial kid with a poor single mom. I am now your president. Do the math.
For nearly four years, I have sought to find practical solutions to our national troubles. Progress has been incremental at best.
In the course of these efforts, I have been forced to conclude that the political system in this country is broken. It has become divorced from the well being of our citizens, and the survival of our species. The result has been an accelerating march toward self-annihilation.
We find ourselves in a spiritual condition properly understood as prophetic decline. Our enemies reside not among us, but within us, as fundamental human tendencies.
We have become, in essence, a nation in the thrall of greed. We have consented to the barbaric notion that some should enjoy an obscene luxury while others live in poverty. We have made idols of the rich, and virtues of their whims, in a manner that would sicken Jesus Christ Himself. We have confused the fruits of opportunity and hard labor with the rights of all human beings to lead decent lives.
My opponent is not evil. But whatever love he carries within himself has become disfigured. I know of no other way to describe a man who views the preservation of inherited wealth as a sign of human progress.
Still, he is merely a symptom of our affliction.
We all know that millions of Americans lack the means to feed their children, and that millions more starve overseas. We all know that we are living amid an unprecedented and ruinous prosperity at the expense of our own progeny.
This has nothing to do with the national debt—a fake issue contrived by fake hearts—but with the depletion of resources essential to our survival: clean water, clean air, a habitable planet.
More than these, though, Americans have lost our capacity to pay attention, to accept the suffering of others as our responsibility. We have chosen to distract ourselves from the emptiness of our civic and ethical lives with an orgy of empty consumption.
The government that so many Americans delight in excoriating is, in fact, a direct reflection of our own pathological values: our worship of greed, our monstrous sense of entitlement, our willingness to privilege convenience above civic duty.
It is the job of the modern politician to enable these values. We trot into your living rooms every few years to flatter and bribe you, to reassure the “American people” that you are hard-working and noble and deserving of all the good fortune you enjoy.
We never mention that this country was built and expanded by means of murder and duplicity, or that its spasms of moral progress have done nothing to the stanch the original sin of avarice. We never tell you that we have lived high off the hog for too long and that the time has come, at last, to make due with less.
But that is what I am saying to you tonight.
The human capacity for generosity and kindness is not dead. But it is no longer something Americans can locate on their own. It must be fostered by a government that chooses advocacy of justice over acquiescence to the prevailing business interests.
Here, then, are the specific policies I intend to pursue in my second term:
1. A constitutional amendment banning all private monies from politics. Each candidate will instead have to set out in writing the specific policies he or she intends to pursue, and to debate these on radio, television, and personal forums. Anyone person caught funneling money to a candidate will be imprisoned for bribery, and any corporation heavily fined.
This amendment would include a ban on all organizations (Super PACs, 501C-4s etc.) that seek to influence the political process via paid propaganda. Citizens who want to be involved in their political process will volunteer.
2. A return to the tax rates that prevailed under President Eisenhower.
The richest Americans will pay 92 percent of their annual income to the government, unless they decide—as they did during the post-war boom—to reinvest their income by building new factories and hiring more workers. This would be accompanied by a closing of all loopholes designed to favor the affluent. (The current top rate is 35 percent, though millionaires and billionaires pay far less, owing to their manipulation of the tax code.) In the spirit of American self-reliance, and in the interest of preventing our country from being confused with an aristocracy, any inheritance of money or land will be taxed at the same Eisenhower-era rate.
3. The funds generated from these policies will be used to:
*Eliminate the national debt
*Construct public transportation systems in all major American cities
*Triple the salaries of all public school teachers, social workers, nurses, and police officers working with at-risk populations
*Establish a national health care system designed and headed by Dr. Atul Gawande to compete with the private sector.
*Provide tax credits for all household and companies that can prove they are carbon-neutral
*Quintuple our investment in renewable energy technologies, including job retraining for workers in unsustainable energy sectors
*Provide retraining for those millionaires and billionaires seeking to relearn basic skills, such as making their own food, and washing the dishes. (Also, if necessary, grief counseling.)
4. An immediate reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine, requiring all radio and TV personalities who wish to devote “a reasonable amount of broadcast time to the discussion of controversial issues” to do so “fairly, in order to afford reasonable opportunity for opposing viewpoints.” No more for-profit demagoguery. If you want speech free, the price is the free speech of those with opposing views.
5. A constitutional amendment to eliminate the Electoral College in favor of a popular vote, so as to force national candidates to address the concerns of all voters.
6. The legalization of marijuana, to be taxed and regulated by state and federal authorities.
7. The establishment of taxes on luxury items that serve no clear public good, including but not limited to: private jet travel, expensive jewelry, gourmet foods and alcohol, SUVs, and cigarettes.
8. The imposition of heavy tax burdens placed on corporations that seek to displace locally owned and operated business.
9. The granting of all the rights of citizenship to the children of undocumented workers born in this country, and a path to citizenship for all undocumented workers who have paid taxes for at least a decade.
10. A public initiative to shrink our prison system by fifty percent within the next decade.
These policies are not an attempt to subvert capitalism, but to curb its inhuman and unsustainable excesses. They are, by any objective measure, common sense solutions to our collective crises. That they sound radical is a testament to the willful ignorance of our age.
If we fail to act to rein our worst impulses, if we continue to countenance passivity and denial, we will not only erode our standing as a nation. We will also condemn those who inherit the earth from us to lives of chaos and savagery.
I’m speaking about my children, and their children. And yours.
***
[Editor’s Note: Is there a policy you’d like to see President Obama pursue in his second term? Contribute your own planks to the WiG platform in the comments section below.]
31 responses
You’re right, he would never give this speech. There are too many people in denial about most of the amendments you cover, too many people scared to admit responsibility and make changes in their lives in order to improve things. It unfortunately comes down to awareness, accountability and doing the hard thing. Good idea, though.
Steve– You’ve got my vote! One candidate actually speaking some of these truths at the DNC is Elizabeth Warren, whose speech last night frankly stated the system is ‘rigged’– EW has Wall Street’s number. She knows the math and the ropes and knows how to reign these guys in. Maybe add a plank, Steve, for a Consumer Protection agency with teeth, with Elizabeth Warren in charge (though hopefully she will be otherwise engaged as our next Senator). Anyone looking to support EW and Steve Almond via Steve’s an my fundraiser Writers for Warren (online donations welcome) please visit: http://events.elizabethwarren.com/event/Writers913
Nice, especially re. Americans needing help in the form of legislation to find their spirit of caring for others. In general: bravo.
Specificity, it would seem, still needs to be legislated as well.
Just like people seem to need to be told not to let their children play with light sockets or drain cleaner..
To your list I would only wish to add (granted, possibly not your agenda) voice to these seemingly needed details: the land, water, air, animals – without which we are nothing, and the violence and destruction towards, seems to carry right on through to women, children, and people who look or seem different.
You must be French! Why do you hate America? This is the greatest country in the world, so it is not possible that we could be guilty of all these crimes!
The “corporate veil” is bulletproof armor for wrongdoing, except in the sense that it actually works every time. When you choose to put your methyl isocyanate plant in the poorest part of some developing country, the deaths that result from the inevitable spill should each result in a count of premeditated murder for each board member and officer. Probably need something in the Constitution on this.
This is great, Steve. Thanks. A couple of other thoughts: 1) Increased federal funding for public television and radio. 2) A student loan bail-out (a fraction the size of the Wall Street bail-out).
I don’t think the policies suggested subvert capitalism, I think they build ACCOUNTABILITY. The more accountability the less need for regulation. Where have you been? Maybe the question is better asked “where have I been!” Loved your straight truth. As a former broadcast journalist I now see we reward not being personally accountable MORE than being accountable and I am working to reverse that one person, one organization at a time. Not holding poor performers accountable punishes the best performers. I go where I am invited to teach this. The good news is I am getting invited. I want President Obama to appoint an Accountability Czar to his cabinet. My vote is Elizabeth Warren. The great thing about Accountability is that it is non-partisan and presents The Straight Truth all the time, every time.
http://www.lindagalindo.com/blog/wanted-accountability-alchemist/ There are great people out there learning this fundamental principle. The constant question I get…”when will you teach this to Congress?” http://tinyurl.com/d4pabl5 My response…as soon as I am invited! (Not holding my breath). Look forward to following you!
I would like to see both Obamas agree not to curry favor with anti-intellectuals by dropping their g’s while public speaking.
1+ year(s) of mandatory volunteerism may help stunt greed and feed/educate/house/clothe a few of our neighbors in the process.
“That they sound radical is a testament to the willful ignorance of our age.” Painfully true. Fantastic words of right, righteous anger, Steve. Gracias.
Take away the money for “what I want and I’m giving this to insure my way is followed…” take that kind of cash out of politics and perhaps we, as a country, can build a community of values for all and then perhaps we stand a chance to live up to our country’s ideals, however real or imagined. I mean, how many fliers do I really need to decide how to vote!?
Thanks, Steve.
Uh … all children born in this country ARE citizens. I’m surprised you don’t know that. Yes, anti-immigrant factions are always talking about changing this law for the children of the undocumented, or to prevent the overwhelming problem of “birth tourism” , but the law still stands.
Thanks for this piece. I believe you mean “make do with less,” rather than “make due with less.”
Thats a panacea that thevgreedy withbso much power will never allow to happen but what makes me happy is that we have in obama someone who is aware of all that is so wrong and is trying to fix, one thing at the time but the dogs of the big corporation are infiltrated in the republican party make any change for the better almost imposible, eventualy one day good will prevail and evil will die!
Firstly, no Charlie, “make due” is the proper phrase as “make do” happens to make no sense. Due like a monthly bill payment or an assignment. Onwards, a 92% tax rate is incredibly unreasonable for any income. Most of this is so far away from what America values (albeit wrongly) that it is ridiculous. Why not just propose rebuilding the country entirely devoid of capitalism as a socialist nation instead of claiming to preserve capitalism? Clearly, capitalism (or rather the attitudes and ideals behind the concept) is the root cause of most of the problems addressed by this. However, the election and political processes proposed here are not bad solutions, except perhaps the whole idea of majority voting. The corruption and futility of our “democracy” are boundless, and besides that, when did “everybody’s doing it” (AKA democracy and a popular vote) become an acceptable justification?
Hey Steve,
Good stuff. I think that if we’re serious about these sorts of changes, # 1 and # 5 ought to be # 1 and # 2. I think the other parts of this list, which makes the speaker (if this were a speech) seem rather like a man who has taken the country hostage, are things that can/will follow if we put corporate money on illegal status in DC and allow for direct representation. That would allow for a multiple party system–true democratic representation. (There is a part of me, I must admit, that sees this change as being as likely as making its policies retroactive and magically undoing the Bush years). Alright, well, I’m probably not telling you anything new, but I am saying that I’m with you. Maybe we should call up Bernie Sanders and get this party started (note the tone of sarcasm even though I am not being sarcastic).
Best,
C
Wow. Thanks, Steve. You have captured the spirit of what I believe Obama meant at the DNC regarding Citizenship. These are the RIGHT things to do, but the LEFT party is the only one who takes reality seriously.
11) Another constitutional amendment….make citizen owned guns illegal, amnesty up to one year, government to buy back and destroy all firearms (ammo too), period. All export and sale of civilian firearms halted and made illegal too. Anyone involved in a crime using firearms, automatic life in prison, any companies selling such in and out of America, assests siezed and shut down forever. Ahhh…that felt good !
12) Creation of Dept. of Homeland Humor. Any person suspected of being depressed, in a bad mood, &tc., at airports, stadium events, subway entry, railway platform, border crossings…will be stopped, given a drink of choice, and told a great joke. Think of all those unemployed comics and writers that will have jobs!
Rather than focusing on polarizing percentages, simply close the tax loopholes that favor corporations and the rich.
Create non-for-profit news organizations. I watched both conventions via PBS and got four hours of non-commercial access to what was being said. I like to take in the information first-hand and make up my own mind, not have it filtered and edited for my consumption.
Make it illegal to run industrial animal production and slaughter in the inhumane way that we do. Towns in Nebraska are now more than 50% Hispanic because locals simply will not do the barbaric job of skinning cattle who have not been properly stunned and are bellowing in pain until they finally die. These poor immigrants stand knee-deep in blood all day so that cheap meat is readily available. Meat packing has never been what you might call an enlightened industry but it is downright shameful now.
For a publication that says it has not interested in being an “echo chamber” I can’t remember a time when I read an article on The Rumpus, mentioning politics, that didn’t just repeat the same ideas and sentiments. The worn out cliché “preaching to the choir” comes to mind. I would love to see content on here that challenges the ideas of your typical reader, instead of simply pandering to them. I mean, look at the comments section… I’m not suggesting you start publishing opposing viewpoints on politics, I can get there elsewhere quite easily, and it isn’t what “you” do. But isn’t there one person writing or submitting to The Rumpus who doesn’t share these viewpoints and who could contribute something worthwhile? Politics intersect culture is so many ways. The Rumpus is so diverse in so many ways, I just hate to see if fall so short in this area.
There are so many things I favor in this article: the elimination of an electoral college, and returning to Ike’s taxing policies. However, the conservative strings that tug at me most deal with immigration. Why do the children of undocumented workers born in this country receive automatic citizenship? Where do we draw our limits? It is not ignorant to say many of these undocumented workers are those who rely on that nonexistant federal money you want so badly to regain. My grandparents came here on a boat and worked their asses off with no help from the government; they fought in our military. Why are you making it all the more enticing for illegals to plant themselves here by way of their children? Diversity is a beautiful thing, but not in this wrong, illegal manner. It is simply not fair to those who have families that have worked hard to keep this country thriving for generations.
@mitchell – no, charlie is correct. it’s “make do.” i read that americans “produce” only 3.2% of the world’s children but buy 40% of the world’s toys. maybe we foster greed from the get go in this country. one thing that would help tremendously would be for the entire population of the world to stop having so many damn children. but that’s not going to happen, is it. i mean, i have two of my own.
I would add that all persons with disabilities — inherited or acquired — have full health insurance coverage and that they will stay in their homes with appropriate care and respite for their families, that they will not have to fight for these services but, rather, that the general population will look upon it as a duty and an honor to help those most vulnerable.
Change the Minimum Wage to a Living Wage, with cost of living increases determined every two years.
“…And while I would like to commend my esteemed colleague and Vice President of the United States Joe Biden for a lifetime of service and a controversial hair transplant that filled in rather well after all (except for a persistent duck-tail), I have decided that in the best interests of our children and our children’s children, the renowned Man of Letters Steven Almond shall take his place at my side as my new running mate, and shall be groomed to succeed me when my second term ends in 2016…”
Great start, Steve, but can we get some women’s rights addressed up in here? Specifically:
-50% of government positions from the top down shall hereby be open only to women. (Women can also run for or apply for the other 50% of positions too, but the first half are reserved for Team V.)
-Every uterus is hereby declared property of the woman that it inhabits and can be governed only by the owner of said uterus, and this law shall stand forever and ever, amen, blessed be, and shalom.
That’s just barely a start. I haven’t even gotten to doing away with standardized testing, killing the current model of creativity-stifling factory schooling, creating programs to encourage urban homesteading and domestic arts for boys and girls, supporting mothers (or fathers) who choose to stay home to raise kids, etc… Wow. We’ve got a lot of work to do.
In addition to “Tripl[ing] the salaries of all public school teachers, social workers, nurses, and police officers working with at-risk populations,” I would like a complete overhaul of the current education system. We need great schools everywhere, schools that aren’t solely dependent on the income/means of the rural community where they stand. Everyone should have a top class education regardless of birth and location. Educating our citizens is the only way to preserve democracy and as such increasing funding for public television/radio and subsidizing the news on the front end, only to have funding renewed with strict adherence to the Fairness Doctrine, will help ensure an informed citizenry.
My only question is…by taxing business owners and wealthy individuals at a rate of 92%….where is the incentive to start a new business? If you would only ever be able to keep 8% of what you made…why risk your capital? Why risk the investment?
If this were instituted, I can guarantee that I would close my small business and go back to school to become a teacher because that’s where the money would be.
Love the triple teachers’ pay!!!! Guess what I do for a living????
Typical Oblabber voters in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOVD-m8urJU
I had forgotten how stupid bullies are, and without the threat of physical violence to back up their moronic thinking, well, they just become pathetic losers.
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