Being a Liberal: Proudly

If you watch the news or read a major newspaper, you might have forgotten what being a liberal is really about. You see big Democrats like John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Dick Gephardt preparing for war and championing an economic stimulus package that cuts taxes and throws money around. One thing is important to remember: Democrats aren't always liberals. Since we're surrounded by the Democrats' messages - which are eerily similar to those of Republicans - it is easy to forget the liberal voice.

Unfortunately, many of today's liberals do not know what to fight for or what to look for in a candidate. If we must be strong and take stances on the major issues, it would help to know what the issues and stances could and should be. Also, this might serve as a guide to why President George W. Bush has merely resurrected that the GOP stands for the interests of the 'Old Guard,' the rich barons who wanted only to protect their interests.

First of all, it's the economy, stupid. Many states are facing the worst fiscal crises they've seen in a century. The federal government is spending billions of dollars they don't have. President Bush saw the trouble and decided that the best way to relieve it would be to cut a tax on big stock purchases and gut state budgets even more. If the plan goes through, our state will lose billions of dollars and be forced to cut necessary programs and, of course, raise state tuition.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt laid the best example of a cognitive plan to get out of great debt. After his term as governor of New York, he became president in 1932 and set forward the New Deal. Government money was spent to employ people at competitive wages and improve public works in the process. Roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, tunnels and parks were all built and restored. Not only did America look nicer, but people also made money - and were spending it. They were using their work experience to get better jobs or start their own businesses.

Now, Bush wants to continue to privatize and trust companies - the same companies that have continually moved factories offshore in order to pay workers less and make them work under terrible conditions - to use their money to give people jobs. If this country wants to recover and move out of debt, it would be wise to follow the examples of the past.

The other problem with the tremendous deficit is the rise in military spending. This is the part of the column where I expect people to get angry with me for being a softy/hippie/pinko/whack job - but I prefer to not live in fear. If we are to achieve our goal of world peace or freedom for all oppressed people, it does not start by bombing and killing.

Unfortunately, this administration is more concerned about oil interests than anything else. In Afghanistan, Cheney and Bush were negotiating (on behalf of Enron) to open up their land for a pipeline. When they didn't agree, we tried to buy them off, and then after 9/11 we bombed them. In Iraq, the oil industry and companies like Halliburton stand to make billions if they could rebuild, and then buy Iraq's oil fields from a U.S.- installed "president."

By making North Korea an enemy, Bush accomplished three goals. First, he made sure that the United States would no longer help them build power facilities independent of oil. Secondly, he made an excuse for thousands of troops to be in the area to protect the interests of American businesses - keeping revolts of workers making less than a dollar a day to a minimum - and lastly, created enough fear to make a Star Wars system seem like a good idea.

De-escalation in North Korea is a no-brainer. In Iraq, the problem is slightly stickier. While Bush has yet to show that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction or that an attack is the only way to get him out of power, we continue to send hundreds of thousands of troops. At this point, it seems that it is the United States that is marching toward war, not Iraq. The only thing that is holding them back is that sticky group known as the rest of the world.

Most of the world is saying that a war is unnecessary because Saddam isn't a threat to their people. Those countries would support war if he were a threat. Saddam knows that as long as he stays peaceful, it is the United States and not him that looks bad. He also knows that if he acts, the entire world will be behind the United States in blowing him to pieces. But once someone else starts a war, he is free to do whatever he wants.

A removal of Hussein can and must be done without taking unnecessary lives or destroying Iraqi homes, schools, hospitals or roads. The choice is ours to make, and Bush is making it poorly.

Lastly, much is being made about the lack of a liberal voice in the media. I never had a problem with finding liberal writers to read or liberal radio shows to listen to. I will be happy to provide directions to anyone who is interested.

The most important thing, however, is to vote. When election time comes around, voice your displeasure by making sure you and those around you vote for a candidate who will fight for what you believe.

Anyway, there are a lot more issues that I don't have space to address, but if you are interested in learning more, send me an e-mail. Also, if you want sources for any of my facts, I'll be happy to provide those. However, if you feel the need to yell at me for not caring about national security or fetuses or not wanting war, just come into the Spectrum office, 132 Student Union, and yell at me.