Make HuffPost Your HomePage
Get Email Alerts
Stop Dreaming Joe Biden and Democrats and Do the Right Thing
If I hear the word "dream" again during this Democratic Convention, I think I'll fling something at the screen. The time for dreaming is over. Harry Truman tried to bring us national health insurance and we're still dreaming about it. Europe has had public health care, free universities and a greener economy for decades now. But in America we still dream of such things.
Joe Biden couldn't stay away from the word either. It is particularly irritating with "American" attached before it. Biden wants it restored. He says Bush killed it. Biden wants what we dream of but never seem to get for everyone.
"Today that American dream feels as if it's slowly slipping away. I don't need to tell you that," Biden said, but he did anyway.
All this talk about dreams, realized elsewhere in the world, reminds me of a medieval peasant putting up with his present misery because the priest told him he'd get it all in the next world.
"He keeps talking about the same issues, family values," a Delaware delegate told CNN's Suzanne Malveaux in praise of Biden, whom the delegate has known all these years. That's the problem. He keeps talking about it. If these things were accomplished we wouldn't have to talk about them any more. We would just enjoy them like people in other countries do.
In his speech, Biden promised that Obama would improve health care and education. But Biden then wittingly or unwittingly gave away the reason why we haven't been able to achieve these things yet when he signed off with: "May God bless America and protect our troops."
Until we give up on glorifying militarism we won't solve any of these pressing social issues. We don't have the money for both.
But the Democrats won't face this. They won't level with the American people.
Instead Biden regurgitated the propaganda passing for news when he said Russia was challenging the "free and democratic country of Georgia," vowing that Obama and he would "hold Russia accountable for its actions, and we'll help the people of Georgia rebuild."
In fact it has been the reverse: neo-conservative foreign policy has challenged Russia right up to its borders with American client states, such as Georgia. The US runs pipelines through them. Central Asia is the battleground of the future as oil supplies dwindle and America keeps flexing its muscles.
The Cold War never ended for the neocons. Bush's father made a deal with Gorbachev that the US would not encroach on Russia, but his son's crowd reneged on that. They believe winning the Cold War was an opportunity to expand American power into former Soviet territory, a very dangerous policy that has led to the current crisis. Biden's words indicate an Obama administration would continue this neocon game plan laid out by Zbigniew Brzezinski 13 years ago in The Grand Chessboard. Brzezinski of course is Obama's chief foreign policy adviser.
One of Biden's applause lines was praising Obama, "who more than a year ago called for sending two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan." Is sending even more troops to Central Asia really something to celebrate? Is it wise to praise the military when we have no real enemy that can challenge us? When we should be taking care of terrorism with international police work, not war?
Social progress is put off as long as America maintains its military empire. Until troops around the world are brought home, foreign bases are closed and the defense budget is cut in half, we will keep hearing about dreams at political conventions.
Europe achieved social advancement only because it lost its empires, was exhausted by wars and then began spending the people's money solving problems at home, not on the military. America is not yet exhausted by wars, but it will be. The loss of empire is not voluntary and it won't be for us either. In the meantime our military presence abroad will stir up more resentment and terrorism and defense spending.
I've long heard the American-centric argument that it was the Marshall Plan and U.S. bases in Europe that permitted social democracy there. The Marshall Plan was set up to benefit American companies in Europe and provide a market for US goods more than out of the altruistic motives many Americans have been led to believe.
Since the first three CIA National Intelligence Estimates ever issued in the late 1940s said the Soviet Union was no threat to Europe or the United States, there was no need to turn Europe into an armed American camp either--except that it was good for the armaments business.
Until we stop worshiping the military and believing the myths of its benign motives abroad our social problems will grow worse. In the meantime, the Democrats have dreams to run on.
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Agreed!
I'm sick of people with real power telling me what they'd "like" to do or what "dream" they have. Screw that! AMERICA IS AWAKE!!! Now let the Democratic party WAKE UP!!!
I must commend Joe on being honest about the true Democratic Platform. He makes it clear that he is advocating socialism. When I debate with the left they get so offended when this "label" is used but the Democratic party today is socialist.
I will agree that we need to remain a Republic and reduce our "police" work abroad but I know that moving towards socialism goes against our Constitution. Our Founding Fathers believed in Liberty and limited Gov. Larger Gov controlling more of our lives is not the "American Dream" they intended. We are not Europe and we are not Canada.
I can find very little that is actually true in the author's rant (and rant is what it is). However, he gets it right when he says that Biden shouldn't put "American" in front of the word "dream" when he speaks.
Why? Because he doesn't seem to know what it means.
My American dream does not involve hoping the government will continue to control of individual Americans or dependency on politicians for my well being. I'm just an average wage earner, I earn my own living and provide for my family, and I like it that way.
A fact for you while lamenting how wonderful European health care: Everyone within the borders of the United States of America receives medical help when they need it. Medical insurance is not a "right", it's an option. An option and an incentive to earn your own way. Would you like the best for your children and your neighbors? Then show them how to stand on their own two feet instead of depending on costly government programs to care for them.
Nationalized health care is just another political program used by politicians to convince average Americans that we need them in office. If you want medical insurance, then buy it (like I do).
Everyone receives medical help when they need it? From what mythical country do you write? Have you tried getting medical care for a serious illness without medical insurance?
As to your selfish, libertarian notion that medical insurance is not a "right," the "pursuit of happiness" is -- and try pursuing happiness while fighting a terminal disease without health insurance. Or paying off hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, even when you do have health insurance.
"If you want medical insurance, buy it." Love your Republican sense of brotherhood. Go to church on Sundays, do you?
You suffer from lack of compassion, pal. There's no cure for that.
I wonder why you don't see a near trillion dollar defense-related budget as a "costly government program?" Why don't you see government's instilling false fear in us as "just another political program used by politicians to convince average Americans that we need them in office?"
You could not be more correct. Now, how do we convince the American Sheep who believe in the false idea of the great protector and who worship at the feet of the falsehoods perpetrated by one generation after the other. Only so much good can come from an Obama administration but no good can come from a McCain administration. Americans might like to brag about our strength and 'can do' attitude, but we sure do fall for the easy lie often enough to make you wonder! Why is doing the right thing and sacrificing for the greater good so hard to get done? How did Europe overtake us on so many humanity and social issues? Is it because we are too busy being the policeman to the world?
I wish people would look at the population difference between the UK and other European nations compared to America. Universal healthcare is a great idea but not possible in the US. We have this population called Baby Boomers (40+ million) turning 65+ over the next 10 years. This is going to strain our healthcare system to the brink. If we make healthcare free to all Good Luck getting a Dr's appointment!!!!
Population fluctuations like the boomers are being felt in all of the developed world today, not just in the United States. Were you to actually look into it you would find that there are portions of Europe that have it even worse than the United States.
Good article, but you completely ignored everything he (and other speakers) said about energy independence. They were clear and forceful, not wishing or "dreaming" as when they spoke of health care. Energy independence will address the root causes for terrorism, strategic interest in Georgia, the Middle-East, etc. Energy independence is the only thing that will slow our militarism and give us the economic strength for universal healthcare.
Is this CounterPunch? Home run, Joe. Like Dennis Kucinich's spot-on "Wake Up, America" speech at the convention -- the only speech so far that hasn't been filled with empty platitudes and pandering -- this post sticks out on Huffington Post like a sight for sore eyes, critiquing the Democratic Party from a progressive postiton.
When it began, Huffington Post was in the business of being an honest broker, but lately its become just another Democratic Party-friendly place that fawns over St. Obama at every turn. The Democratic Party needs to be held to account just as much as the Republican Party does (no one's holding either), and its about time the bloggers on this site started getting tough on them.
Watch Dennis' incredible speech, and wonder why they didn't put him on in prime time... wonder if they want to win the election while you're at it.
Wake Up, America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4EN7ibO1ec
Now THAT is the speech that I wanted to hear last night. Instead we got visions of Neocon wet dreams, sloppy kisses for the born agains (who will not be voting the Democratic ticket anyway) and yet more neoliberal economic rhetoric. Wake me up in 2012.
Mr. Lauria's analysis is correct, of course, but the last thing jingoistic Americans will ever respond to is any confrontation with America being less than absolutely #1 by any conceivable metric.
Not only have other countries have had health care, free universities and greener economies, they've even had women and ethnic minorities as their chief executives. But here, entertaining the thought of something other than a white man running things is called "historic."
"Until we stop worshiping the military and believing the myths of its benign motives abroad our social problems will grow worse. In the meantime, the Democrats have dreams to run on."
brillant article
how few americans have a clue what you just wrote
what socialist countries have some things better than americans
47 million americans without health care says it all about americans
wait there is more 700 military bases around the world
thank you for writing such an article
peace
Difficult to watch history repeat itself because we certainly won't be the first 'empire' to fail on account of its hubris and arrogance. What is scary, however, is that we live in a nuclear age and I wonder if the powers that be won't be tempted to use ultimate force when our empire starts, finally, to crumble finally. Very frightening.
Peace. What a lovely, not used often enough, word. Now there is something to set our dreams on -
Peace.
Close but it's really the elites that stop socialism in America because they (correctly) see it as reducing their own power and wealth. The military is a tool to keep the people down but not the only one.
It's class warfare. Simple as that. Europe got socialism to prevent the communists taking over after WW2. FDR managed to prevent that happening in the US. You want good stuff? Threaten the elites with communism.
Sadly the Democrats are on the other side in the class war.... with a few exceptions (and Obama is not one).
You may not be aware of it, but last year when Biden was campaigning in Iowa he had detailed plans and policy papers for these "dreams". His health plan was more comprehensive and detailed than any other candidate's ,even HRC's, at the time.
Just for starters.
Pfft... "Policy papers". Another word for "dream". Anyone gullible enough to place any stock in "policy papers" shouldn't be voting. Politicians should be measured by what they DO, not what they say, and by that criteria we should throw the bums out (and that includes Biden, Obama, McCain, Clinton, every single Republican, and 95% of Democrats). It's all one big con game, and the people are being duped. There are just a handful of Democrats (and not a single Republican), that are not liars and cons. Until voters "get" that, this country is doomed. The ONLY "policy paper" that should interest us is one that lays out a plan to throw the bums out.
Everything meaningful done in the name of "we the people" begins with an idea, a "dream".
Thing is, you have every reason to be dissatisfied with the present government. But if few take action, it is left in the hands of those who profit by the status quo. Still, in 2006 the voter turnout was 35%. Most of us couldn't even follow through with a simple act like voting our conscience.Yet we cry to "throw the bums out". All of them.So, I'm still an idealist. Forgive me.
And what if Martin Luther King had said "Pffft!" instead of "I have a dream?"
While I agree that we don't need to be fighting wars, but cutting our defense budge in half isn't the way to solve things. We can keep our defense, keep the largest military in the wolrd, but use it smartly. Keep much of it here at home, to help at home. To help when disaster strikes (Katrina, fires, earthquakes, ect.) Just because they know how to shoot a gun or fire a missle doesn't mean they have to. We need the military for protection as unlikely as it may be. All it takes is one kook to buld an army and attack. We need to be ready just in case. Look at Hitler? Do you have an alarm on your house? Have you ever been broken into? Probably not, but you have one just in case.
How about cutting it by a third, then. Right now, we spend about ten times what Russia spends.
We spend 10 times what Russia does because we have no-bid contracts and bases all over the world. We don't need to downsize our troop size though. But that is what always happens. It is easier to cut forces than bases and contracts. Our navy is the smallest it has been since WWI (number of ships, not tonnage). We save money that way, we get to keep our defense.
Hate to burst your bubble dude, the Chinese have a million man army and the immediate capacity to draft HUNDREDS of milions more. With a population of over a billion and dwindling water and arable land to produce food on, they are the next expansionist power on the horizon. Funny thing, too; they will be financing their military at our taxpayers expense with the interest paid on their loans to the Treasury for Georges awesome adventure in the middle east.
Overwhelming force in the face of such odds is not possible. Time to think of other, smarter ways to defend ourselves.
"Overwhelming force in the face of such odds is not possible."
I'm glad you weren't making these kinds of decisions around the time of the Revolutionary War.... if you were, there wouldn't be a United States.
I left the US and moved to Denmark 19 years ago to marry the man of my dreams. Not only is health care universal and university education free, gay marriage is legal. The reason we enjoy these things in Europe is that our countries are real democracies. Everybody gets to vote. In Denmark everybody of voting age is mailed a voter card when elections are announced. People are so honest here that we don't even show ID when we drop our card of at the polling station. Turn out averages about 80%. Imagine if 80% of Americans were encouraged and allowed to vote.
On the flip side most of our incomes are taxed at rates of more than 55%, so we can't afford gas guzzling SUV's, but we don't have to worry about paying for medical treatment, school, maternity leave, or losing our homes if we get laid off. The American Dream is alive and well in Denmark.
How do the Danes see Americans? Do the blame us for the debacle created by our so-called elected leaders? Do they tremble at the thought of a McCain presidency? Does Obama's rhetoric thrill them or do they, like the author, fear that America is headed down an imperialist path that is not easily deflected by either party?
How does Europe view this superpower running amok and armed with WMD?
"Europe has had public health care, free universities and a greener economy for decades now"
Do we really want to be like Europe? France has a sales tax of 20%, that doesn't include their income tax, and higher gas tax. Riots in France, unlike anything we have seen here in 15 years. Read about traveling to Italy, and you will see that you shouldn't go to an Italian hospital for anything unless you have to. It may be free, but is it good?
Greener economy? Depends what you consider greener. In 2006, the renewable energy was 9.4% of all power in the US (hyroelectric 7% and other 2.4%) while they were about 6% in 2002 in the EU. Granted they have probably increased in 4 years, but in any case they are not much greener than we are. Some nations are much better than us, Like Sweeden, Denmark, Finland and Austria, while some are worse, Germany, Poland, Beleium, England and Ireland. With Spain, France and Italy about the same as us. A big difference is they use alot of nulcear power, France uses 78%. That will create a greener environment than coal or oil. They also have the added advantage of less travel via car. Many cities are more tightly packed, and less suburban sprawl than the US.
You're right that hospital treatment is not as comprehensive in Europe as it is for the well insured in the US (even here in wonderful Denmark), but it isn't bad. And it's available for everyone.
With regards to the riots in France, they are a reflection of the terrible discrimination against French citizens of Arab and African descent, but the fact is that the violence engendered by discrimination in the United States in the form of murder, theft, drug dealing etc. is far worse than the riots in France.
I still love the USA, but the social democracy of Europe, though imperfect, is much fairer than republicanism. Of course, it is very difficult to become a millionaire over here.
Your right with healthcare, but Joe Lauria is making a blanket statement. We have more people the US than an few countries combined. We need to do things differently. Do we need some form of universal healthcare here yes. Should it be like Europe? Probably not. I pay $80 a month for health insurance through my job. I get good care, and don't want to lose that.
I can't say that I have the perfect plan for the US, but I would rather have the government subsidise healthcare to companies and force them to offer it. And of course cover the unemployed. Rather than blanket coverage for everyone. The system with jobs paying for healthcare works great, just not every job offers it. If it was required and companies with less than X employees were given money from the government to cover it, we would be in better shape.
I think a main difference in the European systems and ours is that they have a shared sense of responsibility for health, education, etc, while we think it's everyman for himself. It may have worked when we were on the frontier, but not so much now.
excellent point.
First Shirt
You're not seriously blaming Europe for the woes American currently face?
Loading comments…
Naked tweeting: the next frontier in staged celebrity...
If it's a rainy weekend and you want to channel that summer feeling, you can rent...
***SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO OF PALIN'S RESIGNATION SPEECH...
I'm starting to believe that's a destination; the next step in life once you get...
When Michelle Obama created an organic vegetable garden on...
If President Obama is truly serious about changing the...
Bar Refaeli stars in a new black and white video floating around the internet. Set to music and with...
Missouri State Representative Cynthia Davis is one tough cookie. Last week...
Asked by Meredith Vieira on the "Today Show" if it...
I'm liveblogging the latest Iran election fallout. Email me with any news or thoughts, or follow me...
Fox News' Shepard Smith was having some trouble with a...
The U.S. economy lost 467,000 jobs in June as the...
WASHINGTON — Now it can be told: President Obama says one of the best-kept secrets at the...
WASHINGTON — Mississippi's still king of cellulite,...
CNN's Anderson Cooper reports on a frisky sea lion and the boat it apparently tried...
Posted August 28, 2008 | 06:31 AM (EST)