So many words have already been written about Ted Kennedy in the few days since his death -- some profound, many filled with cliché -- that despite my sadness at his passing, I initially saw no need to add my own.
But as I've watched and read, one observation crystallized in my mind that seems worth articulating through the clutter.
It's true that Ted Kennedy could be a great orator, articulating with passion and eloquence the heart of the liberal ideal, as he did in his 1980 Democratic Convention concession speech and again at the 2008 Democratic Convention in support of Barack Obama.
But it's not primarily Senator Kennedy's words that make him one of the great defenders of modern liberalism. His life itself is living proof of the central liberal idea that government can help make people's lives better. The government action that has resulted from legislation he has championed has concretely improved the lives of tens of millions of people in America and around the world.
He accomplished much of this during an increasingly conservative era during which politicians and media figures denigrated the role of government and worshiped at the altar of the so-called "free" market. In his first Inaugural Address in 1981, President Reagan proclaimed, "Government is not the solution to our problems. Government is the problem." After 15 years of conservative propaganda, the refrain was taken up by many so-called New Democrats, most famously by Bill Clinton in his 1996 State of the Union address in which he proclaimed, "The era of big government is over".
Ted Kennedy almost certainly disagreed (and this disagreement with Bill Clinton's easy acquiescence to conservative rhetoric may have been part of what influenced him to support Barack Obama instead of Hillary Clinton for the nomination). Kennedy was likely influenced by liberal thinkers like John Kenneth Galbraith (an advisor to his brother JFK) who argued that it was necessary for government regulation, trade unions, and consumer organizations to form a countervailing power against the monopolist power of big business. Sen. Kennedy's life as a legislator encapsulated this fundamental liberal idea (although he wasn't doctrinaire about it either; he also championed the deregulation of the airline and trucking industries). In hundreds of pieces of legislation that he championed, he used the power of the government to offset the power of big business and to concretely help working and middle class people in American and around the world.
A synopsis of Sen. Kennedy's legislative achievements runs 54-pages long. During his 47-year Senate career, he authored more than 2500 bills, hundreds of which became law. Some highlights:
• Kennedy was instrumental in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act which prohibited workplace discrimination against and required public accommodations for disabled Americans, making it possible for innumerable disabled Americans to live better and fuller lives.
In these and countless other measures, Ted Kennedy helped mobilize the power of the government to offset the power of big business and to improve the lives of millions. Even among conservatives who falsely rail against a "government takeover of health care," how many would argue for repealing such government actions that Ted Kennedy helped achieve? After decades of the very word "liberal" being turned into an insult by the right-wing, Ted Kennedy's life itself is living proof of the power of the liberal ideal.
Rick Horowitz: Kennedy: The Lion at Rest
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, dead at 77 -- and thank goodness for that. None of his three brothers -- his three older brothers -- made it to 70. Or 60. Or even 50.
And on a side note, does anyone else find it apalling that Reagan would veto a bill that would help end the racial segregation known as apartheid? I get your a free marketeer, but at a certain point idealogy needs to be thrown away in favor of common sense.
I hope consideration of their own mortality motivates our esteemed representativess in Congress.
Among all of the massive amounts of things he has done for the American people, his one true mission in life was to bring to the American people a healthcare system that would not allow his fellow citizens to suffer based on financial need or position. He fought this fight all his life, and has always held it to be his mantle of community service.
To now suggest, as the GOP has, that the mission of this man’s life be put aside for any reason, is not just an inane suggestion, it is purely selfish. For a man who cared for all Americans without deference, and did so much for so many, you and I both know that he would be the first to say, “Use my death to further the cause. Use my death to bring the dream to fruition.”
This is now the time for all Americans to come together under the banner of Teddy Kennedy and his mission, and bring to the American people a healthcare system that will provide for all Americans, the healthcare that the citizens of a civilized nation deserve.
Dr. Howard Dean keeps trying to remind his party NOT to do this -- to get behind the PO and get it passed, instead of coddling the weepublicans who have zero interest in passing legislation that will "harm" their corporate masters.
Teddy was right in 1980 -- the party shifted to the right under Carter, and look what happened . . . the weepublicans won with St. Ronnie . . . and there went the good-paying jobs, one by one.
While power has been misused, mostly it hasn't. And people who hate govt actually hate other people and can't stand the idea that they may have to do something for someone else.
I've never met a liberal that was an SOB, and I've never met a conservative that wasn't.
----John F Kennedy
That's why Republicans were landslided in 2006 and 2008. Americans want a government that works. Conservatives can't govern because Conservatism itself is not a coherent or functional political philosophy.
That's why "Small government" Bush expanded the size of government 60% in only 8 years and awarded $700 Billion in taxpayer money to Wall Street thieves to prop up the illusion of Capitalism and raise taxes down the road. Crony Capitalist Conservatism is unsustainable without bailouts, loan forgiveness and sweetheart tax breaks for businsesses that offshore work.
I noticed that anti-freedom Conservatives want to interfere and meddle in the private affairs of women's health care choices-not for the sake of the unborn-but to treat women as 2nd class citizens. Conservatives also meddled in the private medical affairs of Terry Shiavo to injure family rights and violate family privacy.
Under Bush's illegal wire tapping program Conservative 'Voyeurs" pried into the private business of innocent American citizens to injure their civil rights and violate the 4th amendment of our Constitution. Of course Bush lied about this publicly as he has no respect for Americans citizens.
Let's not forget that even Republican leaders know the sham Conservatism is and have come in droves to heap priase and honor on Sen. Kennedy because of his Liberal accomplishments.
I agree wholeheartedly with your last line. Conservatives are the most bombastic, angry, willing to shout you down, weapon brandishing bunch I know. I have never known a liberal like that. You know a conservative when you meet one. They immediately talk politics, Christ and their values, and whine about the government. Even if you just met in line at the grocery store. Maybe it is because they are so "God fearing." They are certainly scared of something.
*Ram through Single Payer 100% Socialized Medicine
*Launch and embloden Eric Holder to investigate the serial war crimes and Constitutional violations of the Bush/Cheney corp AND put them in jail if found guilty.
*Dissolve and expropriate Blackwater-an illegal private mercenary crusader's army of George Bush-that siphons billions in taxpayer funds to commit war crimes overseas as it bolsters terrorism, yet is unconstitutional and unaccountable to Congress
*Abolish the WTO/NAFTA/CAFTA and other secret authoritarian trade agreements that put Americans last.
*Impose a 100% tax on incomes of elites earning above $1 million annually. 100% tax on estates in excess of $5 million to balance the budget, reduce the deficit, and recover money illicitly gained through public wealth transfers to unworthy elites via the Reagan/Bush tax cuts for billionaires.
*reveal the names if all those millionaire and billionaire tax cheats who have parked billions in secret Swiss bank UBS to evade taxes and ride for free while the middle class has to cover the shortfall.
*Regulate College costs. In Europe you can get a B.S. for about $4000. Here in the states its $100+K even though colleges/universities have tax-exempt status.
One of the great lessons Ted gave the Democratic Partry is to have a spine and not be an apologetic liberal. Most have not heeded that lesson and are forever accomodating, apologizing, seeking approval and knuckling under to the the birthers, deathers and zealots of the failed reigion of Conservatism who have nothing positive to offer our nation.
Democrats can and should increase their numbers in the 2010 election but they must be tough. No compromise. No weakness to the stealth Republicans (a.k.a Blue Dogs). The Democratic Party shold get its house in order and lead powerfully and confidently.
I'm always grateful for voices like yours. You added something really valuable to the discussion and helped me rethink the co-opted definition of "liberal" (which has been bothering me for years).
The list is a catalog of Law and Rule changes, which allowed for the independence, liberty and self-determination of all people--without regard to race, disability or gender. And these are remarkable. But again, the Government wasn't spending money.
Jennifer