The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.
The 1936 Democratic Party platform began with,
"We hold this truth to be self-evident - that government in a modern civilization has certain inescapable obligations to its citizens, among which are: (1) Protection of the family and home; (2) Establishment of a democracy of opportunity for all the people; (3) Aid to those overtaken by disaster."
Take a hard look at the government we have now. It is comprised of the most fiscally irresponsible spenders in the history of the planet. The policies of our current Republican congress export nothing but jobs and bombs. A blind eye is being turned to the destruction of pensions. Karl Rove, certainly one of the minds behind the movement, is purported to have said that, "When we (the current administration) are elected, we will destroy the American Labor movement."
We are a country in crisis, and the only recourse is a direct communique' to our government. We need to demand the rights that we are currently being denied, the rights championed by FDR and by the core philosophies of the Democratic party. We have a right to expect our government to:
1) Put the economic rights of people and their needs, ahead of the privileges of corporations to make profits.
2) Protect us from monopolies and promote truly fair markets
3) Actively seek to eliminate corruption in government and business.
4) Make public officials accountable to tell the truth, at all times that they are speaking in an official capacity, under penalty if untruths are continually repeated.
5) Make sure there are adequately funded provisions for, and protect retirement security and pensions.
6) In the spirit of the founding fathers, tax progressively to foster entrepreneurial capitalism on a small scale, rather than large scale global capitalism.
7) Protect and use our commons for the betterment of all citizens.
8) Provide real international security by being a truly good neighbor in the world. Thomas Paine said, "as an American, I am a citizen of the world. My religion is to do good." We should be leading by example, in such a way as the rest of the world can look up to us.
Our Democratic Party is not now standing up for these values. Values learned the hard way through the great depression, and through World War 2. Our Democratic Party is not now speaking the truth to the American people, the truth that the Republicans in power have spent us into bankruptcy and work wholly in the interest of corporations to the detriment of the people, and against all of the values just mentioned. Our Democratic Party is saying "we don't like the emperor's clothes."
This is why I am running for U.S. Congress to represent the interests of the people. To fight for the economic rights we deserve as Americans, and the values that our parents and grandparents learned in the 1930s and 40s. And to fight for the kind of America that we will leave to our children and grandchildren. I promise that I will do everything I can with the other progressives in Congress to make this happen.
I am compelled to run, I ask you to visit my website and send a campaign contribution. We, the people can do this. We MUST take our country back.
Steve Thomas has 20 years experience as a Bay Area electrician and 10 years experience as a stock market professional. He is an environmentalist, bicyclist and motorcyclist. He is currently a Union electrician. Visit his website at: www.SteveThomasForCongress.com
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