Toward a Political Credo for 2008

A friend asked me about “my politics” the other day. Well, we all know that none of the traditional labels seem to fit any of us anymore, either “conservatives” or “liberals.” Goodness knows, the terms “Republican” and “Democrat” have certainly had a “magnetic shift” in the last century. So I had to abandon labels and come up with those key principles that I’d like to see a major candidate espouse. Sure, not everyone can be perfect, but my ideal candidate will believe in:

• linking social with environmental justice
• a fairer distribution of wealth
• non regressive tax reform
• limitation of corporate power and welfare
• support for the rights and dignity of workers
• a minimum living wage
• support for public education with serious reform (not no-child-left-behind)
• free trade that is also FAIR trade
• support for international alliances, treaties and participation in cooperative efforts to find peaceful solutions to international disputes.

I still hope this “progressive” tradition is alive and well in America and that it will begin to infuse our political institutions.

Merle