Worker's Candidate: Richard Trumka for President in 2012

[olegramps]

It is time to dump the professional leeches in the Party and elect someone who will actually represent the workers' interest.

There is absolutely nothing to celebrate regarding this latest disaster by an incompetent administration headed by ineffectual president. He has proven himself to be not the friend of workers, but solely controlled by the wealthy who are able to jack him around like their personal marionette. He has not only sold out the workers with his trade deals, but has put Social Security, the most important program for the working class, in jeopardy. The cuts in estate taxes for the super wealthy are especially obnoxious. He has clearly demonstrated that he is the enemy of the laboring class with his attacks on the teacher's unions and lackluster support of unions in general.

It is time to draft someone from the labor movement like Richard Trumka who have the determination and proven dedication to represent the Democratic Party. This use to be the Party of the Working Class, not the floor mat for the Republican thugs to wipe their feet on. Without a dramatic change in the Party leadership the Working Class in doomed to virtual servitude. This latest example should be a clarion call to all working class people, regardless of party affiliation, that their and their children's future has been sold out by slick orator without an ounce of sincerity for the plight of the average citizens in his soul.

[ladjf]

1. I like and support your basic idea. In order to get any traction with

it, I think it would be good to point out that you aren't advocating either Communism of Socialism which I doubt that you are.

My personal view of both Communism and Socialism is that they are basically out of touch with the natural aspects of human thought and have failed for that reason.

Democratic Capitalism could work so long as it strongly supports the best interests of the majority of the people and is vigilant to disallow the rich from unfairly depriving the majority of it's rightful share of wealth.

I hope that you will continue to move forward with your basic idea while expanding the benefits to a broader base than "working class", i.e. elderly, sick, youth, education, medical coverage and other general basic needs of people.

[bread_and_roses]

6. Capitalism has shown itself to be an utter failure at protecting life and preserving earth

and you think "Communism and Socialism" are "out of touch?" But then, you also seem squeamish about the term "working class" - to which, btw, about 99% of those who like to call themselves "middle-class" belong. But goddess forfend we should ever look to policy that supports "the working class." Which is not and never will be "capitalism" - however ameliorated by the word "democratic." And in fact, what the hell does "democratic capitalism" mean anyway? Democracy is a political system. Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism are all economic systems.

What a muddle.

[ladjf]

9. I regret that my writing was so inefficient that it led you to interpret

my idea differently that what they really are.

Firstly, I feel inhibited writing long posts, which would be the only way I might be able to get my points across accurately.

As briefly as possible, I will try to flesh out my basic attitudes as they relate to America's desperate political situation.

1. I liked the original poster's idea that a political party should address the needs of the working class. I am most definitely not "squeamish" about the term "working class". However, considering the
extreme prejudices that have been created among Americans by media propaganda for several decades,
I was suggesting to the poster that he broaden his focus to include the best interest of the vast majority of Americans, of which the working class is definitely the largest group among them.
The mantras of Soviet Communism were loaded with "long live the workers", etc. Not that anything is wrong with that per se. I felt that a political party in America doesn't stand much chance if right off the bat, they are seeming to parrot the slogans of Communism or Socialism.

2. I believe that Countries that adopted Communism failed to achieve the goals the Marx talked about and that the failures were due to the fact that they insufficiently addressed the natural psychological and emotional needs of humans. I'm not prepared to debate that point further. If you disagree that's OK with me.

3. I'm not sure whether or not I coined the term "Democratic Capitalism" or I may have heard it somewhere. Anyway, what I intended to convey was a political system that was (a) democratic, meaning a government for ALL of the people, not just a privileged few and (b) Capitalism because I don't think that using capital to produce what humans need for that to be profitable for the owners of the business is a bad thing. It has turned out very badly world-wide because as wealth was acquired, there were no countervailing forces to stop the mis-aggregation of wealth from getting out of control.

In so far as you dismissed my previous post as being a "muddle", I tried briefly to make my points.
And now, I've tried to further explain. If it's still a muddle, I would advise you to block all posts by me so as to not waste any more of your time. But, you might be excluding someone from your
experiences who is actually an ally who seems to have hit you "hot button".

[bread_and_roses]

10. You are most courteous - certainly more so than I

Thank you for your elaboration on "working class." I did misinterpret you.

I disagree with your conclusions about "capital" but will leave it - I don't have the energy for that discussion, nor do I care if people agree with me or not.

I don't block anyone on a discussion board - it has always seemed odd to me. I may have once out of ire, but I either took the poster off "ignore" or forgot about it - I don't remember which, or care enough to go look.

peace, b&r

[pnwmom]

2. Dream on. n/t

[BlueJac]

3. Some people don't really want change

but I do. Food for thought.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. I'm listening. n/t

[Coyote_Bandit]

5. Put another Dem name on my primary ballot

and that candidate will get my vote and my support.

Barack Obama needs to have the good sense not to seek re-election IMHO.

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. There are enough people....

...on here, on OstensiblyDemocraticUnderground, who hate unions, to make any such effort Quixotic.

If it's poison for a good slice of a reputedly progressive board, what's a union background going to be like in the big world?

[Citizen Worker]

8. I would vote for Rich Trumka in a heartbeat, I will not vote for Obama ever again. Start a petition

calling for Trumka to run, I'll gladly sign it!