Progressive agenda for Obama, by Amiri Baraka

Progressive agenda for Obama, by Amiri Baraka

by jubilee shine Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 at 11:41 PM
jubileeshine@Hotmail.com

The following are a few exploratory planks of a document that shd be added to by the willing and serve as a basis for a mass supported document to present to Obama.

The following are a few exploratory planks of a document that shd be added to by the willing and serve as a basis for a mass supported document to present to Obama.

Progressive Agenda for Obama

1. End Iraq War, cancel preparations for Iran War. Re-establish that it is Congress that declares war

a. End so called “National Security Government: Close Guantanamo, end Homeland Securitydomination of US political and social life.

2. Make racism a criminal offense assault 1

3. Use of the N Word (by anyone) assault 2

4. Use of the B Word (by anyone) assault 2

5. Begin to push for change in Political Culture of US**

A. End the Electoral College System

B. End Winner Take All System

C. Initiate One Person One Vote

D. Abolition of US Senate -replace with Unicameral system (one House of Representatives based on One Person One Vote).

E. Parliamentary System= As many parties as represent ideological groups, as in Europe, so that Coalition politics emerge

F. Ban on private monies in elections

G. Restoration of Voting Rights to Ex Felons

6. Review of National Debt by National Forum

7. Executive Support for Reparations- Establishment of National Citizens Committee

8. General Investigation & Review of Criminal Justice System

9. Appointment of Progressive Supreme Court & Other Judges

10. Review Diplomatic Relations with all Nations.
By National Panel with recommendations

a. Haiti
b. Cuba.
c. Venezuela
d. Saudi Arabia
e. Iran
f. Israel
g.Strengthen Committee on Africa, investigate relations

11. Investigate Need for Cabinet level Office of Afro American Affairs

12. Review Affirmative Actions statutes, reverse negative trends

13. Housing: “Everyone must have a place to live” bill

14. Education- Reaffirm support with action for Public Education. Veto attempts to weaken PE budget

15. Minimum Wage

16. Investigate Bush-Cheney years, including their election, with National Forum, Recommendations

17. National investigation of 911

18. Review FDA- Reverse Bush’ Rule eliminations

19. Review Environmental Protection Agency –role- laws

20. International treaties review Oslo, Nuclear, Ballistic missile, Trade

21. Plan for direct monitoring and supervision of Voting Apparatus Nationally. Stop “suppression of the Black & Latino vote”

22. Executive intervention for National Health Care plan

23. Presentation of Progressive National Immigration Bill

24. New initiative for National Cultural & Arts Support

25. New Public Works Program to put US back to work

26. Push programs for Regulation of Capitalism, Stop excessive outsourcing , end big capital’s abandoning of factories, cities, industries

People who keep saying ,”The president can’t do anything” shd review FDR’s “First Hundred Days” aimed at ending the great Depression. “On his first day in office , Mar 4, 1933, FDR called Congress into a special session. He then proceeded to drive a series of bills through Congress that reformed the US banking industry, saved American agriculture and allowed for industrial recovery. At the same time wielded the executive order creating the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Public Works Administration (WPA) and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

These projects put tens of thousands of Americans back to work building dams, bridges, highways and much needed public utility systems.” (About.com) What was called “The New Deal”.

What we need from Obama is a Newer New Deal. What we need from ourselves is the political clarity and will to ensure Obama’s election!


Amiri Baraka
8/14/08