I read a diary the other day making the argument that M4A was not possible to achieve and that Elizabeth and Bernie should not campaign on it. Rather they should focus on the global climate crisis, which is indeed the most serious problem we face.
What only those of us who have truly looked at Elizabeth Warren seem to realize is her strategic brilliance with respect to governing and getting things done should she be elected (more about that below), and how that straight up is the defining characteristic that makes her the best candidate for the actual job. What many might also not realize is, if you can’t bring down political barriers to one thing that is fundamentally right (comprehensive healthcare for all), then you are not likely to bring them down for any other large structural change, including addressing the global climate crisis.
Congress, including some Democrats, and the big money that owns them are definitely the most significant barriers to accomplishing what is needed and what is right. All of the moderate candidates have three serious attitudinal barriers in this respect, barriers that may keep them from governing as effectively as we need. Note, all of them of course would govern orders of magnitude better than Trump!!
One attitudinal barrier is the longtime default position Democrats take on the most important problems – conventional wisdom tells us it’s just not possible to solve, so we won’t even try. The second attitudinal barrier is – if we do decide to try, we can’t do anything too big because big change scares people and conventional wisdom says scaring people might keep us from getting re-elected. The third attitudinal barrier is – if we do decide to try for this incremental change, we can’t do it if it isn’t bipartisan because again, conventional wisdom says we might not get re-elected; but no worries, I [fill in moderate candidate’s name] and I alone can find the right words to convince Republicans to help.
All of these attitudes are defined as pragmatic incrementalism. These three attitudinal barriers were characteristic of the Obama administration with, in some cases, disastrous results. It is the perfect recipe for maintaining the status quo, a status quo that will ultimately destroy everything as long as big money driven corruption and political cowardice define our current governing system.
I would argue that if we are to achieve even part of what needs to be done, we must have an authentic progressive as President. Elizabeth is the only candidate who has both called BS on those counterproductive Democratic attitudes and outlined a comprehensive strategy to overcome barriers to change, including Congress and wealthy powerful forces.
Bernie, like Elizabeth, believes we should fight in every case to achieve our goals. He too calls BS on the idea that we can’t achieve large positive structural change and that everything must be bipartisan. Where Bernie differs from Elizabeth, however, is his sometimes impolitic, confrontational attitude that could generate unnecessary emotional barriers in people whose political support we would need. I will of course support him or any other Democrat unconditionally if they become our nominee.
Literally the fate of the planet may depend upon having a bold progressive (Elizabeth or Bernie) as President. I just rank Elizabeth first and Bernie second because I think she has a better strategy and temperament to get us where we need to go.
Warren’s Preparation to Use Executive Orders for Substantial Progress. Just as Trump and George W. before him used executive orders to do evil things. Executive authority can be used to do a great deal of good. This includes the president’s authority to negotiate drug prices for federal healthcare programs without Congressional approval. Elizabeth Warren has a particularly clear and deep understanding about how Washington, D.C. works and thus about just how much presidential executive orders can achieve. I am confident that she has already identified or soon will identify all of the things she could do herself were she elected. If Elizabeth is our nominee, she like every Democratic candidate would defeat the abomination that is Donald Trump. When that happens, I predict she would have all the executive orders written, framed, and on her desk with boxes of pens the day she is sworn in. So many problems are serious and urgent. We can’t wait for moderates to figure out what they can and can’t do with executive orders and/or to stop being afraid of using that power the way Obama seemed to be.
Warren’s Plan to Achieve Significant Change Through Government Agencies. Government is neither inherently good nor inherently bad. What is good or bad is the way government agencies can either work to solve the problems or though malicious and/or incompetent leadership make them worse. Trump has partially destroyed every government agency and has as his goal completely destroying them if he gets a second term. I would argue that of all the candidates, Elizabeth would be the one most ready to fill leadership positions, restore respect for their mission, and get government agencies working for the people again.
Why the most ready? Elizabeth’s plans have been created in collaboration with many people. Jay Inslee for climate change, Julian Castro for immigration, Kamala Harris for protecting basic human rights, including voting rights and women’s rights. She already knows who the experts and most qualified persons are to implement the plans, and it seems highly likely she will draw from those. Owing nothing to the powers that be, she is unlikely to use leadership positions in agencies and ambassadorships as rewards for big donors or powerful Democrats. And I am very sure she is wise enough to avoid the mistake Obama made of appointing Republicans to leadership positions, in part to try to win Republicans over to his side.
Warren’s One-Two Punch for Toppling Political Barriers. Elizabeth has demonstrated her ability to get things done everyone said were impossible. Read the story of her successful efforts to establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Here is a brief summary of her plan to make Congresspeople offers they cannot refuse. Remember, all of the progressive goals are extremely popular.
First punch. Introduce as her first major legislation her anti-corruption bills. See here and here and here. Second punch. Introduce her ultra-millionaire tax bill. It is among the most popular of her proposals and will provide finding to achieve many other goals Finally, obliterate the opposition by using the bully pulpit to generate constituent pressure by us on any Congressperson who foolishly opposes getting rid of corruption and/or can be seen trying to protect the ultra-wealthy.
Some people in Congress are pretty clueless, some are very craven, and some are wholly or partly owned by big money. But only a handful are truly stupid. They are not going to be able to stand up to a fearless president and an outraged populace demanding they do what’s right. With the ultra-millionaire tax passed, then just let Congresspeople try to stop legislation designed to use that money for the other highly popular initiatives, including universal childcare and student debt relief.
The wealthy are particularly afraid of Elizabeth, as is the Democratic Establishment. They are pretty sure that she is the one who will be unstoppable in rooting out corruption and creating a fair and just country if elected. Unfortunately, both their blatant efforts and their more subtle ones appear to be poisoning the well for her in the primary. They (the corporate media and moderate candidates, particularly Pete) deliberately misrepresented her healthcare plan. The corporate media (part of the terrified wealthy interests) may successfully define the most fearless, most brilliant, most empathetic candidate as flawed, making it a self-fulfilling prophecy, if people fall for the spin. Don’t!!!
M4A - It’s Not Just the Result, It’s How to Get There. I will end where I began, Medicare for All. Elizabeth and Bernie differ very little in their vision of where we need to be, comprehensive affordable health care for everyone. However, Elizabeth has created not just a plan that defines the ultimate goal, but also a brilliant transition plan for getting it implemented. Unlike Bernie’s plan, Warren’s M4A involves no increases in middle class taxes. This is politically brilliant because it takes away from Democrats and Republicans their favorite excuse for opposing legislation.
In Nevada, the culinary union decided it feared Bernie’s M4A. This fear was based on a lack of understanding of the incredible benefits they would receive under M4A. It was said that they feared Warren’s plan less because of her transition plan. This is an example of how she can overcome baseless fears by describing both the destination and the road to get there in terms people can understand and trust. Unfortunately, the culinary union decided not to endorse anyone, including her. It is likely they are unaware of all the Warren plans that would benefit working people. These include universal childcare, comprehensive healthcare, protection of workers’ rights, massive job creation through the Green New Deal, and more. In fact, every plan she has created would benefit workers and unions in one way or another. Spread the word.
We Must Shine the Light on Elizabeth Warren. Why is it so hard for brilliant, talented women to be seen? Why particularly is it so hard for people to see Elizabeth Warren when she has created a bright detailed blueprint for how we achieve the kind of structural changes we all agree would be beneficial to all? When people do look at her, they universally like and respect her. Why are so few looking?
I know it is partly systemic gender bias. I know it is due to the pre-meditated failure of the media to provide valuable information instead of false narratives, as well as media efforts to marginalize and undermine her. I know moderate Democrats and powerful interests are using Republican talking points against her.
So consider helping Elizabeth (where you can) break through the barriers to being seen and understood. Speak loudly and often the truth about who she is and what she could do as president. If we cannot get people to see this most eminently qualified of women, how do we ever achieve the goal of a woman president? We promise our daughters they can be anything they want if they work hard enough. Passing over Elizabeth Warren puts a lie to that claim. Time to make it true.
Peace