Times are getting tough in the presidential race. With the first of the Democratic primaries in just two months, the oil is separating from the water. The real contenders will have money and will shout at each other, and the losers will stay quiet and penniless. Almost certainly collected in this pool of Democratic rejects lies Sharpton, Braun, Edwards, Lieberman and Kucinich.
The least recognizable candidate here would be Kucinich. Trailing both in polls and finances, Kucinich’s doomed presidential attempt is the antidote to and the antithesis of the current White House. You’ve got to hand it to Dennis Kucinich. He’s an unabashed, brave liberal sticking to his causes (“he’s too liberal”). And what intriguing causes he has.
The Ohio representative’s Web site lists Kucinich’s aspirations. Scanning the list of “top 10” goals for a potential Kucinich Administration, I discovered plenty of common sense founded in admirable ideals. His policies and conclusions could be arrived upon after thinking about a series of well-placed questions – questions pertaining to the basic rights, freedoms and obligations of all Americans.
The first goal listed was a publicly-financed health care system for all Americans.
“Socialized medicine? This is America! Blasphemy!”
Not so fast. Emulating Canada’s system, Kucinich would eliminate insurance salesmen forever and provide healthcare even for the 40 million Americans currently uninsured. The results would boost quality of life and save money spent on bureaucracy. His own Web site quotes a General Accounting Office report: “If the U.S. were to shift to a system of universal coverage and a single payer, as in Canada, the savings in administrative costs would be more than enough to offset the cost.”
Rhetorical question #1: Is socialized medicine that retains the standard of quality of medicine today a bad idea?
One of Kucinich’s aspirations is a “cabinet-level Department of Peace, to establish non-violence as an organizing principle in both domestic and international affairs.” Now, there are two types of people in the world. After hearing Kucinich’s idea, members of the first type would ask themselves what kind of dope Kucinich has been smoking. The second type would search for this dope and smoke it.
Rhetorical question #2: Is encouraging non-violence a bad idea?
Kucinich wants to boost the minimum wage, slash corporate and upper-class tax breaks and bolster the power of labor unions.
Rhetorical question #3: In the age of Enron, would you want more or less protection from corporations?
One of Kucinich’s principles is the necessity to defend our environment, maintain our ozone layer and halt global warming. Kucinich says our country would observe the Kyoto Protocol, a progressive and environmentally-conscious treaty calling for the curbing of global warming through the systematic reduction and elimination of greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto treaty fell into a sort of black hole after our current president withdrew our nation from its obligations, and Russia, who would have signed on earlier had the United States participated, is considering balking. The fate of the treaty – and many say the hope of any global regulation — now lies in Russia’s hands.
Rhetorical question #4: Is the environment important enough to preserve on a global level?
I’m sure that many believe Kucinich is a Socialist. In a way, he is. Just like Huey Long and FDR were. But you’ve got to admire his style. He knows he won’t win. But he wants it like the old days.
He’s a real Democrat.
Like our beloved Huey Long.
Like FDR.
Like it should be.