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It's Time for Nation to Stand Together for Jobs, Education
In Washington this Saturday, I will join tens of thousands of Americans to march for jobs, justice and education. The march is called together under the banner of One Nation: Working Together, a large coalition of more than 400 organizations.
Why do we march? We march for hope. We've seen the politics of fear. Fear that America is in permanent decline. Fear that America is being changed for the worse. Fear that the president is not a citizen.
One Nation calls us back to positive purpose. This nation can't go return to the ideas that drove us off the cliff. We can't allow entrenched interests to control our government and weaken the common good. We can't listen to those who stand in the way of change.
The vast majority of Americans understand the need for reform. We have to create jobs and put people to work, invest in renewable energy and capture a lead role in the green industrial revolution that is sweeping the globe. We need to empower workers and hold bankers accountable.
We can't be misled by misleading arguments. Consider the debate about taxes. Under the Obama proposal, the wealthiest Americans -- those who make more than $250,000 -- will get the same tax breaks as everyone else on the first $250,000 of their income. But it doesn't make sense to borrow an extra $700 billion over the next decade to give them an additional tax break for the money they make over $250,000.
We march for the unity that is the strength of our diversity -- young and old, black and white, yellow and brown, men and women, immigrants of different generations, small business owners and workers, teachers and students, the poor and the affluent, people of all faiths. A quilt like my mother used to make: many patches of many colors and textures, bound together by a common thread to make something of beauty and warmth.
We choose common ground over racial battlegrounds. We march so that children -- all children -- can have a fair and healthy start in life, and a world-class education from pre-K to college. We march so that workers -- all workers -- can fairly share in the profits and productivity that they help to create.
The New York Times suggests that our agenda is as extensive as our coalition, but we know the big changes we need. Jobs now. A commitment to world-class education for all. Justice even for the powerful; opportunity even for the poor. We represent an America confident enough to address the challenges it faces and overcome the powerful interests and lobbies that stand in the way.
This march will reflect the emerging reform majority that showed its potential in 2008. That majority is committed to transforming America, not taking it back to an idealized past that never existed. That majority works for a government by, for and of the people, not an instrument for the moneyed and the powerful. We've heard the voices of reaction. We share the same anger about our current condition, but like our founders and each succeeding generation, we look to make America better, not take it backward.
So this Saturday, we will march to revive hope. When our spirits are broken, our faith surrenders. So we must march. We can survive broken sidewalks and broken buildings. We cannot survive the collapse of spirit. In these difficult hours, you can't fight fate with fists and guns. You fight fate with faith. Faith is the substance of what is hoped for, evidence of what is unseen. Even with our backs against the wall, we can see a new heaven and a new earth -- the old one passes away. We have been down, but the ground is no place for a champion. We are one nation, if we make it so. We are a nation of hope if we keep hope alive. And so we march on 10-2-10, and we will march to the polls on 11-2-10.
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52 Comments so far
Show AllI'll be there with my family and friends. Some of us have been jobless for over a year. There's been criticism about us getting out in the street and being together. Like somehow we're tainted and not pure enough and how dare we get together and get out in the street. But I say it's our Constitutional right to peaceably assemble, to say what we have to say and our family and friends don't intend to give that right away.Every battle that has ever been won is because the people have been willing to band together and fight back and not give up.
You are correct that both the Democrats and Republicans have refined the art of blaming the victims.
Hopefully this march on DC will send the message that the victims will no longer tolerate being blamed for problems that were contrived and executed by corporations and the politicians they own.
See you there !
This march that Jesse Jackson and others are participating in is quite commendable. It would be even more laudable if he would start emulating his mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who marched against the Vietnam War. When will Jackson start to rally the people against Obama's wars?
You said it, FC!
I second that, Erroll. War is the untouchable subject.
Joe
"When will Jackson start to rally the people against Obama's wars?"
He won't.
For a much truer perspective on the real reasons for the march see below links sans the bullshit and propaganda. Jesse Jackson's role is wrangler for the disgruntled Dem voter. In other words... an apologist for the status quo.
This article was a disgrace.
UAW, Jesse Jackson push illusions in Democrats with phony “jobs march”
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/aug2010/uawj-a28.shtml
Jesse Jackson, UAW hustle votes for Democrats at Detroit “jobs” march
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/aug2010/jobs-a31.shtml
The Nation on the Detroit march for “Jobs, Justice and Peace”: Deceit and self-delusion
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/sep2010/nich-s06.shtml
Let's hope Bob King, president of UAW International, picks up the slack of Jackson's abysmal failure to mention that war as an organizing principle makes any conversation about jobs with failure to mention that, and what they are for and what they are supporting, void of any real moral force to carry the argument of the day. I agree with one of the commentators here that Common Dreams should drop Jessie Jackson as an editorial choice; I've seen him speak maybe four times this past year; as he has made Detroit one of his focal points, and each time it was a different story, the first time he mentioned war as an atrocious failure as an organizing principle for daily human commerce, but never since. Bob King on the other hand has made it a cornerstone in the 4 or 5 times I've seen him speak in Detroit. He has also been a long time supporter and admirer of Father Bourgois, the founder of the School Of Americas Watch; having joined the yearly gathering at Ft. Benning the last seven years. As far as anyone in the political scene he is the closest to ML King and RFK in his earth based Christian view. I'm sure that will rankle many readers here, as well as his unabashed campaigning for the Democrats. But he has the clearest and purest and most consistent voice I have heard from mainstream politicians; so with UAW being an International organization, an organization that has the muscle to put a head lock on the fascist strain of extremist Republicans/Democrats and Tea Baggers, I truly believe his is a voice to be listened to and a human to be supported and rallied around. Hopefully this Saturday will bear witness to my beliefs.
I'm thinking of going and carrying a sign: It's about the jobs and jobless of war stupid.
Plus: they are not Obama's wars -- they are Our wars, all of humanity's wars...especially the children who have had their skin removed from their bones via drone delivered cluster bomb's war, and the children who scatter daily from their soccer fields due to drone sighting's war...as well as the families cowering each night and those who have already faced the night raid break into their family home's war; it's the number one threat and destructive force of nature's war, as well as the number one health threat via continuous degradation of economy, social family network with above mentioned environmental degradation's war -- It's All of Our's war -- We are All Prisoners Of War...with 95% of US Missing In Action.
Obama's wars--yes they most certainly are-- along with the rest of the duoploy nitwits running our government.
Well...denial is a good survival tool, for various periods of time, but continuing to deny all of humanity's various associations to Our current war as part of daily commerce, especially the innocent by-standers being slaughtered and maimed, results in missed opportunities for reconciling action as well as a resultant lack of moral depth for compelling actions. You gotta do what's best for yourself, but in the long run you will find the short term excitement of adolescent glee of cute sayings is pastry fluff compared to the sustaining adult meal that nourishes the endurance and pleasing composure of self-esteem required to attain the satisfaction of completing the long road needed to be covered for meaningful social change. Regardless of what's on your plate today...bon appetite!...oh, and peace.
If everyone is at fault, then nobody is at fault. What you're saying implicitly suggests that we must allow the perpetrators to go "free" and blame ourselves alone.
Exactly: we are all perpetrators, so let's free ourselves, and help free our enemies. And what good does passing blame and fault do as opposed to looking for and implementing ways for human betterment; how does that help one seek and find their greater talent and powers? Sure, people like Cheney and Rove are still dangerous criminals at large; Bush and Rice I'm not sure what a current threat they are; regardless, how does calling the situation in the Middle East/Central Asia/Africa/Columbia "Obama's war" help the narrative for changing humanity's course, as well as refining or implementing the existing social contract for reducing or eliminating Cheney's and Rove's threat to humanity and human dignity? To me: someone who works everyday in the field of direct human development, the use of phrases like "Obama's war" is a deflection born of an adolescent emotional character structure(not good or bad, just terms for the way one if functioning, with an implication that more maturity can be had), where by the deflective act obscures focusing on other opportunities for action; opportunities that will have more then a basis of short term excitement of cute slogans, but actions that will contain and lead to deep organic satisfaction and viable social orders from family structures to national governments. By calling the growing military occupations in the areas mentioned "Obama's war", the adolecent flow form waits for Obama to change, like they wait for daddy to come home to solve a sibling fight, and doesn't look for the social networking solutions available to remedy the challenges. And perhaps the remedy won't include Cheney and Rove serving jail time, but let me ask you this: which one would you chose -- Cheney and Rove go to jail and hang by their toes, but world war continues, or Cheney and Rove go free with a billion dollars to boot and humanity achieves world peace?
Obama chose to own Bush/Cheney's wars so he bears the brunt of responsibility. As for the rest of us, yes, this nation is so macho-egotistical in nature that it would proudly and shamelessly choose a POLICE state of wars and corporate slavery over a CARING state of peace and kindness amongst all. Yes, we have to wake up the conditioned masses but we cannot take our eyes off of the perpetrators seeking to divide and conquer us all. To do so will keep us in a perpetual state of failure and misery. Having said all that, I would choose being one of those continuing to speak out against accepting the status quo no matter how conditioned people are to "accepting" it so that we can both hang the war criminals and humanity receives world piece. There is no need to create a "compromise". Letting a war criminal go scot-free only makes it "easy" for them to reinstate the war state.
Amazing! Two messily billion dollars and two messily criminals given amnesty for world peace and you won't take it: right there you join "the perpetrators seeking to divide and conquer us all": your neighbors, your coworkers, the person standing next to you in the check out lane -- when your eyes mature from the infatuating glitter of adolescent glee(and moving quickly through juvenile ecstasy), you will see this and become a very powerful person; I hope that day is soon, as I'd much prefer to view it on this side of the Earth plane divide.
Yes, brother, as a member of the UAW for over 40 years, I was proud to see Solidarity, the UAW's magazine, taking on the issues of peace, oppression in Latin America, and immigrant justice since Bob King became president. All out 10-2-10!
Right on! As there's Bob King again in today's Detroit Free Press with "peace" in his first sentence and "If you believe war and bloodshed are not solutions to the world's problems, march with us.", as his second to last. This has been a consistent message from King: his voice deserves all the support human dignity striving people can lend him; currently he is helping lead an action aimed at Chase bank around foreclosures and the atrocious working conditions of tobacco labor in North Carolina(in solidarity with FLOC[Farm Labor Organizing Committee]): he currently has the moral high ground, captured by the moral fiber that is himself(his energy reminds me of Vandana Shiva's), support this fine human being, help focus the organic strength the UAWI has for confronting the USA's, and world's, fascist strain: ALL OUT 10-2-10!
"When will Jackson start to rally the people against Obama's wars."
Probably never. Don't hold your breath. Jackson is an Obamabot--he supports
Obama and his policies. Jackson praised Obama's health care DEFORM.
JJ is just another phony liberal.
Jesse Jackson is supporting this march but he is not this march. There are some 400 organizations involved nationwide. For more information http://www.onenationworkingtogether.org
I will look up more details on this rally even though I will be unable to attend. However, a couple of serious points are missing from the picture:
1. Trade policies. While some people can endlessly remark about how Clinton created 22 million new jobs despite NAFTA and all, the same cannot be emulated now that the damaging effects of NAFTA and other subsequent "free" trade policies have wiped out the possibilities of allowing the manufacturing jobs lost to other countries to return. It is imperative that these "free" trade deals be canceled and replaced with truly fair trade deals that won't cost jobs or quality production.
2. Big vs small business policies. Currently, there are too many business policies that give too much leeway to big businesses while persecuting small businesses. Small businesses are far less likely to abuse their employees compared to big businesses who not only abuse their employees and even customers but also have a greedy habit of putting stockholders over employees first. It is often too easy to lure most people into huge corporations with promises of big benefits only to find out that none of them truly offset the costs of being overworked and that is before we even discuss cuts to pay and benefits which would only compound the problem.
And peace. JJ declines to mention that important component of addressing our deficit, the shortfalls in state budgets, our revivified racism and our wounded hearts. If we do not redirect our wealth and intelligence away from wasteful military "solutions", then education, wealth and jobs will never recover.
Joe
crisis and opportunity...
while understandable, desperation channeled back into existing frames will only, potentially, make things better for the short term...it will make things worse, in the long run...if there is still a long run ahead...
jobs and education, while powerful words, are part and parcel of the world of the bank-owned land...
we must free the land, and live differently, not insist on continuing our destructive ways, even under the guise of education...
education has become a meaningless term...nation may not be far behind...
Until Mr. Jackson confesses that he cut a deal back with Larry Summers in the Clinton days to get $$$$ for his support of Wall Street deregulation, commondreams should boycott his canned BS.
Robert Scheer:
**the fact of the matter is that the damage that was done to us was done by people who talk a very good game. You know, Robert Rubin contributed money to the Harlem dance group, you know? Jesse Jackson even supported the reversal of Glass-Steagall. There’s a whole chapter in my book, you know?**
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/9/7/robert_scheer_on__the_great
Get outta here, Jesse. Make room for people who know what they're pontificating :)
This march needs to address the core issues, not tea party taliking points.
Corporate power threatens America more than all the world's terrorists and tea partiers combined...unless the march addresses corporate power, it will have little impact.
"...The divisive voices obstruct government efforts to give financial support to the unemployed and sick. They blame unions for our economic crisis. They want to abolish unions from the face of the Earth. Their financial support comes from multinational corporations who want free rein and the dismantling of government regulation.
The vision of the UAW(International) and our allies marching on Oct. 2 leads us on the path of community, compassion and common humanity.
We call on you to round up your coworkers, family, friends and neighbors and join us Oct. 2.
If you believe it is the role of a democratic government to provide a safety net for people who are suffering, march with us.
If you believe the needs of people should come before the profits of corporations, march with us.
If you believe all workers should have a right to organize unions, march with us.
If you believe all people are entitled to decent living conditions, health care and education, march with us.
If you believe poverty and environmental destruction must end, march with us.
If you believe war and bloodshed are not solutions to the world's problems, march with us.
If you believe in a common humanity that embraces all religions, nationalities and tonicities, march with us."
-- Bob King (Detroit Free Press 9/30)
Jill,
As always, well stated.
Well, jesse, how do you feel about your participation with sanford weill to radically deregulate the financial industry? Seems you didn't help anybody much less those suffering the most and would even continue to suffer more at the deregulation you 'shilled' about in one of your not so brightest moments.
Jesse had me right up until the part about marching to the polls. What would I be doing at the poll, voting for Democrats? I'm afraid not. I'll be sitting it out until someone who truly represents me runs for office, say for example, Ralph Nader or someone he endorses to run in his place. Certainly not Obama again, or the other useless Dems.
I'll be marching with the socialist contingent. For those looking for some alternative ideas and strategies, check out "Obama: America's Cleopatra, Queen of Denial," http://bit.ly/aCDHki
from or against whom are you saying we should "protect OUR jobs and OUR economy"?
what kind of jobs and economy are you referring to?
why march in DC?
shouldn't "creating alternative jobs and building an alternative economy" be the agenda?
"why march in DC?'
Because that's where most of The Choir--lives--and works--at government jobs--at TBTF Politically Non-Profits. Its like a, a ...nest.
That's why.
from or against whom are you saying we should "protect OUR jobs and OUR economy"?
what kind of jobs and economy are you referring to?
why march in DC?
shouldn't "creating alternative jobs and building an alternative economy" be the agenda?
i believe that all the progressive - socialist energy should be focused on (developing and) spreading ideas and practices for creating specific alternative jobs and building alternative (off-the-capitalist-grid) communities.
we should be done with speaking to DC and wall street. marching and rallying in DC has yielded little. concrete plans and specific actions are what we need.
That's not what my sign will be saying dude.
we don't want no freaking slavery job for corporate blood suckers.
we don't want no freaking "education" to become slaves to parasites.
we the people have no vested interest in this empire.
we certainly have no freaking hope to revive, except for a whole new society we can build out of the ashes of this empire.
Sounds like a well timed march to fire-up the troops for the ever suffering dems.
A coalition of 400 sounds like the usual, tired old strategy: get as many warm bodies as you can there by including any and everyones agenda under the sun so it'll look good for the cameras. D.C. is full of political hacks that'll gladly join in so its not regular folks marching, but instead, democrat junkies.
And you get the usual results: no change.
Lots of noise, but unfocused.
Sorry - I did not have a barf-bucket big enough for that disingenuous bilge from JJ.
Article summary:
We're marchin' and votin' for the black man.
you forgot to add "...with our corporate master's permission."
lol.
You got something better? Post it.
Moonpie,
I agree with you.
I'll be there with my local union, local student groups, immigrant and civil rights advocates, gay community, local peace organizations, and all the folks in Delaware who organize and struggle. Even the most cynical and disillusioned around here are still signing on. Demonstrators are free to bring their own banners, so enough with the excuses. All out 10-2-10!
See you there!!!
Count me in.
The New York Times certainly does know a lot about agendas, being that 95% of all their reporting is agenda driven (hello Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Honduras, etc.).
We have a serious elite greed problem in this country. They would rather spend their profits on brutal police tactics of repression than spending HALF that much in providing jobs, housing and reasonable food prices for the masses.
Until you can somehow address that monstrocity and curtail it, only token measures can be obtained.
I'm retired and make less than $50,000 a year. I am willing to allow the government to DOUBLE my income tax until the deficit is paid on two conditions:
1) ALL corporations that provide goods and services to the Department of Defense cannot make a profit since said goods (bombs, bullets, aircraft, etc.) and services are not in the competitive free market.
2) From Warren Buffet on down to me, EVERYONE PAYS DOUBLE THEIR INCOME TAXES UNTIL THE DEFICIT IS PAID OFF.
With these reforms in place, the government will have plenty of money to provide real jobs rebuilding our infrastructure which, in turn, would multiply businesses and community viability (hopefully in harmony with the environment).
Jesse, why don't you quote this comment to the New York Times and tell them you don't want to hear another word about deficit reduction until you hear the elite admit they need to double their tax rate to erase the deficit?
Am I losing my memory . . . was there even one time a march like this one (no matter how watered down it may turn out to be) during Clinton's administration?
I attended a fairly large protest against his bombing of Yugoslavia in 1998. But nothing like this will be.
Socialist feeder march - 10th and Constitution. 10:00 AM
Labor against the War feeder 16th and Constitution. 10:30 AM
Single Payer Healthcare for all - South side of Lincoln Memorial