Laboring on Labor Day...Under the Worst That Capitalism and Socialism Have to Offer

ALPERN AT LARGE-Well, we made it -- to another three-day weekend, with time to rest, sleep, relax, and spend time with family. And here's another bit of good news:  as strange as it may seem, the nation is more united than the Blue vs. Red screaming might suggest. 

Be it Democratic, Republican, Independent or anywhere in-between, we're virtually all united in our collective disgust and disdain of those breaking the rules of moral and legal conduct. 

Except, of course, for those doing the moral/legal rule-breaking. 

And can we get one thing clear? As this November 2016 political season moves closer, let's take a step back, and redefine "liberal" -- back to its original definition of "open-minded.” And let's redefine "conservative," back to its original definition of "traditional" (or even, "common sense"). 

Because under those definitions, selling out American workers by moving manufacturing jobs to the Third World would be neither "liberal" nor "conservative.” 

And under those definitions, the lack of preparation for the economic, labor, taxation, and quality of life impacts of our current water shortage (and our upcoming water-drenching El Niño) would be neither "liberal" nor "conservative.” 

Under those definitions, the relentless burdens thrown at, and smashing of, the Los Angeles middle class by our City Council who values public sector labor over private sector labor would be neither "liberal" nor "conservative.” 

And finally, under those definitions, the inability of the Mayor and City Council to protect the citizenry of LA against any cost overruns of the proposed 2024 Olympics  (disrupting the potential boost in jobs for this same citizenry) would be neither "liberal" nor "conservative.” 

"Liberal" has been too often co-equated with "socialism,” and "conservative" has been too often co-equated with "laissez faire capitalism.”  But virtually none of those who consider themselves "liberal" or "conservative" are truly "socialists" or "laissez-faire capitalists.” 

Having a government tell you what to think, do, or say, is anything but American ... and neither is a government that allows or enables the very wealthy to victimize the poor or middle class. 

Hence, we revere presidents like Teddy Roosevelt or John F. Kennedy, who demanded both responsibility and rights as part of the American tapestry -- in other words, adults expecting to behave like, and treat others like...adults. 

There is now no shortage of both conservatives and liberals alike who wonder if that "crazy Ross Perot" didn't have a point or two about the NAFTA deal. Interestingly, Wikipedia notes that Perot (he's still alive!) backed Mitt Romney for President both back in 2008 (over John McCain) and, again in 2012 (who knew?) 

Conservative "capitalists" and liberal "socialists" are all concerned about deals with other countries and regions that sell out our middle class and industrial base, creating the “haves” and have nots,” leaving the middle class out in the cold -- or leaving that very middle class with the horrific choice of either gunning to be part of the all-too-often-amoral "haves" or the moral-but-bereft "have nots.” 

And so we enter the circus-turned-real-world political atmosphere where Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders command more respect and attention than those in the Republican and Democratic Party leaderships, as well as their associated favorite Republican and Democratic candidates. 

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It’s a world where Democrats (and non-Democrats) are infuriated with the President because he and his Attorney General, Eric Holder, enabled and protected the 1% -- instead of looking out for the little guy and the middle class. They wonder if presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be more of the same. 

It’s also a world where Republicans (and non-Republicans) are infuriated that Mainstream GOP Leadership/Wall Street darlings like Jeb Bush will be more beholden to Wall Street than Main Street. 

So we see a potential Trump vs. Sanders presidential matchup that is both bizarre yet overdue. 

Check out this putative "Trump vs. Sanders presidential debate" from "Labor Lou" Siegel -- who is by far more liberal than most. His characterization of the debate is one that is so frighteningly accurate that conservatives would be hard-pressed to disagree with the points made by both sides. 

Here is some great Labor Day news for us all:  By and large, we all hate capitalist and socialist extremism, and we all respect the pragmatic and history-proven need to be flexible in both capitalist and socialist practices when it comes to protecting the economy, environment and quality of life in our nation, in our states, and in our neighborhoods. 

We are by far, far more in agreement than either side of the political aisle would like to think. And that's a great Labor Day piece of news we could all use.

 

(Ken Alpern is a Westside Village Zone Director and Board member of the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC), previously co-chaired its Planning and Outreach Committees, and currently is Co-Chair of its MVCC Transportation/Infrastructure Committee. He is co-chair of the CD11Transportation Advisory Committee and chairs the nonprofit Transit Coalition, and can be reached at  [email protected]   He also does regular commentary on the Mark Isler Radio Show on AM 870, and co-chairs the grassroots Friends of the Green Line at www.fogl.us. The views expressed in this article are solely those of Mr. Alpern.) 

-cw

 

 

CityWatch

Vol 13 Issue 73

Pub: Sept 8, 2015

 

Tags:  Labor Day, conservatives vs. liberals, capitalists vs. socialists, presidential politics, Republicans vs. Democrats, LA City Council, Blue vs. Red, “Labor Lou” Seigel, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, Ken Alpern