Harry Targ
1.A systematic
progressive economic and political program that prioritizes the fulfillment of
human needs.
2.A unified political
movement that organizes around this program or at least builds an alliance of
Left groups that share a common humane peace and justice vision even as groups
work on particular issues.
3.A grassroots
organizing strategy that in word and deed does not prematurely identify critics
with pejorative labels. Certain sectors of the population already embrace a
progressive agenda, others are not yet decided, and a smaller percentage have
embraced rightwing fascism.
The task of the left
should include mobilizing those who agree, convincing the unconvinced, and
finally respectfully seeking to change the minds and actions of the minority
who are reactionary (including those who believe only violence will protect
them).
From the War Resisters League
4.A progressive movement
that reaches out to, participates with, and learns from the literally millions
of people that are rising up all across the globe. At this stage in human
history the campaigns of people of color and various nationalities in the Global
South matter. And these movements parallel those of the poor and oppressed in
the United States as well.
5.Finally prioritizing
in this progressive project an anti-militarist, anti-war agenda. It is clear
that the “permanent war economy” constructed after World War II robbed the
world’s citizens of resources and hopes for a better future. A just world is a disarmed
world, a world of peace.
Addendum from Senator Bernie Sanders:
In his speech in Detroit
last night, President Biden laid out an agenda for the first 100 days of his
second term. Among other initiatives it included:
·
Restoring Roe v. Wade
·
Signing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act
·
Expanding Social Security and Medicare
·
Ending all medical debt
·
Raising the minimum wage to a living wage
·
Passing the PRO Act to enable workers to organize
·
Banning assault weapons
·
Leading the world on clean energy
·
Lowering childhood poverty by restoring the child tax
credit
·
$35 insulin cap for all and lowering prescription drug
costs
·
Building more affordable housing
·
Investing in childcare and elder care
