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Yesterday you started a Clark thread and asked specifically about "trade policy."
Here:
In his interview with NPR (one hour) and various bits and pieces from other speeches, I detect many of Benjamin Barber's (Jihad vs Mc World) ideas woven into his over all vision of world trade. Clark does not see us closing our borders, which he correctly assumes would only put us further at odds with the rest of world and highten world tensions. He speaks, as Barber does, of a need for policy that addresses the questions of the environment etc.while at the same time keeping our windows open (Clark's term) At the present time we really have no coherent policy especially a pro-people one.
Actually, again along with Barber, Clark sees this all of one piece--the three strengths of America: the economy, the people, and the military. Of the three he believes the military, while important, plays the less vital role of America's place in the world. He goes so far as saying that for every dollar we spend on the military we should be spending an equal amount developing the schools, the hospitals, the infrastructure and cultural centers of developing countries. With our considerable leverage, building human rights and better conditions in those nations will both increase "fair" trade and promote a more secure world. (shades of Clinton---but that should come as no surprise because Barber and Clinton also share ideas)
Clark states that there are several mechanisms that currently exist which would actually make some change in the status quo immediately, however, they are not being funded and of course if we lose this election they will not be funded. Or we win this election but with such a weak candidate that they will be bullied by the VRW and unable to make progress. Holding the line as we did in many respects during the Clinton years, will not make the world a better place.
Muti-nationals exist; what doesn't exist is the laws and restrictions that favor people and the environment they live in. The US has the leverage to build the necessary world institutions to change our current direction. Two things are lacking: a vision and someone who wants to make that happen. BTW, this is not a one year process...this is a long haul that will take many years. For everyday that we live with the evil in the White House, we have wasted another day and in some respects made it a harder fix because the problem is growing worse. (Clark NPR paraphrase)
So I support Clark because of his vision which includes many strands but must be looked at as the whole cloth that blankets our future. Unfortunately, I am afraid the Democratic Party does not want to win...and I mean win big, because big is what it will take to shut down and shut up the right. Afterall, finding out Clark's views are not as difficult as ousting a regime that will draw no lines when it comes to holding on to power.
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