Wednesday, January 01, 2020

DIANE RAVITCH HIGHLIGHTS FDR'S SECOND BILL OF RIGHTS PROPOSAL; BERNIE SANDERS' 21ST CENTURY ECONOMIC BILL OF RIGHTS SPEECH

As we start 2020, I'd like to be optimistic so I am copying most of Diane Ravitch's post on Franklin Delano Roosevelt's second Bill of Rights proposal from 1944.

I have become a somewhat regular donor to the Bernie Sanders campaign for President of the United States as Bernie is the best hope for fulfilling FDR's dream as we head into the 2020s. (Speaking for me and not ICEUFT or anyone else here.) I was thrilled when Bernie mentioned the teachers taking to the streets to fight for public schools near the beginning of his 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights speech which you can see in full below. We are the number one profession among Bernie donors. Will we have democratic or corporate socialism? We'll decide.

Happy New Year!



Over to Diane for the FDR history:
This is a good time, I think, to revisit Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1944 State of the Union Address. FDR came from the landed gentry but he somehow developed an acute social conscience.

Here is an excerpt from that speech, in which he described the “second Bill of Rights,” what he called “an economic bill of rights.”

He said, as he looked forward to the day when the World War came to an end:

It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth- is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.

As our Nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

  • The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the Nation;
  • The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
  • The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
  • The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
  • The right of every family to a decent home;
  • The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
  • The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
  • The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens. For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world.

One of the great American industrialists of our day—a man who has rendered yeoman service to his country in this crisis-recently emphasized the grave dangers of “rightist reaction” in this Nation. All clear-thinking businessmen share his concern. Indeed, if such reaction should develop—if history were to repeat itself and we were to return to the so-called “normalcy” of the 1920’s—then it is certain that even though we shall have conquered our enemies on the battlefields abroad, we shall have yielded to the spirit of Fascism here at home.

I ask the Congress to explore the means for implementing this economic bill of rights- for it is definitely the responsibility of the Congress so to do. Many of these problems are already before committees of the Congress in the form of proposed legislation. I shall from time to time communicate with the Congress with respect to these and further proposals. In the event that no adequate program of progress is evolved, I am certain that the Nation will be conscious of the fact.

Our fighting men abroad- and their families at home- expect such a program and have the right to insist upon it. It is to their demands that this Government should pay heed rather than to the whining demands of selfish pressure groups who seek to feather their nests while young Americans are dying.


63 comments:

Anonymous said...

Teachers outside of NYC tend to still believe in what they do and will fight for what is right. I wish that spirit would come here.

Anonymous said...

He makes it sound like they dont already have the right to a good and free education. Students are the ones destroying that.

Anonymous said...

How do you think attendance will be Thursday? Ya know, need to make a 12 day break into a 13 day break.

Anonymous said...

Out of the teachers who started in 2013, almost 50% quit and are now gone. Why don't we investigate that?

Anonymous said...

Sent in my donation to Bernie last night. Teachers quit, not because of the students generally, but because of the asshole administrators and their unrealistic expectations for us and the kids. Bosses are the problem, not us.

Anonymous said...

From Bernie's email to supporters:

Today, I am very proud to share with you some extraordinary news: our campaign has received more than 5 million individual contributions — that is more contributions than any campaign has received at this point in a presidential election in the history of our country.

Now I want to say a few words about why this accomplishment is so extraordinary.

For far too long, the economic and political systems have been stacked against ordinary Americans. The rich get richer because they use their wealth to buy our candidates and our elections. Meanwhile, more and more working people become demoralized and choose not to participate in the political process.

What we are proving on this campaign is that one does not need to beg the wealthy and the powerful for campaign contributions in order to win elections.

We are proving that when you run a campaign that speaks directly to the needs of working people and young people, they are ready to fight with you.

We are proving that we — US — are far more powerful than the 1 percent have ever imagined.

And that is important.

Because change never happens from the top down. It always happens from the bottom up. And now is the time, more than ever before, for millions of working families — black and white, Latino, Asian and Native American, gay and straight — to come together to end the collapse of the American middle class and to make certain that our children and grandchildren are able to enjoy a quality of life and a habitable planet that brings them health, prosperity, security and joy.

That kind of campaign is also the only kind of campaign that will win in November.

Now I am proud to say that ours is the only campaign in this Democratic primary with more donations than Donald Trump.

And that is important for two reasons:

First, practically, our campaign has raised more money than any other campaign in this race and will raise more money than any campaign would against Donald Trump.

We have 5 million individual donations in a Democratic primary that hasn’t even cast its first vote.

Anonymous said...

I'm confused. I'm just a middle class, regular guy. I went to Brooklyn college. I am just a teacher. I am 40 years old. I make 125K. So, somehow, I have not been robbed of a legit salary. Why can't those who cant gain income inequality just go through HS, college and get a job? Stay away from crime. Stay in school. Follow directions. Dont live to depend on government assistance. Why is it that only some can claim income inequality?

Anonymous said...

Easier said than done. There is a culture of poverty and social pressure to be a deviant. If you are 40 and make $125,000 a year, you must do a whole lot of per session or maybe you aren't a teacher and are just here to be divisive.

Anonymous said...

Go Bernie!

Anonymous said...

Do the math. 19th year plus summer school and coaching and retro.

Anonymous said...

615, do you know the salary chart? Are we including retro in that 125k? 105k plus 12-15 retro plus a little per session is 125k. Assume the person started at 22 years old...

Bronx ATR said...

Bloomberg will make sure Bernie will never get the nomination. Maybe if the AFT and UFT really polled its members and not Randi’s two friends (Mulgrew and Bloomberg) Bernie would get a well deserved boost.

Pogue said...

Bernie all the way!

Anonymous said...

I've been feeling hopeless (I know we are all experiencing a bit of sadness with the break ending) taking the time to grade the mass amounts of papers (I teach middle school math) and seeing that the students lack a simple foundation of number sense, I don't feel like I am making a difference at all. I am thinking about going back to elementary school and applying during open market. At least then I'll have control over teaching students the foundations, but I am tired of the classroom altogether. Is there anything else that I can do with a Masters in Special Education? I don't want to loose my DOE benefits but I also want to enjoy my life and not simply wish it away.

Anonymous said...

Bernie is our best hope.

Anonymous said...

I don't count the retro as part of my salary. Those are one time payments for money earned years ago. You sound like Mulgrew.

Anonymous said...

Ok, point is still the same. If you subtract the 12-15k, a 40 year old making 112k. So, why is it so difficult for some to achieve equality?

Anonymous said...

Try growing up in a home where education is not a priority. You think it is easy? Our job is to try to overcome that. We get many through and others are unfortunately pushed through who then have no skills. What would you suggest we do? Shoot them all or throw them all in jail or better yet, send them back to Africa? No, we are there to make change even if it is very difficult.

Anonymous said...

Vote Bernie. Simple start.

Anonymous said...

My question is why are so many growing up in homes where education and non criminal behavior is not a priority?

Anonymous said...

Go Bernie! (To Venezuela.)
You need to lose some weight anyway.

Anonymous said...

“Strine said at a recent CEO conference that those who dismiss presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as a communist are ignorant of the markets and history.

He likened Sanders' policies to those in FDR's New Deal, and said New Deal democracy is the model that allowed the US and its allies to thrive in the 20th century.”

“When we lampoon European social democracy," Strine told the audience, "we're lampooning what we did to make the market economy work for all."

Anonymous said...

CNBC of all places:

For the final three months of the year, Sanders donors most often listed their occupation as "teacher." The five most common employers of people who contributed to the campaign were Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, the U.S. Postal Service and Target.

The senator routinely criticizes Amazon and Walmart for the pay and benefits they give workers.

Anonymous said...

34.5 million dollars raised in the fourth quarter by Sanders. Way ahead of Democratic rivals. Here come the attacks.

Anonymous said...

Yes CNBC, that socialist network. LOL

Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign shrugged off a health scare and took in more than $34.5 million in the fourth quarter, a massive haul in the final stretch before nominating contests start.

The independent senator from Vermont and 2020 Democratic hopeful raised more than $18 million in December, his best month of the election cycle, his campaign said Thursday.

Anonymous said...

CBS news:

Bernie Sanders raised $34.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, his campaign announced Thursday, racking up 1.8 million donations in the quarter ending December 31. Sanders' best fundraising month was December, when he collected 900,000 donations totaling over $18 million.

In addition to the impressive total for the quarter, the campaign announced on January 1 that it had reached 5 million campaign contributions, more than any Democratic opponent and more than President Trump's reelection campaign.

Sanders raised more than any of the other Democratic candidates in the third and first quarters of 2019.


According to his campaign, the most common job held by Sanders donors in the fourth quarter was teaching, but the most common employers were Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, the U.S. Postal Service and Target.

The average donation was $18.53, and 99.9% of his donors have not maxed out their donations to Sanders.

The last quarter of 2019 set a steady course for the campaign as it enters the election year. With the Iowa caucuses on February 3, the Sanders campaign believes the financial support shows hearty voter enthusiasm. According to the campaign, 40,000 new donors contributed on the last day of the year. In December alone, it raised more than $18 million from over 900,000 donations, making it the campaign's best fundraising month to date.


Sanders "is proving each and every day that working class Americans are ready and willing to fully fund a campaign that stands up for them and takes on the biggest corporations and the wealthy. You build a grassroots movement to beat Donald Trump and create a political revolution one $18 donation at a time, and that's exactly why Bernie is going to win," said Campaign Manager Faiz Shakir.

It's commonplace for the senator and his staff to tout fundraising and organizing as the campaign's strongest tools.

On the trail, the senator will at almost every stop tell voters that his campaign does not rely on big-dollar donors. Sanders will say that he doesn't "sit in rich people's living rooms asking for money," a slight directed at Vice President Joe Biden, who often makes fundraising stops between campaign events.

Similarly, after recent reports on a Pete Buttigieg fundraiser held in an underground wine cellar, Sanders has begun to tell supports that has never been in a "wine cave." The Sanders campaign even mocked the mayor's event last month by buying the domain PetesWineCave.com and redirecting visitors to the website to Sanders' ActBlue page. ActBlue provides an online platform for campaign fundraising.

In conjunction with Sanders' financial tailwind, the campaign boasts impressive grassroots and organizing numbers. In Iowa alone, staff and volunteers have knocked on more than 250,000 doors. The campaign says it plans to double that number by the end of January.

Sanders spoke to a small group of canvassers Wednesday morning in Des Moines before knocking on a few doors himself.

"What makes our campaign unique is you. We have, I'm quite confident, the strongest grassroots volunteer network in this state and, in fact, this country," said Sanders.

Anonymous said...

Bernie is getting a whole lot of money too 6:59.

Anonymous said...

Sanders wold not have acted. Over 8 months, Iran shot down a US drone, seized foreign flagged vessels in the Strait, including including NATO ships, executed a multi-drone strike on a Saudi petrol facility, and has been targeting US positions in Iraq with rockets for weeks. This is retaliatory and overdue.

Anonymous said...

If Iran is a rational actor, it won't try to goad America into greater escalation.

If Iran is not a rational actor, it should never have been trusted with nuclear weapons or to adhere to the Iran nuclear deal.

Anonymous said...

I had 20% attendance Thursday. How is this ok? How do students get away with everything?

Anonymous said...

And let everything continue? Just let them, other countries, do whatever they want? Just like how we now ignore the school discipline code because students wouldn't adhere?

Anonymous said...

What has Sanders, Jewish, a pres candidate, said about the constant anti-Jew attacks? Another reported today.

Terror on the Q Train!

As Orthodox Jews were on their way to Barclays Center for the 13th Siyum, they were confronted with this man yelling "F**k The Jews" "You F***ing Rabbis".

Anonymous said...

Sanders opposes the attacks as does every sane person.

Anonymous said...

Bernie Sanders Condemns Rise of Anti-Semitism in Iowa Menorah Lighting

That is from Bloomberg from four days back. Need we print the entire piece?

Anonymous said...

So did deblasio. What exactly does that mean? What has deblasio done to actually make it stop, as it keeps happening? Other than arrest people and let them out the same day.

Anonymous said...

The same people Sanders condemns, he wants everything to go to them for free...

Anonymous said...

Opposed why? Because Iran has been so nice to the US and Israel? How long have they been wishing death on both countries? Like obama giving them hundreds of billions of dollars helped?

Anonymous said...

There is nothing "disproportionate" about killing an enemy commander, in a war zone -- where U.S. troops are deployed according to proper legal authorities -- who is planning and executing attacks on U.S. personnel.

Anonymous said...


Soleimani killed 603 American servicemembers.

Soleimani maimed thousands more with IEDs.

Soleimani approved the attack on the U.S. Embassy.

He was plotting to kill more Americans.

Yes he deserves to be dead. If you’re lamenting his death, you hate Trump more than a terrorist.

Anonymous said...

The Vermont Senator and presidential contender Bernie Sanders released a statement saying: “Trump’s dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars.”

Anonymous said...

Can't even get the UK Tories to approve this one. Dominic Rabb is the UK Foreign Secretary.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab did speak to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday, although the time of the call is not known.

Mr Pompeo tweeted that he was "thankful that our allies recognise the continuing aggressive threats posed by the Iranian Quds Force".

Mr Raab also issued a statement, urging "all parties to de-escalate" after the killing of Gen Soleimani.

Anonymous said...

Bernie Sanders tweet

The American people do not want endless war! We cannot allow Trump to drag us into war with Iran. We must prevent what would be an unmitigated disaster.

Anonymous said...

Just to get this straight, according to Democrats, giving the Iranian terror regime access to hundreds of billions of dollars with no restrictions on terror use or ballistic missile testing was good, and killing the terrorist responsible for hundreds of American deaths is bad.

Anonymous said...

Team Obama overthrew Qaddafi, failed to protect our Benghazi embassy, lied about it, and withdrew. Then they tried to bribe the Iranian terrorist regime without any strings attached. Now they have advice after Trump defended the Baghdad embassy and killed Soleimani. No.

Anonymous said...

Another war in the Middle East sounds like a great idea. You are deranged. Go Bernie.

Anonymous said...

No, but giving iran free reign isnt good either. Neither is terrorism. Neither is burning American and Israeli flags. How about giving iran hundreds of billions of dollars because...to appease them. Did you ever think schools would not give hw, or allow unlimited absences? Or not be allowed to fail anybody? We gave in to students.

Anonymous said...

If U.S. troops are expelled from Iraq, this would have grave implications for our counter-ISIS strategy both in Iraq and Syria. Yet another possible consequence of Trump's decision.

Anonymous said...

The US's European allies on Friday warned against further escalation with Iran after President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Anonymous said...

For someone who dodged the draft 3 times, y'alls president is sure eager to send people's sons and daughters out to war!

Anonymous said...

Mayor de blasio,

That Shabbat when my mother recounted her horrors in Auschwitz, you vowed to always stand up against those who want to harm Jews.

No one person posed a bigger threat to the Jewish people than ”We will wipe Israel off the face of the earth” Qasem Soleimani.

You lied to my mom.

Anonymous said...

Show up at the anti hate march please.

Part of email from Randi:

Over the past few years, there’s been a disturbing rise in hate crimes—both here in the U.S. and abroad.

The Hanukkah stabbings in Monsey, N.Y., were the latest reminder of how dangerous and prevalent anti-Semitism is in the U.S. More than half of the 421 hate crimes reported in New York City in 2019 were targeted at Jewish people.

That’s why many of us and our allies are joining a No Hate, No Fear solidarity march on Sunday. I wanted to personally invite you to march with me and the AFT.

When: Sunday, Jan. 5, at 10:45 a.m.
Where: Foley Square (near the Triumph of the Human Spirit sculpture), New York City
Look for: AFT signs to find our group

Prehistoric pedagogue said...

What a great idea!!! An anti-hate march. Why didn’t anyone think of this before? Problem solved.. much better idea than more cops or keeping criminals in jail

Anonymous said...

Bernie on Facebook


Let me conclude by simply saying this: At a time when we have 500,000 Americans who are homeless today, including 30,000 veterans, at a time when some 87 million people are either uninsured or underinsured and 30,000 die each year because they don’t get to a doctor when they should, and at a time when we face an urgent need to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, to build the housing that we desperately need and to address the existential crisis of climate change, we as a nation must get our priorities right. We must invest in the needs of the American people, not spend trillions more on endless wars.

Anonymous said...

Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Ro Khanna have announced legislation to prohibit any funding for offensive military force in or against Iran without prior congressional authorization.

In a statement, Sanders and Khanna said war with Iran could cost “countless lives and trillions more dollars and lead to even more deaths.”

“Today, we are seeing a dangerous escalation that brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East,” they said.

Anon2323 said...

New York and California are turning to shit with homelessness issues, run by democrats. Now Diblasio is letting people out same day if they commit an act that does not deem punishable.

Last time I checked we have not been in a major war as Trump has been president. Meanwhile Obama gives 100 billion to Iran and all dems justify it.Can you imagine if Trump did that. Can you imagine if Donald Jr was making 60,000 a month with a foreign country. So sick of the double standards and hypocrisy.

Bernie has done nothing! Except have a heart attack, yell, and waive his hands around. He will be too old to be in office and he is as soft as a marshmallow.

Anonymous said...

Anon2323, You are a genius. What we need is more Republicans so we can privatize schools, have more socialism for the rich, an anti worker NLRB to keep wages low and working conditions poor, and more people thrown off medical insurance.

As for your assertion that Bernie has done nothing, ask veterans if that is true. His legislation looked out for veterans and their families instead of sending soldiers off to useless, endless wars.

Anonymous said...

Don't forget more conservative judges to make sure money is speech so the billionaires can continue to control everything, and women can have no say over their own bodies. Teachers voting Republican in 2020 are truly geniuses.

Anonymous said...

#Iraq: Due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region, we urge U.S. citizens to depart Iraq immediately. Due to Iranian-backed militia attacks at the U.S. Embassy compound, all consular operations are suspended. U.S. citizens should not approach the Embassy.

That is from State Dept.

Yeah, we're much safer today.

Anonymous said...

"I'm going to do everything that I can to prevent a war with Iran. Because if you think the war in Iraq was a disaster, my guess is that the war in Iran would be even worse. So let's work together and prevent that war."
--@BernieSanders

Anonymous said...

Forget privatizing education, look what has gone on in the last 20 years. It doesnt matter.
The job is a complete sham. Jesus christ couldnt get these kids to do any work, take school seriously, or even show up. Just had 8 years under obama, nothing in the doe was any better. Will have deblasio for 8 years, nothing in the nyc school system is any better.

Anonymous said...

School reform is bipartisan. Obama was worse than Bush and Trump for public education. Only the left part of the Democratic party supports public schools along with suburban middle of the roaders.

I want to keep my middle class job with good benefits and a pension. Full Republican control means privatization.

jeff said...

the profession is still a sham, students dont do anything, dont attend and graduate anyway. By definition, that means they arent learning/we arent teaching. the last 11 years we have had a total of 17% of raises, under 1.5% annually. Pathetic. Worse medical care/more expensive medical care. That doesnt even include the awful job conditions, absent discipline code and deteriorating health that goes along with it.

Anonymous said...

Socialism for the rich. Rugged individualism for the poor.

NEWS: New York State officials offered @Amazon almost a billion dollars more of incentives than was previously known to win its #HQ2 contest. The state was even prepared to pay part of some employees’ salaries if the tech company developed a campus here.

https://t.co/cgK4nRTsBh