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Books by Robert
Reich
Supercapitalism: The
Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life
/
The Wealth of Nations
The Work of Nations:
Preparing Ourselves for 21st Century Capitalism /
Reason: Why Liberals Will Win the Battle for America
The Future of Success:
Working and Living in the New Economy /
I'll Be Short:
Essentials for a Decent Working Society
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Friday, April 18, 2008
Obama for President
By Robert Reich
The formal act of endorsing a
candidate is generally (and properly) limited to
editorial pages and elected officials whose constituents
might be influenced by their choice. The rest of us
shouldn't assume anyone cares. My avoidance of offering
a formal endorsement until now has also been affected by
the pull of old friendships and my reluctance as a
teacher and commentator to be openly partisan. But my
conscience won't let me be silent any longer.
I believe that Barack Obama should be elected President
of the United States.
Although Hillary Clinton has offered solid and sensible
policy proposals, Obama's strike me as even more so. His
plans for reforming Social Security and health care have
a better chance of succeeding. His approaches to the
housing crisis and the failures of our financial markets
are sounder than hers. His ideas for improving our
public schools and confronting the problems of poverty
and inequality are more coherent and compelling. He has
put forward the more enlightened foreign policy and the
more thoughtful plan for controlling global warming.
He also presents the best chance of creating a new
politics in which citizens become active participants
rather than cynical spectators. He has energized many
who had given up on politics. He has engaged young
people to an extent not seen in decades. He has spoken
about the most difficult problems our society faces,
such as race, without spinning or simplifying. He has
rightly identified the armies of lawyers and lobbyists
that have commandeered our democracy, and pointed the
way toward taking it back.
Finally, he offers the best hope of transcending the
boundaries of class, race, and nationality that have
divided us. His life history exemplifies this, as do his
writings and his record of public service. For these
same reasons, he offers the best possibility of
restoring America's moral authority in the world.
Robert Reich is the nation's
22nd Secretary of Labor and a professor at the
University of California at Berkeley.
Source:
Robert Reich.blogspot
posted 18 April
2008
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