Galindez writes: "As Democrats across the country try to figure out what has been going wrong, I suggest looking at the big picture. What is America? What do we need to build the America that we dream about?"
A Sanders rally in September 2015. (photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
10 April 17
ne of the most brilliant political campaign advertisements I have ever seen was this Bernie Sanders “America” ad.
This should be what politics is all about, seeking an America that we all believe in. Barack Obama understood that in his campaign. He presented a vision of hope and change that inspired millions of Americans to believe that “Yes We Can.”
Donald Trump, no matter what you think about the divisive campaign tactics he used, also inspired millions of Americans to believe in an America that they could be proud of again.
Bernie understood the American people’s yearning for an America that represents their values. We don’t agree on how to get there, but we all seek the America that people dream about.
We all seek an America with opportunity for all. We are all looking an America where everyone has a quality standard of living. That includes a job that doesn’t leave them in poverty. That includes a quality education. It includes quality health care.
For many of us, that is what we are looking for. But for too many, the dream is about greed and narrow-mindedness. I don’t have anything against wealth: it’s stepping over others to achieve it that is the problem. It’s leaving others in poverty and not wanting to help them have the same opportunities that is a problem.
I believe we can all be successful if we provide an opportunity for everyone. Education and healthcare for all with a living wage would give us all a quality life. It is time for another war on poverty. We will never achieve the America in Bernie’s commercial until we eradicate poverty.
Education, jobs, and healthcare are the keys to ending poverty.
Everyone deserves an education, and if they want to go to college, it should be free just like K-12. When you get sick, you should be able to go to a doctor and not go without something else to pay for it. When you work 40 hours, you should not still be in poverty. You should make enough money to support your family comfortably.
Common sense stuff, right? A political party that commits to those three goals as its core mission is guaranteed to succeed. There is already a party that represents big business. Their mission is to make sure that business can profit in America. They care more about getting rich than taking care of people’s human needs. What is lacking in this country is a party that at its core guarantees health and opportunity.
I hear many of you shouting other concerns now. The environment, civil rights, defense and many other issues have to be included. I just believe that health care, education, and economic opportunity should be guaranteed. If they are, the rest will come.
A healthy, educated population will take care of the environment. A healthy, educated population will make wise decisions on the country’s defense. Hate and greed will not cloud their view of the world. We will still have to fight racism and bigotry. If everyone has a living wage, we won’t be divided by demagogues who use fear keep us from uniting.
As Democrats across the country try to figure out what has been going wrong, I suggest looking at the big picture. What is America? What do we need to build the America that we dream about? It is not about “Making America Great Again,” it’s about making America America again.
Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott moved to Des Moines in 2015 to cover the Iowa Caucus.
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