The Importance of Governance
Thu Apr 14, 2005 at 06:21:24 AM PDT
I'm running for Governor of New Jersey. You can find more about my campaign by going to the Jon Corzine for Governor web site.
I want to introduce myself to you, the Daily Kos and `blog' community. I'd also like to hear from you, as well as give you a sense of what I think is the most pressing challenge we face as a progressive movement.
My name is Jon Corzine, and I am a proud Democrat who represents the people of New Jersey in the United States Senate. I've had a long career in business, and growing up, I was always surrounded by strong communities. I rose to the top of a great American company, and now feel honored to be allowed to serve my country in a public role. I've lived what anyone would consider an absolutely blessed life, and I'm in public service because I believe that all citizens should have the same access to the American dream that I had.
Many in the progressive movement must feel despondent at this point. A reactionary Republican party is more dominant than at any point in any of our lives on a Federal level. And even where we have workable social programs on a state level, this administration is dedicated to reaching into states (including my own) and forcing their agenda upon them.
I wrote an article in 2001 for the Nation magazine in which I laid out a vision of a Democratic government that seeks to serve and involve the people. I was confronted with a choice when I was elected to the Senate of whether to join the DLC, and this article was my decision. In rejecting membership in that group, I wrote at the time:
In recent months, as a newly elected senator, I have had to decide whether to join the Democratic Leadership Council. I have chosen not to because while I shared its founding purpose, which was to frame a successful response to President Reagan's efforts to portray Democrats as the party of "tax and spend," social engineering and failed personal responsibility, I believe that purpose has been largely accomplished.
Today, I believe that it is vital for Democrats to stand up for a sharply defined progressive agenda--one that is committed to fighting for practical and progressive policies for working families and America's middle class--even when that means challenging powerful interests and the status quo. I am absolutely convinced that, standing on the foundation of fiscal stability that Democrats have built and to which the DLC contributed, we now have to fight for our convictions. If we begin to negotiate from the middle, the end result inevitably takes us to the right of where I believe our nation should be.
We also have to articulate the truth that advancing social and economic justice advances everyone's prosperity. We need to challenge the special interests that would limit the rights of labor and the opportunities of women and minorities, because we need all the talents of all our people to achieve maximum productivity and growth. We need to challenge the health insurance industry and finally win the battle for universal access to healthcare, because it is morally right and economically rational. Just because conservatives have demonized the term "universal healthcare" we should not walk away from that battle for the sake of a calculated centrism that splits the difference between right and wrong.
When I was a candidate, the polls said that the majority of New Jersey voters disagreed with my opposition to the death penalty. I'm grateful the voters respected that I said what I believed even when it wasn't popular. As progressives, we must be ready to do that. Most of the progressive agenda--healthcare, the environment, gun safety, a progressive tax policy-- reflects the values and the ideals of the majority of our people. They will vote for our agenda if we present it in practical terms and fight for it.
So while I respect the contribution of the DLC and while I respect its leaders, I'm not ready to join. The answer to "compassionate conservatism" isn't timid progressivism. It's a real commitment to equal opportunity, to fiscal responsibility and a fair society. We can and must be a party with the courage to stand tall for our beliefs because that's how we will be able to win as the party of the people.
I think it's more important than ever that we carry forward with a strong set of progressive principles.
Now I believe something else as well. In making our case to the American people, we must not only talk about how our principles - rule of law, political fairness, a productive economy, fiscal prudence, natural sustainability - make sense. We must also prove our case by governing well on a state level, as both elected officials and regular citizens who make change possible. A progressive, activist government built our highways, the internet, ended segregation, and created our bedrock social contract. Most great political innovations began at a local level, and worked their way across the country, and sometimes, the world. So we must return to our roots and build the communities that we want on a local, city, and state level. Then our case will not just be stated, it will be built for Americans to see.
Over the next few months, I hope to post here a few more times. I have a busy schedule as a Senator running for Governor (for those of you in New Jersey, you can join my campaign at www.CorzineforGovernor.com), so I'm not going to be able to respond to you directly right now. I very much appreciate you reading this and spending time involved and engaged in politics, and I will make sure that I read your responses.
