Geoghegan's Running

By now, you've probably seen the very, very excellent news that Tom Geoghegan is running to replace Rahm Emanuel as the congressman from Illinois' 5th district. Tom is a friend and one of the writers and thinkers whom I most admire. (Here's an interview I did with him for In These Times) He is, and I fear hyperbole here, but I mean it, something of a secular saint. A brilliant, fresh and idiosyncratic thinker, a graceful and stylish writer and a mensch who's spent his career as a labor lawyer fighting for working people. I simply cannot imagine a better member of the United States Congress.

If you don't believe me, just check out his candidate statement:

Here's the bailout I will go to Congress to get:

First, I want to expand Social Security, our public pension system, to replace, not overnight but in stages, the private pension system which has collapsed. Social Security now pays about 38 to 39 percent of your working income. In other developed countries, it averages 65 percent. That's where our fiscal stimulus should be: a commitment to reach this goal, a public pension that ordinary working people can live on.

Second we have to move to single payer health care program...because it is crucial to making us competitive globally. Through single payer and expanded Social Security, the goal is to pick up the "non-wage" labor costs that employers now have to pay. That's already how other countries out-compete us: they have the government and not the private employer pick up these non-wage health and pension costs...

For years, the conservatives have said: "We can't do this. The money isn't there." Well, the money is there. It was there for the Iraq war, a colossal waste of money, and for the bailout, the first half of which has been a colossal waste as well...

Finally we have to put limits on returns to financial firms. We should re-enact the usury laws, the interest-rate caps that were in place in America up till the 1970s. We need to stop the rates of 30 to 35 percent, the hidden fees, the hundreds of ways that banks pull our money out of industry and into gambling and speculation.

In my campaign, I will have a single minded focus on the economic security to working Americans, that's why I so strongly support the Employee Free Choice Act and other changes in our labor laws. And that's why I support policies that will reduce the debt of working Americans. Overall, the plan I am setting out here will help make our country more competitive...

The message of this campaign is: We're moving beyond the bailout. Now it's your turn.

We're moving beyond the bailout. Now it's your turn. I think that should be progressive rallying cry for '09.

Comments (32)

1. I also support Free Choice Labor where I can vote in private for or against a union or the freedom to Not join one where one is in place.

   However after reading the statement above, I for one, am not willing to pay 70 % tax rate to pay for his workers paradise. I would quit or move my wealth off shore for sure.

   This guy is a big threat to everything America is about and so for everything govt will do for a population willing to turn over their entire lives and freedom in exchange for "fairness and security" for everyone... Free of course.

   Socialist loon for sure. Probably will win.. Especially if he works for the Chicsgo/Illinois machine.....

   Good thing Obama isn't from there and earned his bones as a community organizer.

   Yikes.

   Posted by YourJomamma at 01/06/2009 @ 10:41pm

2. Great news. Great writer -- I loved "Which Side Are You On," his book about being a labor lawyer fighting against the outrages of the Reagan era.

   My understanding is that the Employee Free Choice Act is designed to give simple majority rule to workplaces: if a majority of workers say they want the union to come in, it's done. It eliminates the intimidation stage where there's an "election" in which the boss gets to scare everybody into voting against the union ("You wouldn't want us to have to move to Mexico and leave your sick husband's medical bills unpaid, would you?") without ever suffering a real-time penalty for it. So, yeah, go EFCA.

   The candidate's comments about Social Security were so true. We're all brainswashed with this stuff about "investing" in our our 401Ks, while clearly there's money to have real social insurance in this country. So, go Tom. If any other Nation contributors would like to run for office, let us know.

   Posted by RLawrence at 01/06/2009 @ 11:00pm

3. Rl,

   You do know that SS is a Ponzi scheme don't you? and the return in your $ from SS is less than 2%? And even with the current economy your return is infinitely higher if you put the same $ there instead of SS?

   You sound like perfect union material.

   Posted by YourJomamma at 01/06/2009 @ 11:30pm

4. SS is where Madoef got the idea and learned his skill.

   Posted by YourJomamma at 01/06/2009 @ 11:44pm

5. how does one pronounce "Geoghegan"?

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/07/2009 @ 12:12am

6. It is pronounced "Comrade" with a mouth full of hot pasta.

   Posted by YourJomamma at 01/07/2009 @ 12:19am

7. <i>Posted by YourJomamma at 01/07/2009 @ 12:19am </i>

   Haha well-played.

   Also, though I think the "he's a commie!" response is JUST a bit overplayed, the challenge to the EFCA seems spot-on. The only way a majority vote can be a true reflection of actual will is if it's done by secret ballot.

   Additionally, the "but there's totally money for this!"...really? Where? Virtually all of our spending is coming from magical money (translation: debt). And yes...though I hate having to repeat this...the same criticism can be made about Iraq (though the Iraqi government asking us to leave probably makes this somewhat moot). Government cannot pretend like it somehow has vast resources to spend; unless you can show that the specific debt you're defending outweighs the cost by virtue of being an investment (ex: law school loans), I don't see how you can argue that "spending more fictitious money= good."

   Posted by Thrawn at 01/07/2009 @ 12:59am

8. Lets see, how do I educate the morons.. Hmmm. (Remember Chaos these people have a limited ability to grasp the obvious.)

   Oh well here goes. Expanding Social Security to the average 65% paid by other industrialized nations would eliminate the need for companies to provide pension plans and save them a ton of money. That would mean they would have more capital to expand the business and create more jobs and pay higher wages. Higher wages and more jobs would expand the tax base. More tax revenue created would give government the ability to build and maintain infrastructure and pay for expanding Social Security. Building and maintaining infrastructure would streamline the ability of companies to conduct business and create more profit which in turn would create more jobs. And so on.

   If government also provides a quality single payer healthcare system, that saves companies another ton of money and results in the same benefits as stated above. It would also attract more foreign investment and get us a three fer.

   And on top of all that the general population will be much happier and healthy. And most likely crime and drug abuse would decline significantly because people would be less desperate and stressed out. And the prison population would decline and save state and federal government a ton of money. I know I'm probably missing many more advantages that remain unseen at the moment.

   There ya go ya bunch a buffoons. Now get busy and tear it down like good little repugs..

   Posted by chaoszen at 01/07/2009 @ 06:50am

9. man, HAYES...

   you sure are churning these blog entries out fast and furious, as per your new year's resolution...

   soon you'll be challenging NICHOLS as the hardest blogging editor at TN!

   but maybe you should limit the entries to two a day...just to let them sink in a little...

   or not. great work!

   by the way - how do you pronounce "Geoghegan"?

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/07/2009 @ 08:02am

10. i'm thinking..."go-heegan"...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/07/2009 @ 08:03am

11. There ya go ya bunch a buffoons. Now get busy and tear it down like good little repugs..

    Posted by chaoszen at 01/07/2009 @ 06:50am

    This canard has been "torn" down a couple of generations ago...but try to catch up...

    Posted by YourJomamma at 01/07/2009 @ 09:05am

12. "There ya go ya bunch a buffoons. Now get busy and tear it down like good little repugs.. Posted by chaoszen at 01/07/2009 @ 06:50am This canard has been "torn" down a couple of generations ago...but try to catch up..."

    It has only been torn down because over the past couple of generations conservatives have torn down the whole economy (and torn up the Constitution). But I guess you gotta break everyone's eggs to make an omelette for the Wall Street folks.

    Ibbleblibble--I think its pronounced Gee-Gen (both hard "G"s, accent on the first syllable).

    Posted by onthehelm at 01/07/2009 @ 09:23am

13. CHRIS HAYES, consider this:

    Your friend lauds the fact that "other nations" spend so much more on social programs compared to us. (ie 65% for SS compared to 32%) etc. The assumption is that this is a good thing. Of course, the nations of which he speaks (and I'm thinking Europe- All good leftys think Europe is just the end-all in political/economic thought-kind of makes you wonder why everyone comes here) -the nations of which he speaks are no longer major players in the world (realistically) and it doesn't matter it if they can only take care of themselves.

    When the next famine breaks out lets watch Finland singlehandedly provide food for the hungry millions.

    The next time assholes like Saddam Hussein wreak havoc in their own and neighboring countries, lets watch the economic powerhouse France put a stop to it.

    When another Tsunami strikes somewhere in the world, see how much aid comes from Germany.

    WE always come through, CHRIS, because we have a system that does not consume itself with its own expenses. We have the wealth. So why the hell would we want to do things the way everyone else does? Thats not smart. Thats stupid.

    Chip

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 01/07/2009 @ 09:27am

14. kind of makes you wonder why everyone comes here)

    everyone does NOT come here. immigration from Europe has dwindled. the Germans are not coming, the Irish are not coming. in fact many that came here have gone back.

    your jingoism leads you to make unsupportable statements such as this.

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/07/2009 @ 10:15am

15. This canard has been "torn" down a couple of generations ago...but try to catch up...

    notice how this does not address the question, chaoszen. It's common for conservatives to simply state as fact anything they can parrot from one another. Without any new ideas to address current issues, right-wingers tend only toward ad hominem attacks and straw men.

    Posted by erazma at 01/07/2009 @ 10:35am

16. Emile, We've had this discussion before under different guises. Massive, periodic waves of immigration (not continuous, I did not say continuous) is not jingoism, it is fact, and you know it. You're a living example. Show me waves of immigrants trying to land happily on the shores of PORTUGAL or FRANCE looking for a better life, or some other world powerhouse, and I'll concede your point. (And don't pull some single example that'll probably never happen again.) Otherwise, your just spewing an unsubstantiated defense of your point of origin.

    Have a nice day

    Chip

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 01/07/2009 @ 10:52am

17. Show me waves of immigrants trying to land happily on the shores of PORTUGAL or FRANCE looking for a better life, or some other world powerhouse, and I'll concede your point.

    hundreds of migrants die each year trying to cross from Morocco into europe. your denial of this shows your willful ignorance.

    economic migration into the US from western europe has stopped. why should they come?

    I came to the US for personal reasons, not economic ones.

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/07/2009 @ 11:18am

18. I know why you came Emile

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 01/07/2009 @ 2:55pm

19. Chipper, do me a favor, and google migrants dying to get into europe, or some such, and there is a chance we can put this particular disagreement behind us. ok?

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/07/2009 @ 3:00pm

20. It's happening all along Europe's southern frontiers. Here by land and elsewhere by sea they come - in rickety boats, barely fit to float and packed to the brim. To Malta, the Canaries and the Italian island of Lampedusa. In Malta even the army is outnumbered by illegal immigrants. And patience is wearing thin.

    BBC 2005

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/07/2009 @ 3:15pm

21. I will, Emile, and I'm quite certain I'll find, if you're suggesting it, that compared to the three great waves of immigration this country has had, that the phenomenon (legally, anyway) is not as frequent. I know that.

    My main point was our ability to react to the world's crises is a direct result of our ability to project wealth and power: That ability is directly related to our economic system. Europe can't do that anymore, but then Europe doesn't have to. And if they are happy where they are and arn't coming here as much anymore that's fine, though I don't regard that as a subtle rejection of our way of doing things. Our history is filled with eras where people didn't come here, I wouldn't have used that to reject our system then either.

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 01/07/2009 @ 3:26pm

22. BTW, Emile, Saw you're comment about our use of the A-bomb because they were asian-never would have used it on "whites"

    That's ridiculous. Your race obsession is clouding your interpretation of facts, or at least, causing a bending of facts to a preconceived notion-namely, that America is a racist nation.

    (well, you said you wanted to discuss something else-and you thought I didn't read your stuff) :)

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 01/07/2009 @ 3:32pm

23. This canard has been "torn" down a couple of generations ago...but try to catch up...

    Posted by YourJomamma at 01/07/2009 @ 09:05am

    There was a movement in the early 20th century to provide universal healthcare. But was opposed by the insurance industry.(gee I wonder why?). Then F.D.R wanted to introduce it but was advised against it as it was feared that the AMA would kill Social Security.

    So these programs are nothing new but have never been tried here. So how in the hell can you dismiss them as being debunked generations ago, when they have not even been given a chance yet?

    If this had been done generations ago we would not be in the mess we are now.

    Posted by chaoszen at 01/07/2009 @ 3:46pm

24. that America is a racist nation.

    it was and still is a racist nation, though improvements have been made.

    if you cannot acknowledge one point, that of immigrants trying to get into europe, you will be permanently ignored.

    That ability is directly related to our economic system. Europe can't do that anymore, but then Europe doesn't have to.

    this is bull. the EU is a huge economic power. take of the jingo glasses and look at the world as it is.

    the EU combined generates an estimated 30% share (US$16.8 trillion in 2007) of the world's nominal gross world product.[5]

    United States -- GDP: 13.84 Trillion

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/07/2009 @ 4:08pm

25. because we have a system that does not consume itself with its own expenses. Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 01/07/2009 @ 09:27am

    Another assinine statement. Have you checked out the state of the economy lately. The national debt? Right wing policies have decimated the economy by consuming itself with it's own expenses. Military spending, bad tax and trade policies and rampant imperialism. That money would have been much better spent on domestic issues.

    What planet are you on anyway?

    Posted by chaoszen at 01/07/2009 @ 4:22pm

26. So, I will be ignored if I cannot accept your opinion? My how dictatorial of you old boy.

    You may ignore me any time you choose, you know that. You might, but I do not, center my grasp of things on your opinion of the world. I could not, for all objectivity and reliance on fact would have to be discarded first, and this I cannot do.

    ct

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 01/07/2009 @ 4:27pm

27. So, I will be ignored if I cannot accept your opinion?

    not my opinion. facts.

    "Show me waves of immigrants trying to land happily on the shores of PORTUGAL or FRANCE looking for a better life, or some other world powerhouse, and I'll concede your point."

    for the last time, you stated that immigrants are not trying to get into europe. that is false. I have shown it to be false. this is not a matter of opinion.

    I am not wasting anymore time on you.

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/07/2009 @ 5:32pm

28. thank you for this source.

    I'm not sure we are reading the charts the same way.I refer you to page 13.

    green card applications germany 7,582 2007

    ireland 1,503

    in germany's case the numbers have been dropping every year, which supports my assertion

    7,000 out of a total of over a million, that is a tiny number.

    in Ireland's case I would guess that the number returning to ireland from the US is larger, perhaps germany too.

    I look forward to your response.

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/07/2009 @ 7:28pm

29. the number above is by country of birth. by country of last residence the number is 1,000 higher.

    the population of germany is over 80 million

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/07/2009 @ 7:38pm

30. no numbers on return. a surmise on my part.

    we are talking immigration, NOT temporary workers.

    here's another snap shot.

    I'll confine myself to germany for brevity.

    50s....576,903

    60s....209,616

    70s...77,142

    80s...85,752

    90s...92,207

    I assume the uptick is due to former east germans being able to leave, and their region being economically disadvantaged.

    I think the numbers support my point.

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/07/2009 @ 7:55pm

31. no response from the satanic preacher. cowardice?

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/08/2009 @ 09:22am

32. I have yet to see anyone from across the aisle, so to speak, admit to any error. not once.

    moi, I have acknowledges my mistakes numerous times. yes, I am proud of that.

    Posted by emile duBois at 01/08/2009 @ 09:54am