Too Hard? Quit Now? Not on your life. We (WILL) PERSIST (until we succeed)!

In June 2016, former President Jimmy Carter, at the Carter Center in Atlanta, gave opening remarks at a forum of human rights workers,

Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter said Monday that the world is at a “turning point in history” and governments must choose policies of peace and human rights over war and human suffering.

“What is needed now, more than ever, is leadership that steers us away from fear and fosters greater confidence in the inherent goodness and ingenuity of humanity,” Carter said.

At age 91, Carter is far from naïve. Besides tireless work for Habitat for Humanity since the end of his term in office, before then, Carter moderated peace talks at Camp David, which led to an historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. Think about this: since 1980, has there been any time when Israel and Egypt have been at war with each other? Why might that be?

In other words, President Carter has the gravitas to warrant taking him seriously on this subject.

Turning points are opportunities for bold structural changes for societies to rapidly implement. In 2016, we came to an unexpected turning point with the election of a demagogue to the presidency. He made things change rapidly. Not in a good way.

Time Magazine's list of 25 Moments that Changed America might provide at least 25 more reasons why it's reasonable to expect that with bold leadership, more favorable structural change can rapidly occur in the near future to, as the Preamble to the Constitution declares,

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Segue back to Liz Warren's Thursday Town Hall. She has gravitas that warrants taking the words of her speech to heart. One of the things she said then -- that a president can do quite a bit "all by herself" -- bears further consideration.

I've cited Warren's January 2016 NYTimes op-ed in this blog previously. It's worth bringing up again, mainly because far too many people don't understand civics enough or simply don't remember.

WHILE presidential candidates from both parties feverishly pitch their legislative agendas, voters should also consider what presidents can do without Congress. Agency rules, executive actions and decisions about how vigorously to enforce certain laws will have an impact on every American, without a single new bill introduced in Congress.

The Obama administration has a substantial track record on agency rules and executive actions. It has used these tools to protect retirement savings, expand overtime pay, prohibit discrimination against L.G.B.T. employees who work for the government and federal contractors, and rein in carbon pollution. These accomplishments matter.

Whether the next president will build on them, or reverse them, is a central issue in the 2016 election. [We NOW know how that worked out] But the [Obama] administration’s record on enforcement falls short — and federal enforcement of laws that already exist has received far too little attention on the campaign trail.

I just released a report examining 20 of the worst federal enforcement failures in 2015. Its conclusion: “Corporate criminals routinely escape meaningful prosecution for their misconduct.”

Legislative agendas [and flipping the Senate] matter, but voters should also ask which presidential candidates they trust with the extraordinary power to choose who will fight on the front lines to enforce the laws. The next president can rebuild faith in our institutions by honoring the simple notion that nobody is above the law, but it will happen only if [when] voters demand it. 

The report linked above (on Warren's Senate website) is still available. It provides evidence that SHE represents the political revolution Bernie has preached about. Said revolution takes hold as soon as she gets elected.

Liz Warren represents the next American historical turning point that will rapidly change our society. This time, it will go in the direction we need it to go rather than in a direction that only enriches the top .01 of 1 percent of American households.


An aside: Do you think Status Quo Joe is capable of enforcing the law so that corporate criminals will stop plundering and pillaging the lives and livelihoods of Main Street American families? If you do, please explain -- in as much detail as possible -- to your own family and your own friends exactly HOW he could be capable of doing so. I'll wait.

*****

Here's an excerpt from the end of Warren's speech. In the clip, she answers the question I intended to ask if given the opportunity at the Thursday evening Town Hall.



Dream BIG. Fight Hard. PERSIST.

This is our moment to build an America that actually reflects our best values.