Progressive Action

The Democratic Party leaders are not happy with new progressives. Finally, politicians at the national and local level address human rights concerns, I let out a sigh of relief. Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took unpopular stands challenging the status quo of even the most open-minded democrat, who responded to both of these women with harsh criticism.  The field of Democratic presidential candidates get more crowded every day, there may be a more progressive Democratic party in the future. It’s important we support both of these women and the new members of the Progressive Caucus. 

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota questioned Elliot Abrams about his past record on foreign policy in Central America. In this examination of Abrams, Congresswoman Omar questioned the age-old United States foreign policy that democracy at any price is a win.  During Abrams testimony before the House Foreign Affairs committee protesters on the floor of congress yelled, “Don’t listen to this war criminal!” Congresswoman Omar went down the list of Abram’s crimes in her opening comment.  Crimes Abrams committed in his role in Central America; supporting the Guatemalan Dictator General Efraín Ríos Montt who ordered mass murder and torture of indigenous people in the 1980s; Ríos Montt was later convicted of genocide; in 1991 Abrams pleaded guilty to two counts of withholding information about his role in the Iran Contra Deal; Abrams can also be linked to the 2002 coup in Venezuela that attempted to topple Hugo Chávez.  I doubt these accomplishments of Abrams were on his resume.

Congresswomen Omar questioned Abrams not only on his record but on his assessment of his Latin American policies that he called “Fabulous.”  Abrams policy was to turn a blind eye on acts genocide declaring these policies accomplished their goals of getting countries in Central America to transition into democracies.  I find it rare that in these kinds of hearings for a federal appointed position that they never have to answer questions on their work history, the mistakes they’ve made or the laws they’ve broken. 

The US’s policy on promoting democracy is inundated with human rights violations the world over.  Congresswoman Ilhan Omar questioning of Abrams brought Abrams credibility into question. Abrams responded to these statements saying this is an attack on me and I’m not going to answer.  Congresswoman Omar kept telling him “It’s not a question.”  So, if someone asks in a hearing for an appointee of the President of the United States one can’t question their credibility because it’s considered an attack?  Abrams is not the first-person Trump has appointed to office that has a shady past, there was Kavanaugh who also took questions about his character as an attack when questioned about his shady past.

Abrams hearing was for his appointment as the US’s Special Envoy to Venezuela as the U.S. is starting to place sanctions on the state-run oil company. Abrams is known for his right-wing hawk policies. Think back on your job interviews, doesn’t the protentional employer have the right to ask you anything they want about your past work experience and doesn’t mass murder under your watch something an employer might want to know about.  Something your responsible for particularly if you never addressed the mass murders as a human rights violation.

The other progressive move came from Ocasio-Cortez’s participation in ousting Amazon from Long Island City.  Morning Joe, and his guests blasted Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez accusing her of not understanding basic economics. There was near unanimity in the Democratic Party that Ocasio-Cortez did not understand the broader situation and was unfamiliar with basic economics.  The democratic centralist spoke angerly about Ocasio-Cortez support for the community that didn’t want Amazon to move in.  After seeing what Amazon has done to Seattle, I say hurray for Long Island City.   Amazon has taken over Seattle desecrating communities in the “CD” that for decades produced famous musicians like Jimmy Hendrix, Ray Charles, and Quincy Jones and others.  Here in Seattle local residents have not only been pushed out of these neighborhoods, but many have become homeless because of the impact on the cost of housing.  It has changed local diversity and communities where people in the past moved to for affordable rents.  What transpired is the importation of workers from all over the world who have no ties to Seattle and the diverse community residents who were promised jobs and improved economics never benefited.

I hear a lot about what Amazon is doing for the homeless population around what I call Bezos’ empire of South Lake Union.  The fact is, with all the tax breaks given to Amazon social services suffer, Amazon just doesn’t make up the disparity that their tax breaks have created.  The basic understanding of community development has changed over the years from community grass roots development to “Move in big business to create jobs in exchange of a tax breaks.  This new development strategy doesn’t develop the resources of the existing community and the people who live there.  I remember job training opportunities to aid local residents and industry that need new skill sets, or help to build small businesses, all of which develop local resources making existing communities stronger and build local economies. 

It’s time that people in high positions in our government, both local and national, are accountable for their actions past and present.  That economic development focus on developing the resources already in a community and include specific economic gain for current residents. Governments at all levels should take on a human rights approach at all cost. It's time that the United States on the federal level on down to the municipal level start uphold human rights not just when it's beneficial or as propaganda but from a caring thoughtful place of sincerity.  All of this will contribute to a more human community development strategy world wide.