AN OVERVIEW OF AN AMAZING YEAR – WITH BILL CURRY
INSIGHTS INTO THE INTERPLAY OF RELIGION AND PUBLIC POLICY
We spend the hour with Bill Curry, one of our most insightful and knowledgeable guests. He was twice the Democratic nominee for Governor of Connecticut and a White House advisor in Bill Clinton’s administration.
In the wake of the editorial in Christianity Today supporting the impeachment of President Trump, we note a possible opening within the evangelical movement to stop protecting Trump from accountability for any of his wrongdoing. We discuss the role of Christian (and Jewish and other) clergy and people of faith in moving American history toward human rights and social justice.
The civil rights movement, the women’s movement, the labor movement, making human rights an important part of American foreign policy — are some examples of progress that would not have been made (at least not as quickly) without strong leadership from people of faith.
Curry (a Catholic) explains why. The progressive wings of various religions teach the same values as advocates for progressive public policies. They believe in loving our neighbors (without exception), standing up for what is right, welcoming the stranger. These are more important than following rituals or talking about how strongly one believes in God. As the Buddha said, don’t ask what to say in praying to God. If you live a certain way, you can be happy and you can help others to be happy. Likewise, Jesus didn’t ask to be worshipped; he asked people to follow him, to act like him.
THE INSPIRING YOUNGER GENERATION OF ACTIVISTS
We also discuss what we hope is an ongoing evolution in American (and worldwide) politics and social policy actions. In the 1960s, older progressives told young boomers that they were glad we were there. (Our elders had been feeling as if they were wandering in the political desert.) Similarly today, we older progressives are thrilled to see the rise of the younger generations of activists. They’re unafraid to speak truth to power, and to advocate powerfully for what they believe in.
As Curry continues to tell people he meets: Even though they have a day job, and a family and community to which they devote significant time, in addition, they should get involved with some amount of direct electoral politics, as part of their role as a citizen.
SHOULD PUBLIC FUNDING FOR COLLEGE BE UNIVERSALLY AVAILABLE? OR MEANS-TESTED?
We also discuss the debate about public funding of young people’s college education. The public debate is not doing an adequate job explaining what the differences are between means testing a government program versus making it universally available to everyone, like Medicare, Social Security, and public roads. Even when we originally created a public high school system, it was not available to everyone for free: the rich were expected to pay for their education because they could afford to. But this lack of universality led to diminishing support for public education. Once we made high school available free, as of right to everyone, it became a cherished part of what our national community is all about.
SOLVING THE HEALTH CARE PROBLEM
We end with an excellent discussion of how the Democratic candidates do not differ as much as we think in their ideasfor making health care affordable. The debate can be resolved with some judicious compromises and a lot of thoughtful discussion. You’ll have to listen to the show to get the details.
Happy Holidays to everyone!
