Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown

Hey Washington: Follow The People


Listen Later

“Those in the know” say that We the People should forget any progressive fantasy that – at long last – Washington might finally produce the kind of bold FDR-style agenda that America needs. They smugly lecture us that recalcitrant Republicans in Congress, not to mention a swarm of corporate lobbyists, are opposed to progressive change, so who could get it passed?
Here’s an idea: Try the people themselves. Those in the know don’t seem to know it (or don’t want us to know it), but big majorities across grassroots America are strongly in favor of the fundamental changes that Washington elites are rejecting. For example:
Two-thirds of America (including a majority of moderate Republicans) say “Yes!” to doubling the minimum wage.
72 percent of the people, including 46 percent of professed Republicans, shout their approval for Medicare for all.
Eight out of 10 Americans, including strong majorities of Republicans, support a paid family leave program like every other developed nation provides for their people.
What about increasing taxes on the rich, expanding Medicaid for poor families, raising teacher pay, spending more for early childhood education? Yes, yes, yes, yes say majorities, not just in blue states, but also in GOP strongholds like Idaho, Nebraska, and Utah.
These are not just poll numbers, but solid ideas embraced last year by a broad cross-section of voters in ballot elections across the country. For example, Florida voters enacted a constitutional initiative to up the state’s minimum pay to $15, with “yeas” topping “nays” by a whopping margin of more than 20 points – making it more popular than either Trump or Biden.
Instead of fearing the people, Democratic leaders need to get out of Washington and join them. Let’s rally and organize the power of outsiders to produce transformative policies of, by, and for the people.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Jim Hightower's Radio LowdownBy Jim Hightower

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

334 ratings


More shows like Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown

View all
On the Media by WNYC Studios

On the Media

9,186 Listeners

CounterSpin by Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting

CounterSpin

496 Listeners

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy by BestOfTheLeft.com

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

3,372 Listeners

Ring of Fire Radio with Farron Cousins by Audio Matters LLC

Ring of Fire Radio with Farron Cousins

472 Listeners

Ralph Nader Radio Hour by Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader Radio Hour

1,184 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,716 Listeners

The Nation Podcasts by The Nation Magazine

The Nation Podcasts

418 Listeners

The DSR Network by The DSR Network

The DSR Network

1,743 Listeners

The Hartmann Report by Thom Hartmann

The Hartmann Report

1,357 Listeners

The Atlantic Interview by The Atlantic

The Atlantic Interview

1,988 Listeners

Gaslit Nation by Andrea Chalupa

Gaslit Nation

3,939 Listeners

The Al Franken Podcast by The Al Franken Podcast

The Al Franken Podcast

8,606 Listeners

Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast by WNYC Studios

Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

676 Listeners

The PoliticsGirl Podcast by Meidas Media Network, Leigh McGowan

The PoliticsGirl Podcast

4,236 Listeners

Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson

Letters from an American

5,380 Listeners