Posted on 06/21/2002 7:41:26 PM PDT by NWOhioGirl7O7
I will post because the website is turning over to a pay site, although you can sign up for limited free days.
the article: Clinton left global legacy Bill Clinton squandered an opportunity to become one of the most important political figures in American history when he allowed his lack of self-control to interfer with his public responsibility. But his frailties will never negate the fact that he was probably one of America's brightest, politically talented and most promising social visionaries of the last century. His views forged the only real alternative to the laissez-faire, populist, rightist era of Reagan and the first Bush. With his doctrine of finding the middle or "third way," he was able to adjust the views of ultra-liberal socialists and old FDR social-democrats to fit post-Cold War, post-civil rights America. He even was able to influence the Europeans to change their political thinking ,with the elections of people who shared his views in Italy, France, Germany, Great Britain and Holland. Now that he is gone from office, the only European leaders who share the views are British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who will unfortunately probably lose his election later this year.
Clinton reversed the fear of the use of military force that the Democrats had developed after the Vietnam War, making it a necessary principle of diplomacy. The last time that the Democrats were faced with the use of military force was when they voted to use economic sanctions against Saddem Hussein when he invaded Kuwait. Had the Democrats been a little more forceful during the Gulf War, maybe we would not be dealing with the possibility of invading Iraq now. The Clinton Doctrine, though, called for military action once there was a breakdown in diplomacy. He did this in the Balkans where, to this day, relative peace reigns. He did this always to create nations where the will of the people could prevail, unlike Reagan and the elder Bush, who left the people of Afganhistan and Iran alone, wretched, wanting and confused.
While Clinton could cloak U.S. policy in terms of "world order" and globalization, he exercised the powers of sovereignty.He tried to foster a more open and productive world economy. And he tried to include in the new world order mentioned by George H.W. Bush more than just the western world. He always engaged and encouraged others to bear a heavier burden in keeping the order and the peace. He always understood the necessity of bilateral and multilateral relations -- unlike the present administration, self-acknowledged unilateralists who would pull America out of the United Nations if they could get away with it.
Clinton never forgot the visions of Franklin Roosevelt and remained faithful to the ideals of a society that was compassionate, just and accommodating for all, but he linked welfare and social justice to rights, responsibilities and accountability.
His economic policies enriched an entire world. He can be credited with the beginning of globalization and the concept of the world village. He created a capitalism that was regulated to the point where the government would make sure that there was full employment, deficit spending, protection of trade and strict labor protection where organized labor was assured of a decent standard of living.
He created the boom years of the 1990s. His was an economy that depended on a market that moved at its own volition, but with governmental guidance and advice to make sure that workers were always protected from poverty and profit manipulation.
The Clinton Doctrine tried everything within its power to expand access to health care, protect the Social Security system and make sure that adequate spending on education was always a top priority.
Under George W. Bush, we have diverted to policies of social marginalization. We are beginning to experience the effects of real economic stagnation. We just can't seem to get our balance. We, like the Europeans, are overly concerned about issues such as immigration, corporate welfare, privatization and the like, while budget deficits are beginning to rise. While the president continues to use the so-called war on terrorism to stifle and control just about every aspect of American life, we are slowly reverting to a pre-Clinton era of social isolation and political control by a government whose view of the world is greatly diminished by its own insecurity and need to control.
I hope we can end this so-called war on terroism as soon as possible so we can stop hiding and return to the policies and rhetoric of the Clinton Doctrine and a sense of social justice for all.
Rufus Sanders is director of Emmanuel Center, Sandusky.
...politically talented ...Politically talented????... only for survival, not for achievement. This individual is still working on the Democrat 'plantation'. This is the same 'talking points'/bleatings we have heard for years from the Clinton enablers/apologists.
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