A Philosophy Professor Runs for Congress

Richard Dien Winfield is a Hegelian who teaches at the University of Georgia. He's running for the 10th District seat, which includes the college town of Athens and is thus an island of blue in a sea of red.

Here's his agenda.
1. GUARANTEED JOBS AT A FAIR WAGE
So that anyone who wants a job can get one with pay that truly reflects America’s rising productivity and prosperity

2. A SUPER MEDICARE FOR ALL
So that we all have access to quality care covering all needed physical, mental, and dental treatment without copays or deductibles

3. PAID FAMILY LEAVE, FREE CHILD AND ELDER CARE, AND $500 CHILD ALLOWANCES
So that no one has to make sacrifices to balance family and work

4. WORKER EMPOWERMENT AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Where employees have fair representation on corporate boards and collective bargaining so they have a say in decisions concerning work conditions, including equal pay, outsourcing, and automation

5. LEGAL CARE FOR ALL
To cover the expenses of all personal criminal and civil legal representation, so people can defend against discrimination, sexual harassment, wage theft, and more

WE CAN PAY FOR ALL THIS
By establishing a wealth tax on the trillions of dollars sitting idle in the coffers of the top 10%, instead of being invested productively in our economy
No, he's not kidding. Hegel's effect on Marx was no accident, perhaps: these are similar programs.

9 comments:

MikeD said...

To that I say, you can't eat the rich (even assuming they'd sit around to let you eat them):

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2011/03/feed-your-family-on-10-billion-a-day.html

Assistant Village Idiot said...

Note to MikeD - PJ O'Rourke's book Eat The Rich is highly recommended.

This idea that there is money out there somewhere being wasted/hoarded/hidden by the few, who acquired it by illegal/immoral/exploitative means is always the foundation of these ideas. Critics complaining about the cost JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF MONEY OUT THERE, PLENTY, WE JUST HAVE TO SEPARATE IT FROM THE BASTARDS WHO STOLE IT FROM EVERYONE ELSE. Philosophy professors, I imagine, say this more calmly and politely, so as to appear adult, but the thought just leaks out every time. Oh, a $0.25 transaction fee for every...a one-time 10% wealth tax...increase the estate tax.

Grim said...

Faith in ideas may not always be a good thing. Sometimes it's better to have faith in the evidence of your eyes. "Guaranteed employment" has been tried; the Soviets made a big thing about it.

E Hines said...

Slaves had guaranteed "employment."

Be interesting to see if he can provide any evidence of those trillions of dollars, and of the unicorns and rainbow farts whence they came.

Eric Hines

Gringo said...

I can't say this philosophy professor's program improves my view of the desirability of philosopher-kings. Better a ward heeler.

Anonymous said...

Does he say anything about the 20 trillion dollar national debt?

The intergenerational theft that is occurring in front of everybody's eyes?

Is he preferring to just kick the can down the road like every other two bit politician?

Accountants are absolutely horrible to work for. They are soul sucking Golems.
But generally they don't live in the Fairyland of and victimization of the electorate by creating the upper 10% Boogeyman that all we have to do is redistribute their wealth and all would be well.


-Mississippi

douglas said...

Well, at least he was willing to step into the ring. That's something I suppose.

Grim said...

Arguably he'll do less damage in Congress.

Ymarsakar said...

The slaves of the elohim and the slaves of humanity, is what they should apply for. How easily humans now yearn for slavery now that freedom is too much for their souls.

Pathetic as usual.

When an alien invasion masquerading as the front of the elohim happens, they will be the first ones to line up as snitches and overseers.