How are principles that have been agreed to by communists, capitalists, developing and developed countries alike too pure for our party?
I have seen two factions of Democrats pie fighting here on DKos (there are more factions and more pie fights, but this fight happens pretty often): One that says we must support gender and civil rights, but expecting Dem candidates to also support economic rights is “purity politics”. Another that says we must support economic rights, but expecting Dem candidates to also support gender and civil rights, “especially in red districts,” is “purity politics”.
“Ask our candidates to be too pure and they will be unpopular and we will lose”? Well, I don’t think so. I am of the faction that says we can and should support all rights simultaneously. I think doing so will be very popular. Because we will be standing up on everyone’s behalf, there is something in such a platform for everyone, thus a self interest to motivate every voter to turn out and vote for our candidates.
Here is some history I came across recently of which I hadn’t been previously aware: After World War II, with the formation of the United Nations, the UN decided “to guarantee the rights of every individual everywhere” (www.un.org/...). In two years, with the participation of 50 nations around the globe, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed in 1948 with zero nations dissenting. The nine members of the drafting committee, led by Eleanor Roosevelt, included representatives from Lebanon, the USSR, China, France, the US, the UK, Australia, Chile, and Canada (www.un.org/...). Surely you can see that these are not “pure” Democrats nor Democratic equivalents?
Our universal rights are, as have been recognized for almost 70 years now (www.un.org/...):
- The right to equality and dignity.
- Freedom from discrimination based on “race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, ... political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.”
- The “right to life, liberty, and security of person.”
- Freedom from slavery.
- Freedom from torture, cruel and inhuman punishment, and degradation.
- The right to “recognition everywhere as a person before the law.”
- The right to equal protection of the law.
- The right to “an effective remedy” when rights are violated.
- Freedom from “arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.”
- The right to a fair, public and impartial trial.
- The right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
- The right to “all the guarantees necessary for… [legal] defence.”
- Freedom from ”arbitrary interference with… privacy, family, home or correspondence,” and “attacks upon… honour and reputation.”
- Freedom of movement and residence.
- Freedom to leave and return to any country.
- Freedom to seek asylum from persecution.
- The right to a nationality.
- The right of all adults to marry and have a family.
- The right to protection of the family “by society and the State.”
- The right to own property.
- Freedom from being “arbitrarily deprived” of property.
- “Freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”
- “Freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference.”
- “Freedom of peaceful assembly and association.”
- ”The right to take part in the government of his country,” including universal suffrage and free voting.
- The right to social security and dignity:
”Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.”
- The right to work, equal pay, unions, and leisure/rest, even paid holidays!:
”(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.””Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.”
- The right to a decent standard of living including one that would allow everyone to afford health care, security during hard times, and maternal and child care:
- Please note (I feel it must be repeated given the execrable AHCA): “The right to a standard of living adequate for… health… including... medical care.”
”(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.”
- The right to education:
”(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.”
- The right to culture and science:
”(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.”
”In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.”