[10-30-06]

In a statement published in The American Prospect, Bruce Ackerman (professor of law and political science at Yale) and Todd Gitlin (professor of journalism and sociology at Columbia University) begin by affirming:

Clearly this is a moment for liberals to define ourselves. The important truth is that most liberals, including the undersigned, have stayed our course throughout these grim five years. We have consistently and publicly repudiated the ruinous policies of the Bush administration, and our diagnosis, alas, has been vindicated by events. The Bush debacle is a direct consequence of its repudiation of liberal principles. And if the country is to recover, we should begin by restating these principles.

They go on to name and describe some basic tenets of liberalism in the American tradition, including:

We reaffirm the great principle of liberalism: that every citizen is entitled by right to the elementary means to a good life. We believe passionately that societies should afford their citizens equal treatment under the law -- regardless of accidents of birth, race, sex, property, religion, ethnic identification, or sexual disposition. We want to redirect debate to the central questions of concern to ordinary Americans -- their rights to housing, affordable health care, equal opportunity for employment, and fair wages, as well as physical security and a sustainable environment for ourselves and future generations.

They also delineate sharply the ways in which the present Administration is violating those principles, and propose some points for arguing for the correction of those violations.

The full statement >>

Which Ethics will Prevail?
Leonardo Boff, Theologian
Earthcharter Commission

Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff, commenting on the coming election in Brazil, offers what might be a helpful way to talk about the ethical issues in our own U.S. elections. He draws a contrast between what he calls the classical ethic of justice, and the newer ethic that has arisen out of feminist perspectives – an ethic of caring.

Such a contrast is vastly oversimplified, but perhaps it could lead to some helpful conversation.

From a progressive point of view, both justice and caring seem to be values we would clearly claim as our own, while in the current American scene, conservatives seem to claim values of freedom and security, along with the virtues of purity and self-reliance.

In the electoral campaign for the Presidency, ethics constitutes one of the principal topics. And here there is no place for Pharisaic stuff, in the sense of, on the one hand, claiming to embody ethics, and on the other, committing ethical abuses. Both candidates need to say their mea culpas, and recognize the grave ethical abuses of their respective political parties. The risk exists that ethics becomes private, this is to say, that ethics are only discussed in politics, rather than discussing the ethics of politics. In other words, the existence of politicians with recognized personal virtues, with ethics, (ethics in politics) is not enough; what is important is that debates about the ethics of politics prevail. This deals with the institutional framework that makes citizens live certain values fundamental for society. It is important above all to discuss the ethical character of the vision of a candidate; to what degree it breaks with the tradition of privileges that has characterized Brazilian politics, and what measures will be taken to promote justice and inclusion for the millions of dispossessed. This is the heart of the question. The citizens have the right to know the political projects of each candidate and how they will be carried out. In that way they can see if their character is ethical, or not.

As an attempt to encourage this debate I would like to mention a recent discussion between two ethical paradigms: between the nucleus of classic morality, the ethics of justice, and the nucleus of the new morality, the ethics of caring. I have participated in this reflection, which was begun by Northamerican feminist philosophers and educators, especially by Carol Gilligan and Nel Noddings. They made us aware of the fact that the reflections on ethics in the West, inherited from the Greeks, passing through Thomas Aquinas, Kant; culminating with Habermas, are markedly masculine. They center on the autonomy of the individual, carrier of rights and duties, with the impartiality of justice as the structuring axis.

This ethic has reached dimensions that are hard to relinquish, both in the interpersonal, and in the social. But in that ethic there is an impoverishment of human experience, because it does not include the contribution of women. Women are closer to the mystery of life, they are more cooperative by nature, they more adequately knit the nets of affectionate family and community relations, nourishing the concern for others and taking into account human weaknesses and processes of development little contemplated by the ethics of justice. For human life to function, it is not enough to have equality of rights and duties and that both be observed. Caring is also needed, because every living being wants and needs to be cared for, and we feel a natural impulse to care. Hence solidarity, co-responsibility and compassion, are outgrowths of caring.

The anthropological basis of the ethic of the feminine is distinct. It does not contemplate an isolated individual, who needs a social contract to live in community with others, but rather that the individual is always connected with the other, and with nature. The motivation to live one's values, and with that an ethical life, does not come from reason or from principles, but from the emotion of affection, and of self-implication. The natural desire to be cared for, accepted and loved, something that has been ignored by the current ethic, is what moves our lives profoundly.

President Lula has repeated several times that to carry out politics is to care for the people and to listen to their needs. To accomplish this is to put justice into practice. This is the criterion for ethically judging the visions of the two candidates.

Leonardo Boff

10-13-2006

Christian values and the coming elections

[10-12-06]

Here is their summary, with links to short essays on each of the points.

Christian Voters Values Guide 2006

For the past twenty years, the Christian Right has distorted the meaning of "Christian values" in pursuit of a partisan political agenda. We at the Christian Alliance for Progress have a different vision, one that springs from our deeply held belief in the Gospels as a guide for moral and political behavior.

As progressive Christians, here are some questions to ask your elected officials as you vote in the 2006 elections.

Caring For "The Least of These" - Pursuing Economic Justice

The Jesus of the Gospels calls us to good stewardship, justice, and care for "the least of these." We call on our nation's leaders to seek economic justice in the management of the world's wealth and to enhance efforts to reduce poverty.

Forsaking Brute Power - Seeking Peace, Not War

Jesus knew power and he knew it could be used for justice or for conquest. Over and over, Jesus blessed his followers with peace and urged them to peace. Following his example, we call for restraint - not aggression - in the exercise of our nation's power.

Caring for the Earth - Responsible Environmental Stewardship for Today

Jesus urged his followers to be good stewards and to act for good in the world here and now. We respond by caring for God's created world today, holding our environment in trust for our children.

Rejecting Bigotry, Embracing Dignity - Equality for All

Jesus taught equality, justice and responsibility. We accept Jesus' call to love one another and to welcome all God's children at the table.

Honoring the Sanctity of Childbearing Decisions

Jesus taught compassion, responsibility, and equality. Following his call, we support responsible, compassionate programs that are genuinely effective in helping prevent unintended pregnancy. We affirm that each woman's body belongs to herself. No woman should be forced either to bear a child or to terminate a pregnancy.

Extending Healing to All - Health Care for All Americans

Jesus' insisted on justice, equality, and care for "the least of these." Acting on his teachings, we claim every American must have access to quality health care.

About the Christian Alliance for Progress

The Christian Alliance for Progress is a nonpartisan movement of patriotic, progressive, Christian Americans who care about our country and the values of the gospels. We are also joined by those who may not identify as Christian, but who support Christians and gospel values.

We are not affiliated with any particular political party and do not and can not endorse political candidates. We stand for the values that Jesus taught, such as compassion and justice. These are basic American values too. We will support public leaders of any party who stand for the real values taught by Jesus.

Our headquarters are in Jacksonville, Florida, but we have members in every state.

You can contact the Christian Alliance for Progress at:

Christian Alliance for Progress
PO Box 40495
Jacksonville, Florida 32203-0495

Or Toll Free: 1-888-381-0108