Submitted by Illinoisnoki1 on Fri, 04/15/2011 - 15:02

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Addressing the New New Deal Forum, Cook County Commissioner Jesus Garcia called for redirecting military spending from foreign wars to creating good paying jobs in the US. “Imagine what those billions could have done to relieve the economic crisis.” Mr. Garcia explained that while the recovery is creating some jobs, they tend to be “low wage jobs that won’t support a family”.

In addition to re-directing military spending, he advocated for job creation through community based public works and investment in jobs training. He also called for comprehensive immigration reform to help stabilize the economic life of millions who are currently in this country.

Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), author of the Humphrey-Hawkins, 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act called on President Obama to change course, “He has to refashion his message” in order to get reelected. But Conyers who was chief sponsor of the Single-payer bill, HR 876, sounded a somewhat defensive tone by explaining his vote for the President’s health insurance reform bill. He said that Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will be a stepping stone to achieving Single-payer nationally, but he didn’t explain how that would take place.

The forum was conducted at the Chicago Temple in the Chicago Loop, right across from Daley Plaza where a huge “We are One” rally took place 2 hours earlier.

Panel members included Judge William Cousins, retired judge and former political director of the Southside NAACP. Cousins highlighted government’s role by citing Lincoln’s statement that government has the responsibility “to do for the people what the people cannot do for themselves.” He also emphasized the role of activists by repeating Fredrick Douglas’ oft-quoted remark that “power concedes nothing without a demand”.

Other panel members included Adrienne Alexander, Policy & Legislative Specialist for AFSCME Council 31, Illinois, Bill Barclay, Chicago political Economy Group, and Bamshad Mobasher, board member of United for Peace and Justice. Mobasher asserted that Obama’s most recent budget ‘compromise” contains increased military spending, decreased social spending and reduced corporate tax rates.