FORCING THE QUESTIONS

In: Dissent: a journal devoted to radical ideas and the values of socialism and democracy, Band 45, Heft 4, S. 6-7

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE EXPLAINS THE REASONS WHY THE AFL-CIO HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HELP RE-ELECT BILL CLINTON IN 1996. ALTHOUGH HE CONTINUALLY DISAPPOINTS LABOR, BILL CLINTON WAS A BETTER CHOICE THAN BOB DOLE. THE 1998 CAMPAIGN SEASON IS DISCUSSED: THERE HAS BEEN ALMOST NO TALK OF LABOR'S CORE ISSUES. LABOR IS INVESTING HEAVILY IN UNINSPIRING, CULTURALLY CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES NATIONWIDE. FOR THE 2000 AND 2002 ELECTIONS UNIONS WILL NEED TO MAKE A LOT OF CHEERLESS, DEFENSIVE, LESSER-EVIL ENDORSEMENTS. BUT EVEN IN THIS UNHAPPY CONTEXT, UNIONS COULD USE THE ELECTORAL ARENA MORE EFFECTIVELY, AS A MEANS OF FORCING THEIR ISSUES ONTO THE PUBLIC AGENDA AND AS A MEANS OF STRENGTHENING COALITIONS FOR OTHER PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS.