By Andrew L. Jaffee

“The state government can also play a role in redistribution, the allocation of wages and jobs.” Did Obama speak of “redistribution” of wealth in 1996, or did an over-zealous DSA member, Bob Roman, put this word into Obama’s mouth? Whatever the case, Obama appeared before the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) on February 25, 1996, a group whose platform is to “reject an economic order based on private profit, alienated labor, gross inequalities of wealth and power, discrimination based on race and sex, and brutality and violence in defense of the status quo.”

The context in which Obama developed his political and economic beliefs is relevant to the discussion about his desire to become the next U.S. president, as it may shed insight into the policies which Obama may pursue as president. Here’s the entire report on what Obama said in 1996 before the DSA, as reported by the DSA:

… Barack Obama observed that Martin Luther King’s March on Washington in the 1960s wasn’t simply about civil rights but demanded jobs as well. Now the issue is again coming to the front, but he wished the issue was on the Democratic agenda not just on Buchanan’s.

One of the themes that has emerged in Barack Obama’s campaign is “what does it take to create productive communities”, not just consumptive communities. It is an issue that joins some of the best instincts of the conservatives with the better instincts of the left. He felt the state government has three constructive roles to play.

The first is “human capital development”. By this he meant public education, welfare reform, and a “workforce preparation strategy”. Public education requires equality in funding. It’s not that money is the only solution to public education’s problems but it’s a start toward a solution. The current proposals for welfare reform are intended to eliminate welfare but it’s also true that the status quo is not tenable. A true welfare system would provide for medical care, child care and job training. While Barack Obama did not use this term, it sounded very much like the “social wage” approach used by many social democratic labor parties. By “workforce preparation strategy”, Barack Obama simply meant a coordinated, purposeful program of job training instead of the ad hoc, fragmented approach used by the State of Illinois today.

The state government can also play a role in redistribution, the allocation of wages and jobs. As Barack Obama noted, when someone gets paid $10 million to eliminate 4,000 jobs, the voters in his district know this is an issue of power not economics. The government can use as tools labor law reform, public works and contracts.

Finally, Illinois needs an industrial strategy. How do we create more jobs for everyone? Illinois has no strategy for encouraging high wage, high productivity jobs. …

I leave it to readers to discuss what they believe is the relevance of Obama’s appearance before the DSA. Here are a few related links of interest:

• About CDSA
• Join DSA
• The Political Perspective of the Democratic Socialists of America

See related Obama coverage:

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• Obama’s relationships: much more than guilt by association
• Obama tries to divert attention from ACORN voter fraud investigation
• New ACORN Scandal: Nepotistic Embezzlement
• FBI investigating ACORN voter fraud; Obama indisputably linked to ACORN
• Obama courts the “politically radioactive” jihadi vote via CAIR and MAS
• Obama, ACORN, the secretary of state, and voter registration irregularities in Ohio
• Obama’s Newest Hatchet-Man