There's a man for whom I have enormous respect, who has just broken into true power politics. He's an immigrant who worked himself up by making the most of what the people in his new country were willing to do for him. He's an outspoken former labor leader, and an effective one at that. He was the best at making sure that municipal workers got paid on time, which, until he came, had been very problematic. After making his bones this way, he became head of his country's largest union, turning what had been an aging and ineffective organization into the powerhouse it is today and should have been in the first place. He makes clear the things he fights for, saying, "I think there are a lot of people waiting for the moment that someone will fight for their right to make a living with respect, to grow old with respect." The man is not the reincarnation of Caesar Chavez or Eugene Debs, though he might as well be.
He is Amir Peretz, now head of the Labor Party in Israel, and, perhaps more importantly, he is the man who is likely to be in charge of Israel's economy in the next government. Few people who have watched him transform from immigrant to potential finance minister have any doubt that he, as he promises, will reform social services to make his country a more equitable place.
I bring up Amir Peretz because Bowdoin recently played host to another union leader turned politician, Representative Mike Michaud from Maine's second district. He came to have dinner with students and speak about the progressive nature of Israel and Israel's prospects for peace. And his message was quite clear?Israel's domestic politics are politics we in America could stand to learn from.
Michaud spoke at some length about the composition of Israel's new government, and how it is a reflection of what the people of Israel actually think. To put it simply, the parties that did well either did not take much of a stand on economic issues (Kadima), or wore their socialist, redistributive roots on their sleeves. Amir Peretz's Labor Party was the first major Israeli Party to run on an almost exclusively domestic platform, promising that his promotion of greater social services would allow everyone to participate in Israel's economic boom. Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu did well and consists mostly of recent Russian immigrants who want to participate in Israel's economy. Finally, the Pensioners Party was the big surprise, winning seven seats in its first election (this is unheard of in Israel), and it ran on the platform of increasing Israel's version of Social Security?imagine if the AARP formed a political party, and you'd have the Pensioners Party. And the parties that did poorly? Those that did not speak about economic reform, like the Likud Party, which dropped from over 40 seats to 11. As Michaud pointed out, Israel's electorate believes in redistribution, believes in doing things for the underdog. In short, it believes in giving those who have none some, and that is the very definition of progressivism.
Of course, Michaud also mentioned relations with the Palestinians?it's hard not to when talking about Israel. There, once again, he showed that it makes sense for a progressive to support Israel. Of course, he still loves the idea of a negotiated settlement. Just about everyone does. This is precisely why Michaud was so unhappy about the election of Hamas. As he said, that makes negotiations?the Progressive's dream?so much harder.
Michaud saved his most important point for last; in response to a question about whether Republicans are more supportive of Israel than are Democrats (courtesy of Alex Linhart), Michaud confidently responded, "No, Democrats are just as supportive, and do care deeply for the state of Israel." That was the pinnacle moment?a Progressive representative telling mostly Progressive students that Progressives should support Israel.
There's a man I have enormous respect for? a self-made man, a union man, and a man just cracking into power politics. He is a man who proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Israel is a progressive value. The man is not Amir Peretz, though he might as well be. He is my favorite representative, Mike Michaud.