Jackson urges voters to push for equality

THE Irish public should use their vote to advance the equality agenda, according to veteran American civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Visiting Dublin for the launch of the Equality and Rights Alliance’s Make Your Mark campaign, the Rev Jackson told the Irish Examiner his approach is not only anchored in fairness but also sound economics.

“We must measure growth from the bottom up, not just top down. The people at the bottom work the hardest, have the riskiest jobs, they spend the most of what they make so they generate the economy bottom up. The minimum wage of workers should be raised as opposed to cut. Those who catch the early bus, they sustain the economy through their work and through their consumerism.”

The Rev Jackson sounded a word of warning about the IMF.

“The IMF when it gives money it exacts a price because they are then investors. They exercise oversight of their investment and you do give up some measure of control any time you borrow money. Here in Ireland, and in other countries that take IMF loans, they tend to bail out and reinforce banker power. What you must fight for is a more equal distribution of redevelopment and reconstruction.”

The veteran politician believes that the polices of state investment — economic stimulus — as carried out to vary degrees in the United States and more powerful European economies is the correct route to recovery.

Although Rev Jackson points to the economic sense of the policies he promotes underpinning them is a strong moral belief.