POLITICS 88 : Jackson Details Aims for Nation’s Economy

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who has accused his presidential opponents of lacking concrete answers to the nation’s problems, on Monday outlined an unusually detailed set of economic proposals, including pressuring firms to follow “a corporate code of conduct.”

In a luncheon speech to the City Club, a Cleveland civic organization, Jackson said companies would be required to give their workers greater input into management in exchange for “the right to do business.” Firms failing to comply would not be eligible for government incentives, tax credits or grants.

Jackson did not spell out the code of conduct, but said it would be “based on democratic values and a common definition of the national interest.” He said it would make corporations accountable “not only to shareholders but to all stake-holders, including the community and workers.”

Highlights Contrast

Coming on the eve of today’s primary here, Jackson’s speech was aimed at highlighting the contrast between his own Democratic candidacy and that of Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis. Jackson accused the Democratic front-runner of trying to “wish the deficit away” while avoiding “choices and commitments.”

Jackson also complained that he is being held to tougher standards than white candidates.

Earlier, Jackson complained to reporters that the media is allowing Dukakis “to have Teflon,” meaning criticisms are allowed to slide off him. Dukakis, he said, has “a lack of vision, a lack of new direction. We need an alternative to Vice President George Bush,” who has a lock on the GOP nomination.

He noted, for example, that Dukakis has suggested spending $250 million on a new set of education programs and boosting the nation’s infrastructure investment by $500 million. In arguing that those amounts were inadequate, Jackson pointed out that it is expected to cost $250 million to repair a single major bridge in New York.

Jackson also sought to dispel a perception that he is long on showmanship and short on substance.

“They say I have charisma; it’s a gift from God,” Jackson said. “I also have a plan; it’s a gift from studying. We’re not discussing charisma and competence. We’re discussing candor and direction.”

Military Spending Freeze

In addition to calling for the code of ethics, Jackson repeated proposals for a five-year freeze on military spending and raising the taxes of the wealthiest.

He also would invest 10% of the nation’s pension funds in housing, small business development and infrastructure. Further, Jackson supports a congressional proposal to index the minimum wage to prevailing wage levels, boosting the minimum wage of $3.35 an hour to $5.50 an hour by 1993.

Jackson noted that critics have often suggested that he offers rhetoric without concrete plans. “I don’t want any break. I just want the game played by one set of rules,” Jackson said. “I challenge Mr. Dukakis and Mr. Bush to put forward a plan.”

Some in the audience were sympathetic with Jackson’s frustration.

“He gets a different challenge. The assumption is automatically made that he doesn’t know what he is talking about,” said Tim Giles, a black school district official. “The assumption that gets made with the white candidates is that they do know what they are talking about.”