The Democratic Party did very poorly in the 2014 mid-term elections. Part of this was due to too many people staying home on election day (people who would have pulled the lever for Democrats, if they had bothered to vote). But there was another factor that had an effect -- the lack of a coherent and unified plan that could easily be understood by the voting public.
In 2014, Democrats were turned loose to campaign on their own personal issues. The thinking was that they could tailor those issues to their local or state priorities. That turned out to be disastrous. It just left voters unsure of where the Democratic Party stood on the issues important to them, and it's very hard to turn out voters when those voters aren't sure of where the candidates stand.
The sad part of this is that there is a range of issues supported by Democrats, and also supported by a large majority of the public. The Democrats need to combine some of these issues into a "Plan for Prosperity", and make that plan the centerpiece of their 2016 campaign -- with every Democrat, from the presidential candidate to congressional candidates campaigning on that plan. This will make it clear that Democrats support the issues that ordinary Americans want, and give those ordinary Americans a reason to go to the polls and vote for Democrats.
Toward that end, I submit the following plan for consideration. Polls have shown that every part of it is supported by most Americans.
PLAN FOR PROSPERITY
1. Raise the minimum wage to at least $10.10 an hour.
2. Protect Social Security and Medicare (and oppose cuts to either program)
3. Eliminate the special "capital gains tax" for the rich, and tax all income as earned income.
4. Eliminate the tax breaks that reward corporations for exporting American jobs.
5. Eliminate the subsidies that allow profitable corporations to pay no taxes.
6. Rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.
7. Create a small tax on stock trades (0.05% to 0.10%).
8. Eliminate the budget deficit.
9. Maintain a strong national defense.
10. Support equal rights for all Americans.
There are probably some other things that many would like (including many other things I would like to see), but I think the plan needs to be short so it can easily be understood and campaigned on. I think a substantial majority of Americans can get behind all of the 10 points listed above. What do you think?
I agree! Short and sweet. It's logical.
ReplyDeleteI don't think 8 is a big deal but #6 should be a no-brainer. Even Romney admitted it in 2008:
ReplyDelete"On the spending front, infrastructure projects should be a high priority. But because infrastructure projects involve engineering, environmental studies, permitting and contracting, they can take a long time to actually boost the economy. ... We should also invest to free us from our dependence on foreign oil, not by playing venture capitalist, but by funding basic research in renewables, material science, combustion, nuclear reprocessing, and the like."
But that was before the Black Guy in the White House was elected so naturally no one dares speak the truth anymore lest the President get the credit. What a bunch of selfish anti-American cowards the GOP has become. Tell me again who loves their country and who doesn't?
I agree, number 8 is over blown in importance. We should always aim for no deficits, but often there is simply no way around it, especially as long as the millionaire class goes essentially untaxed. I would also take exception to number 9, maintain a strong national defense. No question, we need the military and a national defense, but as we all know, that takes up the majority of our national budget. It's been ridiculous for as long as I've been alive. Cut that budget in half, close a bunch of foreign bases, and bring those soldiers home. But where will they work? I can already hear being asked. Infrastructure for one thing. There's also port and airport security. Without so much money being wasted on "defense" we'd have far more money to spend on schools, infrastructure, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn place of defense, I would substitute ending the drug war, beginning with legalizing cannabis for adults and pardoning all non-violent offenders currently serving marijuana related sentences, even the growers who were caught with big arsenals. Existing laws created those conditions. That money saved could be funneled into schools, teachers and anti-poverty programs.
#9 sure!! But we have no good reason to bankrupt the country to keep the giant monster at its present size.
ReplyDelete