I am greatly disturbed by the
New York Times article concerning liberals' failure to capitalize on the public sympathies, not to mention the vivid photographic proof, concerning the deep poverty and racism the prevails in our society. What concerns me most is our inability to make our case. The fact that Bush is ramming down the throats of the victims in the Gulf States a program that, like every other Bush program, benefits the rich mostly and the poor marginally at best, shows that we as progressives and liberals are utterly failing to put out our arguments and message.
This failure is best illustrated in the article by a cold fact analysis:
In 1993, President Bill Clinton raised taxes on upper-income families, the economy boomed and poverty fell for the next seven years. In 2001, President Bush cut taxes deeply, but even with economic growth, the poverty rate has risen every year since.
This point is key because it directly contradicts the point made by conservatives earlier in the article. The conservative, Representative Mike Pence, Republican of Indiana, stated raising taxes would "imperil the very economic growth we need to bring the Gulf Coast back." Bill Clinton demonstrated that it is possible to raise taxes, on people for whom they can afford to be raised, and still have tremendous economic growth coupled with lowered poverty rates. The best part, under Bill Clinton, even though they were paying higher taxes I am willing to bet what little possessions I have, they were making money hand over fist during the boom in the 1990s.
This is a solid message. We can honestly look the American public in the face and talk about raising taxes while simultaneously demonstrating that doing so will PRODUCE economic expansion; this directly contradicts the ridiculous Republicans. What's more, we have solid economic data to prove that our way creates wealth for EVERYONE. We can directly contradict our plan with the Bush plan of the last 5 years in which POVERTY RATES HAVE RISEN! Which one would you rather have? Why can't liberals say it that plain and simple?
When we have the facts on our side, principle on our side, and timing on our side, how can we accept dropping the ball? We had a great opportunity to make genuine strides in showing America what passionate progressivism can do; to show America that our economic principles are more than tax and spend, and we blew it. Luckily, we can correct course and develop, in tandem with the upcoming, yet-to-be-released 2006 Congressional platform, a comprehensive plan on how Democrats will be better and more efficient at helping the victims of Katrina recover. In the process we can also demonstrate for America, through success in the Gulf, that our plan can work for America was well.