If there is one thing we've learned (hopefully) is that Dems don't win with policy-only campaigns. In fact, it is conceivable that policy positions are largely incidental for the majority of American voters. After all, pretty much all politicians promise economic abundance, safety for our children, and--as the intrepid Pedro successfully claimed in his bid for class president--that all our wildest dreams will come true.
The DNC site lists their major agenda items as Security, Opportunity, and Responsibility. Under these values they list: Keeping America Safe at Home, Strength Overseas, Honoring Our Troops, Veterans, and Their Families, A Strong Economy, Education, Retirement Security, Affordable Health Care, Honest Government, Election Reform, Protecting Our Environment, and Civil Rights.
...yawn...
Naturally, most progressives would agree that these are all laudable goals, generally speaking. Of course, being the cynic I am, I wouldn't be too shocked to see the same basic list on the RNC site. After all, is there a party that openly supports a weak economy, racism, and dishonoring our troops? I'm just saying that the DNC's list is a little soft and mushy...it doesn't have much to sink one's teeth into. Moreover, it's too long for a basic electoral message (granted, the DNC's agenda is not necessarily designed for the upcoming elections).
So, what should that message be for the upcoming '06 (and possibly '08) elections? Let's assume that three is the magic number and that the average voter doesn't want to deal with more meta-messages than that. What might be the three strongest meta-messages that Democrats could drive home across the country (tweaking them for their own districts, of course)? Here are my three suggestions:
- Clean up government
- Bring back freedom
- Revitalize the middle and working classes
1. Clean up government.
This is a no-brainer. Kick out the corrupt Republican/lobbyist machine and replace it with honest representitives of the People. Appoint competent people to run things. Eliminate the deficit. Bring science back into decision-making. Fix the Iraq fiasco by redeploying our troops in a responsible manner. Democrats are the only choice to bring integrity and competence back to Washington.
2. Bring back freedom.
Republicans have done everything possible to take away our Constitutional freedoms, and it's time to return them. No more illegal wiretaps, no more medical decisions made by Congress, no more voting fraud. Democrats are dedicated to protecting the inalienable rights of every American.
3. Revitalize the middle and working classes.
Not since the 1920s has the gap between the mega-wealthy and everyone else been so great. It is time to make the economy work for everyone, not just Wall Street investors and corporate CEOs. Everyone who works hard and plays fair should get a cut of the pie, and Democrats will fight to make that happen once again.
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By no means am I suggesting that these are the only important issues at hand. However, I think people in this country are ready for a change, and Democrats need a message that reflects that. The first on this list is a time-tested winner, as long as there is an actual need for it. It worked for the GOP in 1994, and it can work for Dems in 2006 if they choose to take up that banner. The other two are core Democratic principles couched in reformist language.
Of course, none of this will work without the right candidates. The party needs to work hard at recruiting people who are in the Brian Schweitzer/Bernie Sanders/Barack Obama mold...honest, passionate, common-sense kinda people. WIth more folks like these carrying the Democratic banner, the more likely we can look forward to returning to a progressive majority.