So I've read quite a bit about how the Dems suffer somewhat because they lack an overarching message that appeals. The challenge of course is to find a convincing 'philosophy' that we also believe in and can speak passionately about. How about Democracy? I mean we are Democrats after all, and this Democracy is in serious need of fixing. Besides we all believe in the ideals of Democracy strongly, and nothing is more important than choosing a philosophy and an overarching ideology that we can speak passionately about. Here's a couple good issues we could run with as well:
- Clean Elections (the highly popular McCain would back us up all the way on this one), also I think this could be spun so as to get some populist appeal.
- Gerrymandering reform. (Iowa has a pretty good system for redistricting, also I've heard a mathematical suggestion for this--there is some mathematical formula that will tell you how irregular a shape is, and this could be used in legislating against gerrymandering, in case that's a concern.
- reliable e-voting, with receipts.
- Term limits? I dunno about this one. It seems the Republicans used this one a lot in the early 90s then swept it under the rug--we could take them to task on it.
But the basic points are the following:
- Our Democracy does in fact need fixing.
- Democracy is a good overarching ideal
- Once our committment to procedural democracy and fairness is established we can pivot to economic issues that can be democratically framed--like ensuring good health care for all, good education for all, etc. etc.
I think that'd be a good message. What do you all think?