There have been numerous stories lately here at Daily Kos lamenting the inadequacy and inability of the Democrats to clearly and succinctly disseminate their policy and positions. Democrats keep trying to be all things to all people, but the presentation still isn’t working. In contrast, the Republicans have a short, incisive message they keep endlessly repeating in restricted markets: and it keeps, maintains and energizes their base. It’s time for Democrats to do likewise.
Whats the Problem?
Democrats need to:
1. Stop trying to be all things to all people.
2. Go to more General Messaging.
3. Keep the messages Simple and Generic.
4. Counter the Republican messages point by point.
5. Keep repeating: Republicans are supported by the rich (1%): to enrich the rich. Democrats just get the rest (99%) that need services and assistance also. Then adopt a program that will provide it, and explain it to them in simple terms. Get with the program, Democrats
6. Remember that Democrats have more potential and actual voters than Republicans. They just don’t do what is required to either court them or snag them. Get with the program, Democrats.
7. Invade the communication markets the Republicans are presently dominating or have exclusive (Radio/TV) rights. Take the listeners/watchers out of the dark. Re-institute Howard Dean’s 50-State strategy. Get with the program, Democrats.
8. Actively expose and resist Republican shenanigans like voter suppression, voter purging and gerrymandering, etc. Get with the program, Democrats. Am I repeating myself?
9. Keep stating that ‘Freedom’ and ‘Individual Rights’ are not rationales to allow Republicans to bask in exclusion politics.
10. Continually remind everyone that Government is: Of the people, By the People, and For the People. It is not just for the rich (and definitely should not be by the rich or of the rich) who try and do influence law and policy with money.
The Three Elements of Humanity: Individuals — Groups — Society
Who, and what you are is determined by intrinsic elements (gender, race, physical characteristics); and ‘membership’ in groups, both intrinsic (families, tribes, etc) and legal constructs (associations, corporations, religions, nations, etc). Society is collective humanity, all 7 billion+ of us, and growing.
Individual___________Groups_______________Society
Groups have different needs and interests. It falls largely on government to balance these interests for the greatest benefit of everyone. And that is the ever changing problem that keeps eluding one size fits all solutions.
Accentuate the Differences
This is a general template of differences for discussion purposes. It is not a description of absolute characteristics of either Party.
Democrats Republicans
We (99%) They (1%)
Inclusive Exclusive
Liberal Conservative
Trends Socialism Trends Capitalism
Collective Responsibility Individual Responsibility
WGYB (We've Got Your Back) YOYO (You’re On Your Own)
General Welfare Limited (Rich) Welfare
Publicization Privatization
Country before Party Party before Country
Universal Defined Benefits (1) Few Benefits-Low Taxes
Group Restraint (2) Small Government
Global Cooperation (3) Strong Defense/Isolation
Environmental Stability (4) Less Regulation
Voter Expression (5) Voter Suppression
To get down to specifics, we need to focus on the bolded differences between the Democrat and Republicans, using the basic Republican template. These are my definition of the differences based on a message of collective responsibility . Feel free to add, modify or expand to get a Better Democratic Message for the 2018 and 2020 elections.
(1) Universal Defined Benefits: There are already several defined benefit programs used to a varying degree through both public programs and private sources:
- Retirement (Social Security) is provided by fees on earned income. However it is not-yet-universal. There are opt-outs by States to provide Retirement Plans also. Most are solvent, but some States have large, unfunded liabilities. If a State goes bankrupt, their retirement funds can be affected. Social Security should be revised to include insure that everybody (including those who didn’t pay in) receives a minimum basic retirement.
- Healthcare (Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare) is limited to the older, indigent and military veterans. Single Payer would make it more inclusive and universal. It would also reduce the egregious (15-20% unnecessary) fees charged by for-profit insurances companies that are paid to investors and for excessive corporate salaries.
- Education is provided largely by State and local government entities, with some Federal assistance. However there are Republican efforts to privatize it via charter schools. Education is now the key to almost all jobs and should be Universal from kindergarten through College. It should remain public and universal.
- Banking via Glass-Steagall separated commercial and investment banking from 1933-1999. It should be reinstated. Personal commercial banking services could, and should be expanded to include banking services provided by the States and the USPS (especially in the more rural locations). This would expand financial services and reduce the fees that privatized banks charge.
- Voting should be inclusive and universal: Modeled largely on the present Oregon program. You are automatically registered at 18 and you must opt-out. Voting should be for the best convenience of the voter and secure, with a paper trail. The voter suppression efforts by Republicans are an effort to maintain a failing political philosophy. Requiring people to stand in line and vote at a precinct is — in itself — a voter suppression tactic.
(2) Group (Corporate) Restraint: Groups, from families to corporations want to conduct their activities to maximize their profit; whether is personal power or monetary. Probably the best example of that is Citizens United, which has unleashed a flood of money in support of opposition of candidates, initiatives and legislation. In effect, money is more influential then even the most vigorous Get Out The Vote efforts. It is, simply put, a distortion of democratic politics that must be corrected to achieve more equity an balance in our political system. See (5) below.
(3) Global Cooperation: In the long run cooperation yields more benefits than either isolation or confrontation. It is not necessary to agree on all issues, any more than it is necessary for Democrats or Republicans to agree on all issues. We are not a Do It Yourself planet. Everything, and everybody is tied everything and everybody else. War is an exercise in destruction and in the long run benefits very few. It is like the difference between analysis and synthesis. Analysis means to take apart, synthesis means to put together. Which is the most effective process for resolving our differences?
(4) Environmental Stability: Everything a person or group does impacts our physical environment e.g. society. And in response the environment attempts to compensate in either a small or big way. LeChatelier said it best: If a change occurs in one of the factors which a system is in equilibrium, the system will tend to adjust itself to annul, as far as possible the effect of the change. We are seeing the effects of that now, with climate change: More people — more CO2 — higher temperatures — rising seas — etc. The efforts should be to minimize the changes. The methods can and will vary and needs to maintain maximum flexibility while achieving that goal. People, Corporations and Governments are not entitled to use our societal resources — the Planet — as a ‘free’ garbage dump for their air and water pollution, and land/extraction damage. That should be a cost of doing business. If you can’t afford it, you probably shouldn’t be in business.
As for the Republicans, they cater to a more exclusive set of policies. They ignore the fact that the population keeps growing, and have no problem degrading both the environment and people for the benefit of a few.
(5) Voter Expression: For Democrats to attain and retain a majority they need to expand their base. That means that everyone of voting age is entitled to vote in every election. Re-instituting the Fairness Doctrine would require ‘both’ sides to be heard and discourage the one-sided media reporting that (Right Wing ‘Republican’ Radio/RV) dominates in some markets. e.g. Keep ‘em in the Dark. No news is worse than bad or misleading news.
Mail in voting - Optical scanning - paper trail: This is where the older, tried and true methods have proven to be the most reliable. Electronic, and machine voting can be hacked and altered by those in charge of the system.
So, Democrats: you can spiffy up your messaging with 5 magic words:
Benefits
Restraint
Cooperation
Stability
Expression
I’ll leave it to you (Democrat Establishment) to flesh out the details of your messaging for the upcoming elections. You’re the ones getting the big bucks, not me. This is a free analysis, I took it apart. You get to synthesize a program, and put something together. If the past is prologue, however, my expectations are pretty low. Prove me wrong.
A good comparison would help your synthesis:
Dems Repos
Uni-Benefits No Stinkin’ Benefits
Corporate Restraint Less Regs-No Restraint
Cooperation Isolation/Defense
Stability Less Government
More Voters Fewer Voters
________________Bottom Line___ _________________
WGYB YOYO
We’ve Got Your Back You’re on Your Own
So, Democrats there is a program and message out there waiting to be synthesized and implemented. Are you going to be proactive or inactive? Just asking!
Kossacks, all comments and replies should be directed at the Democrats. It’s their program and message, and our Country, we’re talking about, not mine. I’m only offering suggestions to improve and implement it. I’d like to see a formal Democratic response to my suggestions here in Kos. Now, that would make a difference.
