Brothers and sisters. Kossacks and candidates. What must be done?
While Democrats are hard at work on the campaign trail, raising funds and challenging the status quo of neo-Republicanism and this do-nothing Congress, while many of us are working hard, commenting and councilling, donating and volunteering, there is more to do.
It is highly likely that Democracy will return to the House and (at the risk of being overly optimistic) the Senate. The momentum and energy in the Democratic camp exceeds the efforts of the Republicans in 1994, exceeds the efforts of the neo-Republicans in 2000 and exceeds the efforts of the do-nothing Republicans in 2004. Our party will wash a blue tide of Democracy across our nation this November!
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Many of use can do little more than donate and read, as we are in safe Democratic districts and states and appear to be little more than cheerleaders and funders. Yet there is much that we can do from the sidelines besides watch the news, read the polls and urge our far away friends to get out and vote. We are in the position to look ahead and propose a road map of what must be done.
When Democracy returns to Washington DC, what will we do? I propose the following.
Initiate a criminal investigation into crimes against US law and violations of international treaties with regards to secret prisons, extended detention and torture.
The Supreme Court has determined that crimes have been committed. We must call for a criminal investigation into these crimes and the perpetrators must be tried in courts of law. Both military and civilian personnel have participated in the illegal detention and torture of international citizens in violation of US law, the Constitution and international treaties. Those who committed these crimes, those who ordered these crimes and those who allowed these crimes must be brought to trial. Civilian and military personnel must be aware that they must resist and refuse illegal and un-Constitutional orders. To obey an illegal order is to commit a crime. And crimes produce consequences as determined by a court of law.
Take immediate action to reduce our air pollution levels.
Our nation's affect on the atmosphere is indisputable. Immediate action must be taken to reduce pollution. First steps include:
- reduce the Interstate speed limit to 55 MPH for cars and trucks
- tax luxury electricity usage
- Promote conservation with national public education campaigns
- Require 20% biodiesel in all diesel fuel
- Re-establish tax credits for clean energy (photovoltaic, passive solar water heating, etc)
- Prioritize research and development of clean energy solutions
We must reduce our air pollution production immediately using every means at our disposal. The low hanging fruit is ripe. While no single action will turn the tide of a pending climate crisis, every small step must be taken in turn. Every small step in the right direction adds up in time.
Immediate withdrawal from Iraq
Who will be the last to die for a lie in Iraq? Unfortunately, I believe the reality of the situation is that an "immediate" withdrawal will take months to plan and implement as extensive considerations must be taken into account to assure the safety and well being of our soldiers and contractors at work in Iraq. The grim reality is that the war will not end over night, but we must set the course for withdrawal immediately.
I believe that these are the highest priority objectives of a progressive Democracy that takes the reigns away from a neo-Republican do-nothing Congress. It's not going to be easy but the lives of our brothers and sisters in the Military and the lives of our children and grandchildren depend on us to act now.
We must win and we must plan and we must act.