The first key is to start painting republican politician behavior in congress for what it is: OBSTRUCTIONIST! The point can be made over and over again, starting with the appointment of a leader for the TSA. Next comes the DoD funding bill being used to hold up health care debate. There is the length of time needed to get a stimulus package passed. There is the stupid brouhaha over Justice Sotomayer. Finally there is health care where many concessions were made just to have republican support to no avail. Every single democrat running for Congress in 2010 needs to make Obstructionism by republicans a core part of their campaign. They need to emphasize that the government can accomplish nothing while obstructionists have such power in the Congress.
The second key theme should be we need to fix the economy stupid. By obstructing congress key financial reforms were never implemented. Banks instead of lending to small businesses made money by over charging customers and committing usury. Too big to fail bank executives received huge bonuses, while small banks were bought and screwed. Yeah, Geithner is an ass, but the republicans obstructed any bills to improve the situation from passing.
The third key is to help the states. The states are laying off people left and right in order to balance their budgets. States need a 5 year stimulus package starting at 200 billion dollars a year. Without such a package sewer systems will continue to fail, potholes will get worse, drinkable water will be in short supply, students will not be educated, bridges will fall down, and on and on. Yes a trillion dollar investment in states is necessary.
The fourth key is employment. There is so much work to do, that I wonder why there are any unemployed. The federal government can start employing people to build a better more efficient transportation system. Yes there are some auto trains in the US. Imagine a plethora of auto trains, where if you want to go to any major city just drive onto a train and get their faster than by driving. Imagine truck trains moving our goods faster and cheaper anywhere in the country. Then there is building an energy efficient society. Yes we can build windmills. Yes we can build solar panels. Yes we can defeat global warming.
The fifth key is education. The first part of that is to help the states. They second part is to provide full scholarship, room and board for all students who maintain a 2.5 gpa or higher when they graduate high school and go to college. Such assistance should be available until the completion of a PhD. Imagine a highly educated populace. Of course class sizes in K-12 should be reduced with more attention paid to children from the time they are born through grade 8.
The sixth key is research. Research in companies should be offered tax benefits. Further funding at the NSF should be increased such that all professors (assistant through full) can spend at least half their time doing research. Further the government should fund more private research laboratories as well as provide more funds for government laboratories. Imagine what can be done. New cures, new technology, new understanding, . . . the wealth of knowledge that can solve the world's problems.
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