Hey all,
It's obvious the people have lost control of the country.
If the people were in control then universal background checks on gun purchases would be the law of the land. But they're not.
Two months after Newtown, with polls showing 90% approval, and a President calling for it, the people couldn't get universal background checks made into law. Clearly, the people aren't being heard.
So how do we get back to a place where 90% is enough to get a good idea passed?
Jump!
1. The People Need A Voice.
There's a simple reason why EVERY thinking person seems to love Elizabeth Warren. She speaks for us. She gives a voice to our issues. Most politicians seem to live in a bubble. We need more "regular" folks who get it, in the Democratic party. Dissuade the elitists. Listen to the 99%, and...
2. The Voice Needs To Be Against Citizens United.
Douglas Hughes risked his life to fly a homemade clear gyrocopter onto the lawn of the campital. He did this because he knows the way we're funding elections is the gravest threat to our democracy.
Now that the Citizens United decision is the law, we should be acting like we're being infected with a potentially terminal disease. Because we are. Instead, too many Democrats aren't saying anything. We need to change this. And we need to demand more from the Democratic party.
For example, let's say there's a Democratic primary election in a big city. Chicago would be a good example. If only Democrats are running then they should agree not to take any Super-Pac,or other "Citizen United type" money. Otherwise you end up with Republicans actually funding your "Democratic" candidates. Seriously. That's going to lead to more income inequality. You think things are bad now, Citizens United is only 5 years old. We need to think about the next 50 years. If we let the .01% fund our candidates, we won't have a party, only a puppet. And I hate when puppets make me sad. Which brings me to...
3. We Must Be Positive.
The Democrats should be proud of who they are, and what they've accomplished. They're not just the lesser of two evils. They're a place for good ideas to move quickly. Barack Obama is an example. Healthcare is nice. Gay marriage, and legal marijuana are others. We have more. But the point is, we're good. The way national Democrats ran the last election (Nov 2014) was embarrassing. Give the people something to be excited about. Be for yourself Democrats! Finally...
4. To Kill a Dragon, Aim For the Heart.
When you're dealing with a fierce competitor, you can't play around. You can't come in second either. So you need to be fearless. You need to aim for the heart. Republican leadership has done this much better over the years. For instance, the swift boating of John Kerry in 2004. Even I was shocked Republicans would throw decorated service medal winners "under the bus" just to win, but they did. And it worked. I hate that it worked, and I would never advocate doing such a thing, but we need to remember to strike where it hurts.
Hit them where they never expect it. The media will love it, and you'll generate discussion. I noticed Republican types are usually pretty bad at defending their ideas anyway...always deflecting.
Democrats could try something like this. "Republicans are wasteful spenders, who cost us by not adequately funding government. Everyone knows you need a certain amount to get by. But Republicans like to pretend you can starve government services, and just pay law suits later. That's the dumb way to do something." Be willing to go after them for their bad ideas. Not enough Democrats remind folks which party represents warring, torturing, gun freaks. And which Party rose the deficit, taxes, and started the Iraq war.
If Democrats could do these four things, we would pass a more progressive agenda.