Reply #27: Where do the values of democracy come from [View All]

The essence of your question is where do democrats find justification for policies - what is the basis for policy.

Policy in a democracy should be decided based upon research into issues of concern - a look at history to see how various policies effected people - a look at the current time to see how various policies are effecting people - and a look to the future to see how policies will impact those who come after.

From studies of Americans' view of fairness in society - the overwhelming view is that income should be distributed far more evenly than it is now. (you can find Dan Ariely's pdf of this study online.)

Our tax policies do not reflect this view. But we aren't a direct democracy, so people cannot vote to raise taxes to match their view of how income should be distributed in society. We don't get direct vote about a lot of things that impact our lives.

Our representatives, in order to represent us, need to reflect our beliefs in fairness - no matter what the fear-mongering from radio hosts, iquitarodders, and others with big mouths and nothing to say of value.

Studies indicate that democracies perform better with a strong middle class. Our policies as a nation should encourage a strong middle class. We do not encourage a strong middle class by favoring ponzi-scheming bankers over mortgage holders. No god is needed to understand the economic policy failures of the last 30 years - deregulation, "free trade," and change to tax policy explain things very well. We have shifted more income to the wealthy and deprived everyone else - this is the action of a nation with an aristrocracy that claims entitlement to their wealth by policies they enacted - and this is utter bullshit and unworthy of any democracy. The closest thing the U.S. ever had to an aristocracy was with slavery in the south - and we, as a nation, fought a war to do away with that bullshit line of action.

An agreement that we support human rights indicates that we must not be a nation that tortures people. As a nation we agree to uphold treaties and conventions that we sign so that other nations can deal with us in good faith. We agree that people are equal - that they are entitled to the same rights as adults that we give to ourselves. Choice about private matters - the right to create associations and unions.

I don't see where or how god has anything to do with finding policies that define a political party in this nation.