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Mr. Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, recently sent me a letter. While it was not addressed to me, it was for people like me who follow and have generally supported Democrats. In Mr. Dean’s letter, he explains that he would like me and other Americans to support Democratic organizers who are participating in a 50-State Strategy where organizers spend “grueling campaign hours -- often in places that haven't seen a real Democratic organizing effort in years.” For the presidential election they are traveling “to every corner of every state, making sure that the Democrats don't give up on a single precinct in the fight for the White House in 2008.” In order to do this, of course, Americans must help fund their strategy. Mr. Dean refers to the pitiful moment all liberals, progressives, and any other American who wasn’t in support of George W. Bush felt when Kerry failed to “win” the election. Unable to pull off a “victory”, Americans were faced with the cold, hard truth that the Democrats’ had run a rotten campaign or else, they would have blown George W. Bush out of the water. In referring to the message, Mr. Dean is unmistakably hoping we Americans remember that moment and think that our campaigning must get organized now so that Democrats can win this election instead of the Republicans. There is one slight problem with funding these organizers though. It’s not that I don’t think they have a thought-out strategy for getting elected. It’s that I don’t know what I am going to be funding. What agenda, Mr. Dean, will these Democrats being organized for pursue? What issues will be legislated upon? And most importantly, are Democrats going to have real debates in Congress where they stand up for the American people and do not postpone discussion on matters that need to be focused upon? I did some research on the DNC website and found out that the “plan” or agenda being pursued is as follows: 1. Honest Government: The goal will be to “restore accountability, honesty and openness at all levels of government.” And Democrats will “create and enforce rules that demand the highest ethics from every public servant, sever unethical ties between lawmakers and lobbyists, and establish clear standards that prevent the trading of official business for gifts.” Can the American people depend upon the Party to do that? The International Herald Tribune reported on January 1st of this year that Democratic proposals for ethics reform were “not as comprehensive or far-reaching as changes already adopted by many states.” The article went on to detail how it failed to truly reform ethics: Democrats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate are proposing new restrictions on gifts, meals or trips paid for by lobbyists. They say they plan for the first time to require lawmakers to disclose their sponsorship of the pet items known as earmarks that they insert into major spending bills. Meanwhile, several states, responding to the national scandals as well as their own imbroglios, have already adopted more sweeping gift and travel bans, broader measures to end the central role of lobbyists or government contractors in financing campaigns, and new forms of public campaign financing aimed at reducing lawmakers' dependence on big donors. To enforce their rules, more than half of the states have also created independent ethics watchdogs, outside the control of the lawmakers they police — something members of Congress have so far resisted. While states are making much needed changes, on the national level, Mr. Dean, Democrats did not truly follow the Democratic agenda. Instead, the party hid behind the argument that “their proposals significant, especially compared with what Republicans managed to pass when they controlled Congress.” Of course, Mr. Dean. Republicans are a party based on beliefs, not policy. Anything your party does, Mr. Dean, will look better.
2. Real Security: The Democratic agenda here says that the Democrats are committed to ”repairing our military, to winning the war on terror, to protecting our homeland security, to ensuring success in Iraq and freeing America of its dependence on foreign oil--and it will finally prepare America for the security needs of the 21st Century.” All of that sounds a bit Republican to me. In fact, I think Mitt Romney is running on that as a basis for his foreign policy. In any case, there seems to be no policy behind that as there is no explanation in this part of the agenda on how this “real security” will be achieved. And I also like how you, Mr. Dean, add the part that says Democrats “honor the sacrifices our troops, their families and veterans by making sure we take care of them when they come home.” It’s reassuring when considering the fact that Democrats really don’t care about them while they aren’t at home. If the party did, they would not be postponing debate on what to do next with the war.
3. Energy Independence: Here I see signs of a Democratic Party that cares about the American people. The plan for achieving energy independence involves creating “a cleaner and stronger America that reduces our dependence on foreign oil and also creates new jobs for American workers.” It goes on to say that by “clearing the pathways to innovation, investing in our workers and infrastructure, and providing American consumers with broader, more responsible choices.” While a little thin on policy and very heavy on rhetoric, it sounds very good commercially. The party could put this in a commercial and sell it to the American people. And of course, I cannot forget that the party has also thought about letting corporations that fund the party have access to contracts so that they can reap the benefits from the first innovations made in the realm of energy independence. Should I expect some corporation like Halliburton?
Mr. Dean, my prime concern is that the American worker is not going to be involved in this process enough and the CEO is going to be involved in this too much. The science involved is going to take a backseat to profits. And all the while, global climate change will continue to damage our planet’s future.
So, how do I know that you will approach the issue of energy independence sincerely? The Republicans are already ready to take on energy independence. This party is not doing anything revolutionary with their plan. The issue, therefore, is how it will be done. And how do I know that the “how” will be about much more than profits and future campaign funds?
4. Economic Prosperity and Educational Excellence: The party would like to tackle this area of American life by increasing “the opportunity for our families is a high quality, good paying job.” Elaborating on that, the party believes in “fair trade agreements that raise standards for all workers here and abroad, while making American businesses more competitive.” The part on fair trade agreements would be all well and good except for the Democratic Party’s record, Mr. Dean.
I hope I am not informing you for the first time, Mr. Dean, that NAFTA is a free trade agreement, not a fair trade agreeement. And all other subsequent agreements passed which have been supported by the Democratic Party were free not fair also. In fact, currently, Democrats are expected to approve of a Peru Free Trade Agreement and following that a Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Mr. Dean, there is no fair trade agenda here. You are using the wrong word and misleading Americans who support fair trade.
As far as education goes, the party wishes “to provide every child with a strong foundation of education.” If that does not involve repealing the No Child Left Behind Act, and it most certainly doesn’t or else it would be stated here, than what do the Democrats plan on doing? Are they going to begin to teach children the importance of citizen and leadership skills in America? Or are they going to continue to use flawed education that pumps out drones unprepared to think and instead ready to participate in low-paying service jobs? Are we going to seriously work towards educating Americans so they can pursue this “American dream” we pound children with while they are growing up?
5. Affordable Health Care: The Democratic agenda states that Democrats “will join 36 other industrialized nations in making sure everyone has access to affordable health care, starting by fixing the prescription drug program and investing in stem cell and other medical research.” How about joining the 28 industrialized nations that have single-payer health care, Mr. Dean? How about ending this perpetuated myth that corporate health care, or our current health care system in America, is “democratic, represents freedom, and is the most efficient system for delivering health care?
6. Secure Retirement: Plans in this agenda would allow Americans the right to “retirement with dignity”, which is “the right and expectation of every single American, starting with pension reform, expanding saving incentives and preventing the privatization of social security.” This plan fails to mention the Elder Justice Act or fighting to end abuse of our elderly in nursing homes. If fighting nursing home abuse is too daunting, let me know. The American people will help you find replacements from other parties, etc. to stand up for our elderly. After all that they’ve done for our nation, they deserve respect in the last stage of their life.
7. Environment: Placing an emphasis on environment and our nation’s natural resources, this portion of the agenda states that Democrats “reject the false choice between a healthy economy and a healthy environment. Farming, fishing, tourism, and other industries require a healthy environment. New technologies that protect the environment will create new high-paying jobs. A cleaner environment means a stronger economy.” The next paragraph says, “far too many Americans live with unhealthy air or water quality. Democrats will fight to strengthen the laws that ensure we have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. And Democrats will make sure these laws are enforced.” In that, I find many of the same flaws that I did in the Energy Independence portion.
Again, how do I know, Mr. Dean, that all will be done for the American worker and not the American CEO? And how do I know you will take action to make sure the air I breathe is clean? Do Democrats plan on protecting Americans from Clear Skies initiatives or acts that aren't truly for "clear skies"?
8. Civil Rights & Justice: Here the Democatic agenda proclaims that, “on every civil rights issue, Democrats have led the fight.” The agenda adds that Democrats, “support vigorous enforcement of existing laws, and remain committed to protecting fundamental civil rights in America.” This is misleading and half-true.
Mr. Dean, this agenda is once again comparing the party to Republicans, who have no policy or who have been rolling back civil rights reforms since Bush took office. Anything you do, Mr. Dean, would be better and warrant our support.
If Democrats truly cared about civil rights & justice, the party would be pursuing impeachment vigorously. If Democrats truly cared about civil rights & justice, the party would be properly addressing the issue of wiretapping in America. And if Democrats truly cared about civil rights & justice, a bill for legalizing same-sex marriage would be passed. There is much more but these are all actions that if taken would prove the party really cared.
9. Election Reform: For election reform, the agenda states that, “a fundamental tenet of our democracy is the right to vote and have that vote counted. We must be vigilant in protecting this right and ensuring that our voting system is fair for every American.” Right, because if that is not done, Democrats won’t be able to run lousy and weak candidates that play off the “anybody but a Republican” mentality that countless Americans have accepted when voting for members of the Democratic Party. This reform would ensure that Americans did not worry too much about the policies Democrats are campaigning on.
The agenda continues on but what is said thereafter is not important. Mr. Dean, Americans need Election Day to be a federal holiday. Make that a reform. America needs a multi-party system. Make that a reform. Reform the system so that third parties, fourth parties, and fifth parties can have access to the ballot. I refuse to vote Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum until I keel over and die from my inability to pay all the money corporations demand me to pay or my inability to finance hegemonic escapades in the Middle East.
Please understand that your party and the Republican Party are not the answer. If you were, the last two to three decades would not have led us to where America is at right now.
So, Mr. Dean, now that I am done going through the Democratic agenda I find that it is lacking. The agenda is heavy rhetorical blather that Americans have heard time and time again. Occasionally, a corporate solution springs up that all Americans can look forward to being put in place sometime soon. But, what America needs is not included in the agenda at all.
America needs the Democratic Party to embrace reality. America needs policies that will benefit the lower and middle class who have suffered while politicians give and give and give to the wealthy in America. America needs politicians who are genuinely ready to take on the tough tasks that lie ahead of them and who are not going to just do what K Street tells them to do.
And because your party’s agenda fails to meet America’s needs, I will not be donating my milk or lunch money to you. Nor will I be giving you the money I was planning on donating instead of buying a computer or video game. Your party’s inept agenda has driven me to seek solace and comfort in a world of virtual reality and who knows how long it will be before I return.
Go to the next page for sources used in the writing of this article.
REFERENCES
http://www.democrats.org/agenda.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/01/news/ethics.php
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86402/mitt-romney/rising-to-a-new-generation-of-global-challenges.html
http://cthealth.server101.com/the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_states.htm
http://www.elderjusticecoalition.com/ |
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