Sunday, August 06, 2006
ADVICE TO DEMOCRATS
The Militant Moderate has been scheduled by a moderate friend to have lunch with an officer of the state democratic party this week. The avowed purpose is a frank discussion of party positions and strategies for the next election. It would be foolish to believe that our luncheon will be a determining factor in the coming political skirmishes, but it is nice to be consulted.
Now, just what should we tell this party officer?
Maybe we should first remind him that the democrats are an opposition party nationally. We are opposed to much of that going on, and we think government should be different. President Bush governs for the Republican Party, and all of them share in the credit or the blame for what he has or has not done. A republican vote is a vote for Bush.
Republican votes favor tax cuts for the wealthy, Bush's war in Iraq, running huge budget deficits, increasing debt to China, shipping American jobs overseas, tax evasion by corporations, do-nothing response to illegal immigration, opposition to minimum wage increases, violation of American liberties, politicizing of science and medical research, and the dividing of America with wedge issues.
Republicans in Oklahoma have tried hard to make the election issues religious in nature. That is subterfuge. Most democrats believe in family values, most are religious and church oriented, most believe in the traditional definition of marriage, they respect the ten commandments, and they say the pledge of allegiance. No one advocates abortions. Trying to make these election issues is political chicanery.
Democrats should make it clear that they favor traditional marriage, and that they say the pledge of allegians as it is. Democrats favor teaching the ten commandments at home and in the church, and they believe in the practice of private prayer.
However, democrats favor keeping the government out of religion and out of people's personal business. Apparently, republicans do not.
Other than naming God, church, school prayer, pledges, gay marriage, and life, all of which are personal more than governmental in nature, republicans like to call for tax cuts, tort reform, and workers' comp reform. If the average voter ever wakes up to understand that all of these are against him the democrats will take back all of state government in a landslide.
Tax cuts advocated by republicans have consistently been for the wealthy, and it was the senate democrats last session who held out for increasing personal deductions so that average wage earners would get cuts. Tort "reform" is to keep average consumers from suing irresponsible businesses and health providers. Workers' comp "reform" is to keep job-injured workers from suing employers and insurers who try to cheat them.
The Militant Moderate wonders why average voters don't understand these things. Democrats need to get that news out to them. As the MM has often said, those measures are "main street" -- but they favor the owners inside the businesses and not their customers walking down the street.
While the public is being deluded by largely irrelevant or uncontested emotional issues, they are being blindsided by republican led opposition to school support and teacher retirement, but favoring increased incarceration at public expense without rehabilitation, cuts in medical programs for children and the elderly, mental health cuts, children's protective service cuts, and leaving the mentally ill on the streets. Republican politicians are callous about the economic and social vicissitudes assailing the average wage earner and family.
This is the message the democrats need to get out to the public.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
Now, just what should we tell this party officer?
Maybe we should first remind him that the democrats are an opposition party nationally. We are opposed to much of that going on, and we think government should be different. President Bush governs for the Republican Party, and all of them share in the credit or the blame for what he has or has not done. A republican vote is a vote for Bush.
Republican votes favor tax cuts for the wealthy, Bush's war in Iraq, running huge budget deficits, increasing debt to China, shipping American jobs overseas, tax evasion by corporations, do-nothing response to illegal immigration, opposition to minimum wage increases, violation of American liberties, politicizing of science and medical research, and the dividing of America with wedge issues.
Republicans in Oklahoma have tried hard to make the election issues religious in nature. That is subterfuge. Most democrats believe in family values, most are religious and church oriented, most believe in the traditional definition of marriage, they respect the ten commandments, and they say the pledge of allegiance. No one advocates abortions. Trying to make these election issues is political chicanery.
Democrats should make it clear that they favor traditional marriage, and that they say the pledge of allegians as it is. Democrats favor teaching the ten commandments at home and in the church, and they believe in the practice of private prayer.
However, democrats favor keeping the government out of religion and out of people's personal business. Apparently, republicans do not.
Other than naming God, church, school prayer, pledges, gay marriage, and life, all of which are personal more than governmental in nature, republicans like to call for tax cuts, tort reform, and workers' comp reform. If the average voter ever wakes up to understand that all of these are against him the democrats will take back all of state government in a landslide.
Tax cuts advocated by republicans have consistently been for the wealthy, and it was the senate democrats last session who held out for increasing personal deductions so that average wage earners would get cuts. Tort "reform" is to keep average consumers from suing irresponsible businesses and health providers. Workers' comp "reform" is to keep job-injured workers from suing employers and insurers who try to cheat them.
The Militant Moderate wonders why average voters don't understand these things. Democrats need to get that news out to them. As the MM has often said, those measures are "main street" -- but they favor the owners inside the businesses and not their customers walking down the street.
While the public is being deluded by largely irrelevant or uncontested emotional issues, they are being blindsided by republican led opposition to school support and teacher retirement, but favoring increased incarceration at public expense without rehabilitation, cuts in medical programs for children and the elderly, mental health cuts, children's protective service cuts, and leaving the mentally ill on the streets. Republican politicians are callous about the economic and social vicissitudes assailing the average wage earner and family.
This is the message the democrats need to get out to the public.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
