We democrats need our own version of the "Contract with America"

[niceypoo]

Of course it should have a different name but it should be a bold statement of what democrats will do when we take back America. Unlike the repubs, who merely used the "Contract" as a gimmick to gain power, we should actually DELIVER the goods. Americans need to know that only the democrats can end the national nightmare we have been in the last five years. They need an alternative to what we have now. America is ripe for change and we need to jump on this with a vengence.

[PatrioticLeftie]

1. Careful now

The Freepers are listening

[niceypoo]

Good, let them listen

Let them laugh and get hyper and cackle and attack as they tread water on the deck of Bush and the GOPs sinking ship. They have nothing to offer america except Debt, war and corporate jesus all wrapped up in a kleptocratic nightmare package.

[journalist3072]

2. I've been saying this since 2001....

The Democratic Party has failed to learn a valuable lesson from the Republicans.

The GOP learned how to get their message (albeit a flawed one) out at a time when they didn't have the Rose Garden as their backdrop.

The Contact w/ America was a flawed document policy-wise. But strategically, it was brilliant, b/c it allowed the GOP to say "this is what we'll do if you give us back the Congress."

The Dems haven't learned how to effectively get their message out when they don't have the WH.

[bluestateguy]

3. How about the "Repeal the Contract with America"?

Oh, and I'd throw in a formal vote to overturn the House's impeachment of Bill Clinton, and expunge it from the record.

[niceypoo]

4. There is nothing to repeal

as soon as they had power they backed away from their promises.

[Lefty48197]

15. True. Remember their balanced budget amendment? term limits?

How soon they forgot their "contract" once they were in power...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. You fell into the trap of being reactionary. Don't.

New ideas are needed now.

To call it "Repeal" indicates that it had some kind of success. It did not. They did not get rid of corruption, waste, fraud and abuse.

Don't buy into Republican memes! Think!

[SeanQuinn]

19. Can I steal your sig?

<3 the West Wing..and um, yeah..I agree with you.

[zapp]

5. we had a contract. In it, we produced Social Security, 40 hour workweeks..

legitimate minimum wages, and lowered poverty.

Can we do it again? You betcha. But not with republican lite at the helm. Gotta start with a populist then a true liberal dem.

[niceypoo]

9. You hit the nail on the head Zap.....

THis is where Dr. Dean needs to step in. Howard Dean, if your out there reading this message, please do this for the people of the world and the children of America as they are the ones who stand to inherit this fucked up mess!!!

[Lefty48197]

16. I thought he was talking about Russ Feingold

.

[dorktv]

12. Hey, FDR did not start out as FDR.

[madfloridian]

6. Dean apparently told Cindy they were working on one.

She was laughing about in the video when she told about it. She thought it was funny. I don't know why, he did try to explain what he is doing. So I guess some people are not for making one.

[Totally Committed]

7. I agree...

and because we Democrats are better, in general, at keeping our promises, and caring about the little guy, America will benefit from ours!

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. More appropriately it should have been called the Contract ON America

[brainshrub]

10. You mean a series of ideas that we don't actually follow-up on?

I'm still waiting for the term-limits and balanced-budget amendment they promised.

Yup, I said it: I think those were great ideas! They could pass that legislation with no problem today... if they wanted to.

[ray of light]

11. Everybody should sign this:

And email it to friends and family too. It's very important--It's FROM US! The PEOPLE and it's one step in the right direction.

http://www.democracycellproject.net/pledge.shtml

Please click on that link and sign the Progressive Pledge.

[niceypoo]

13. Wow, thats a sweet list

It needs a couple things added but it about hits the nail.

[ray of light]

18. Did you see this?

"Two caveats: first, this list is not intended to be a complete platform; second, whatever policies we adopt must move us toward eliminating the scourge of poverty, and toward an environmentally sustainable economy."

See...the thinking is to have a basic core that most people will agree with because as you add this point or that point, etc...people tend to lose focus. It's the old, "KISS" thing...

And looking at the list as it stands now, I think it'd be difficult for someone to refuse to sign on--including our former Republicans.

I hope you signed it even though it was missing a few points. ;)

[KingFlorez]

14. I put together a list

Taxes

Abolish the IRS and reduce the income tax on low income people. Repeal the Bush tax cuts. Provide more tax breaks for working families and increase child benefit.

Common Ground

We need to get an agenda together that liberal and conservative Democrats both can support. We must have an airtight plan that will appeal to people and be able to make government more efficient.

Energy

1.We need to offer a plan to stop dependence on foreign oil. The plan should include investment in biomass, solar, wind and other types of alternative energies.
2. Create a national energy provider to provide alternative energies.
3. Push for more energy co-ops


Balanced Budget

This plan should also include a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. This will reduce the need to hike taxes and curb spending, because the government will be required to work with what the taxpayers give and not be permitted to spend uncontrolled.

Workers and Labor

1. Increase the minimum wage by at least a dollar.
2. Reinstate all OSHA rules
3. Require paid maternity and illness leave for companies with more than 100 workers
4. Provide a federal child care subsidy for low income parents.
5. Pension reform to protect workers pensions from Enron like schemes.
6. Companies with more than 20 will be required to provide health insurance


Corporate Reform

Provide for better regulation of corporation to prevent more scandals like Enron, MCI Worldcome, Tyco, etc.

Health Care

1.A universal healthcare system will be created for those with no insurance or benefits from their job.
2.Impose price controls on prescription drugs and add a decent drug benefit to Medicare.
3. Pass the orignal patients bill of rights

Education

1. Provide signifigant funding for new school contruction
2. Increase over all funding for schools
3. Reduce class size
4. Hire more teachers

Economics and Employment

1. Keep unemployment benefits at a reasonble number
2. Take measures to bolster job growth
3. Stop outsourcing and reform trade laws to protect our workers
4. Support for more Retail, Worker and Consumer co-ops.
5. Increase small business grants.

National Security

1. Focus more on intelligence, than military action
2. Outline an exit strategy for Iraq and Afghanistan and bring our troops home.
3. Upgrade the INS cabinet level to help control illegal immigration
4. Repeal the Patriot act
5. Push for the War on Terror to move back to Bin Laden and Al Qaeda
6. Pay more attention to domestic terrorists, because they are also a big threat
7. Stop Base closures
8. Strengthen FEMA and disaster response.


Miscellaneous

1. Repeal The GOP Bankruptcy act
2. Strenghthen enviromental laws and make EPA Cabinet level.
3. Increase Farm subsidies and grants
4. Support public and private utility co-ops
5. Remove restrictions on stem cell research
6. Create the office of Ombudsman to increase accountability.
7. Lower Crime.
8. More funding for better transportion, including Amtrak.