To hell with the candidates. Let's talk about the platform.

[blondeatlast]

As busy as GD is, it's clear that I'm not the only one more concerned with the issues and the issues build the platform.

We've been beating each other up over a GE that is over a year away and I really don't give a damn about any of the candidates (until they piss me off, but there's been more than enough discussion about that).

Anyone interested? We know what the issues are, so let's decide what the Democrats should do with them.

[terisan]

1. Yes: Health Care, Occupation, Bill Rights, National Corporate Debt, Global Resposibility .....

The Cult of Personality candidate fixation is a media device and is one reason we are in a mess.

[Hydra]

2. I wanted to do this months ago

I want:

Wars scaled back and full withdrawal ASAP

Trade deficit reduction including penalties for offshoring, rather than incentives

Budget deficit reduction and anti-poverty initiatives

Tax reform, shifting the tax burden away from the working class

Congress disbanding the Federal reserve and taking back their ability to create currency, and a new currency based on work put in rather than future debt

Environmental protections tightened and enforced, and better regulation of products

Anti-constitutional laws repealed

Compliance with the Geneva conventions and all other international treaties we've signed

DoJ cleaned out, and police corruption addressed

Drugs legalized and controlled as alcohol and tobacco

Single payer health care

Research on oil alternatives including hemp and hydrogen technologies, and renewables such as solar, wind, wave and geothermal

Open space for more forests, and banning mining and industry from public lands.

hmm...I think that's good for a start.

[againes654]

3. Other than addressing the educational issues in this country

I think you covered most of it. We are in such a mess, that it is going to take a special person to clean it up.

We have to educate our children better. Stop putting so much importance on standardize testing, and focus on actually teaching. If we don't educate our youth better, anything we fix in this generation will go to shit with the next.

[Hydra]

4. What I put down were just the major emergencies

:evilgrin:

Really, though...education problems, unregulated media, badly treated military, no bid contracts, out of control CIA and NSA, corrupt congress, hacked voting machines, next generation nuclear weapons and satellite based superweapons...the messes are endless.

As you say, it will take someone special...and extremely brave. These entrenched interests are NOT NICE when told to go away.

[Devlzown]

7. Those are excellent.

I would also like to see legislation passed that would make it more difficult for a President to wage war without the consent of Congress. Presidents have been abusing their power as Commanders-in-Chief and Congress has abdicated its responsibility to declare war. It's time to see some accountability from Congress.

[book_worm]

5. #1 priority is to get American troops out of Iraq asap!

#1 Domestic priority is National Health Insurance.

[SergeyDovlatov]

6. Foreign Policy Change is #1

Stop building the empire.
Save the money from empire building and put to deficit reduction and saving social security.

1. It is a fiscally responsible thing to do
2. It is best for our national defense
3. It is huge drain on our economy
4. It is politically feasible thing to do

We cannot fund social program by raising taxes, we need to cut spending and what is the best candidate for spending cuts?
Answer: our empire.

Don't just talk about Iraq war. Talk about the whole foreign policy.

[blondeatlast]

8. Let's talk the onvious one first: Iraq.

This more than any other is the one that will sway the undecided in the booth.

I think most Americans want us out ASAP, of course, but how do we manage it? Jow to make it palatable to the Democratic leadership?

[Maestro]

9. Good idea

My platform....Out of Iraq! Stop the insanity of organized, state supported racism started with the Patriot Act, Civil Rights, Environment and energy, Undo NCLB because too many kids have indeed been left behind, and health care for starters.

[tnlurker]

10. Now this is a good discussion

Thanks blondatlast!

[catmandu57]

11. How about rebuilding our infrastructure

Roads, bridges, water, sewer, schools etc... I really believe that a strong domestic agenda is a key to not only winning, but, driving a stake through the heart of the reptiles that have taken over our country.

How about criminal prosecutions of all those responsible for this mess,from * and deadeye to condi, gonzo, kkkarl, everyone even remotely connected.

[semillama]

12. Global Climate Change

If this isn't right up at the top of the platform, then our priorities are truly screwed. The Iraq War, while very important, is a distant second on lists of issues in terms of importance. If we don't do something about climate change, nothing much else matters. The Iraq War probably won't result in massive disruptions to civilized life as we know it. Climate change will. It's a no-brainer.

[Hydra]

13. It's related

The oil is the issue- no more fossil fuels or fuels that give off CO2 or Methane.

No more wars for fossil fuels, no more economic strong-arming of countries that have it.

[catmandu57]

16. Yes we need to get serious

about alternative and renewable energy.

[robinlynne]

14. This thread is great.

[gateley]

15. Radical Election Reform so we actually get who we vote for - then we can get the

person who's elected into office and working on all we've laid out for him/her to do!

[Summer93]

17. Great Topic

I like the concept of platform discussion as it will be spoken of in positive terms.

#1 Global Climate Changes - What we can do domestically, improved vehicles, utilities, public transport, make available to rural residents (each person must keep in mind what they can do to make our globe into a habitable place for all people)

Domestic Issues
- Health Care - (the current system is not working doctors need to reclaim their right to decide medical care and insurance companies need to find a new business) all citizens must get the same level of health care
- Education - smaller local schools for children (could we reduce bus use?)
- Public education through college to make our country competitive
- Election security - paper ballots (counted by local people), remove electoral college
- Restore Constitution and Bill of Rights and therefore repeal the Patriot Act and the follow-ons. Make sure only Congress can declare war or enter into a conflict

Just think of what our country could accomplish if only 10-20% less were to be spent on the munitions.

[blondeatlast]

22. I REALLY like your "in the neighborhood" focus.

Schools, elections--that's very marketable and would be a boon to local candidates.

Smaller, local schools would take away support for NCLB and public funding of private education; both ideas I heartily endorse.

Really good!

[slackmaster]

18. Energy independence should be our new "man on the Moon" mission

We need a visionary leader to pull us all together and move toward a realistic goal of eliminating ALL dependence on foreign oil. That would solve our problems in the Middle East, cut pollution, and even take a bite out of our contribution to global warming.

We need a visionary, new JFK; but the ONLY strong Democrat who is even close to that on the subject of energy isn't running. And our (just barely) Democratic Congress doesn't have the guts or the insight to take it on without such a leader.

We are fooked.

:argh:

[blondeatlast]

19. Several mentions of energy independence--that hits on several other issues.

That's the kind of issue that builds a good platform.

As someone mentioned, it can be our 21st Century space program.

Covers at least these issues:
Energy
Middle East Policy
Education
Economy

And it hits Americans where they live. Very marketable, toothe opposition would have to twist itself into some very strange logical positions to argue it.

[Hydra]

20. It's one of the easiest

and I always thought one of the best ways to argue war to most of the citizens was to point to the prosperity during Clinton's Presidency, and to the fact that we were in no major conflicts at the time. Peace is good for business.

Energy Independence and infrastructure renewal can also be a task our Military can participate in, so you could even win over some of those hardcore soldier types that think that if there is peace, that they would be out of a job.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

21. The candidates are supposed to members of the Democratic Party?

platoform? 'loose cannons' Lets hope that they are not out for themselves and that they have the party and the country in mind?