Some people don't agree, but I believe we need to answer the question: "What does the Democratic Party stand for?" My answer is this: "To use government to help promote the common good." When Republicans challenge me on this idea, I refer them back to the Preamble to the US Constitution, which lays out the purposes of our government. I have condensed the purposes stated in the Preamble into a 10 point plan to address the urgent problems facing our country and world. We need to state our Democratic, Progressive ideas again and again in multiple forums in order for those ideas to become part of the conventional wisdom.
Jerome Armstrong and Markos Moulitsas Zuniga write in their book, "Crashing the Gate,", that "We like to believe the ideas that will lead the Democratic Party to a new governing majority already exist, but they need to be articulated clearly" (174).
This plan is a start, and like most political plans, it is hardly original. The ideas expressed here are borrowed from Rahm Emanuel, Matt Stoller, and George Lakoff, among many others.
Please raise questions or suggestions to make this a better plan. Thanks.
The Democratic Party stands for using the government to help promote the common good.
The Preamble to the United States Constitution:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
1. Renew Citizen Involvement (in order to form a more perfect Union)
Increase grassroots participation, citizen service (Americore), & citizen panels
2. Transform Education (promote the general Welfare)
Professionalize teaching, community centered schools, & service projects
3. Strengthen National Security (provide for the common defense)
Destroy leading terrorists (bin Laden), timeline for Iraq, stop proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
4. Strive Toward Energy Independence (general welfare & perfect Union)
Stricter emission standards, invest heavily in alternative energies, surcharge on gasoline to invest in infrastructure and to pay for alternative energies
5. Provide Universal Healthcare (establish justice)
Universal single payer plan (Medicare for All)
6. Create Good Jobs/Reduce Debts (promote the general Welfare)
Invest in quality job training programs & repeal Bush tax cuts
7. Minimize Corruption and Crime (insure domestic tranquility)
Enforce white collar crimes, put more police on the streets, increase penalties for violent crimes & reduce penalties for nonviolent crimes (encourage rehabilitation)
8. Strengthen Freedom and Tolerance (secure the blessings of liberty)
Preserve separation of church and state, protect a woman+óGé¼Gäós right to choose, allow people to choose civil unions, encourage equal opportunity for all
9. Secure Borders & Provide Path to Citizenship (domestic tranquility)
Increase number of border security agents, allow earned citizenship for illegal immigrants, and increase opportunities for legal immigration
10. Engage and Lead the World (promote Roosevelt+óGé¼Gäós four freedoms)
Contain and isolate threatening countries, embrace the UN obligation to pay .7 % of the GNP to end world poverty, promote stability in failed states, work to minimize global climate change and prepare for pandemic diseases
This is friggin' great!
duh... I shoulda known.
I LOVE this diary, great job, and thanks!