So what do we do?
That's the gist of what I've been asked ever since I wrote my last post.
To which I reply:
Law and Order.
We've conceded the Law and Order vote to the GOP for far too long. They took those votes, and painted liberals as soft on crime.
In the meantime, they've done more looting and pillaging, broken more laws, and just plain cheated than any liberal I know.
And they keep that base. They've taken it for granted. They ignore those in their own party who raise objections to the way business is conducted in Washington. No: worse than ignored--they've treated them with contempt and outright hostility.
Remember: Nixon came to power using law & order as his platform.
One thing you've got to admire about Rove: he attacks strength. Perhaps we should do the same.
Being a progressive, or a Liberal, or a Democrat does not mean you are soft on crime.
Being a fundamentalist, or a Conservative, or a Republican does not mean you aggressively fight crime. In fact, it more than likely means the higher up you are, the more actively engaged in it you are...or, at the very least, the more likely you are to break laws for political/economic gain.
So, to refine the question: how do we reposition ourselves politically to speak to this? In what ways are we NOT 'soft' on crime?
I've got some ideas. I'd like to hear yours.
Yeharr
To which I reply:
Law and Order.
We've conceded the Law and Order vote to the GOP for far too long. They took those votes, and painted liberals as soft on crime.
In the meantime, they've done more looting and pillaging, broken more laws, and just plain cheated than any liberal I know.
And they keep that base. They've taken it for granted. They ignore those in their own party who raise objections to the way business is conducted in Washington. No: worse than ignored--they've treated them with contempt and outright hostility.
Remember: Nixon came to power using law & order as his platform.
One thing you've got to admire about Rove: he attacks strength. Perhaps we should do the same.
Being a progressive, or a Liberal, or a Democrat does not mean you are soft on crime.
Being a fundamentalist, or a Conservative, or a Republican does not mean you aggressively fight crime. In fact, it more than likely means the higher up you are, the more actively engaged in it you are...or, at the very least, the more likely you are to break laws for political/economic gain.
So, to refine the question: how do we reposition ourselves politically to speak to this? In what ways are we NOT 'soft' on crime?
I've got some ideas. I'd like to hear yours.
Yeharr
posted by Balloon Pirate at 2:27 AM
24 Comments:
I think we also demand accountability. I'm sick of hearing about all the corruption and ethics violations and people just shrugging and saying, "Hey, it's politics."
Well, in any other industry or profession, you'd get busted big time. I think we better demand more from our politicians no matter whether they're Republicans or Democrats. This coingate scandal in Ohio is rife with corruption. It's astounding. Log on to the Toledo Blade's web site and read all about it.
If the Dems want to win the next ellection they should figure out how the Bushies rigged the last two and go for it.
As for law and order, as both parties have done nothing to prepare for the future of rising tension and choas, martial law will be the only law and order and it doesn't matter who's in the White House, it will be impossed just the same.
Boni--agreed. It's all part of the same thing.
Ticharu--always a ray of sunshine, aren't you, my brother?
Yeharr
Great answer. I think we need to organize people like us in our communities. Instead of protesting all of our various problems, we join together on one issue: Education. (Or issue of your choice) I chose education because it is through education that people learn to think for themselves, something I feel the government is trying to avoid at all costs as evidenced by NCLB. So the question becomes: How do we organize groups of people and convince them that education is important? We could offer free courses at local libraries in educational law. We can have teachers volunteer to teach classes at local libraries in politics, philosophy, and psychology. We can invite local politicians to speak to groups and then ask them actual questions instead of the crap reporters ask. Demand accountability, and always remember: there are more of us than there are of them.
Demand Accountability.
I smell a slogan.
Yeharr
Accountability for sure. I think the issue is deeper than that though. For a long time the Dems have been viewed as the party of "the fringe" by the core of consistently active voters. Until the Dems touch this very middle class, middle america group they are going to continue to struggle when turnouts are modest
I do not desire to start a debate, but I disagree with Ticharu about the last 2 elections being rigged. Regardless, they are done, get over it and move on
1. A functioning ethics committee in the House is a good start.
2. Provide the needed funding and jobs to increase the effectiveness of homeland security, from border patrols to transportation networks.
3. Back zero tolerance policies at schools to prevent violence and hate crimes among young people.
4. Put the "order" back in law and order by ensuring an individual's right to due process and habeas corpus, even when accused of terrorism.
5. Send a representative to the U.N. who actually believes in its legitimacy.
etc.
I also think we need to look at this from an individual perspective and decide wha we can personally do to improve our situation rather than what "we" as a country can do. We can only control what is in our immediate reach. Why not have a positive influence on the people and places directly around us.
I agree with both Jessica and PC.
We need to find common ground with Republicans and Conservatives. If we take everything we disagree with 'off the table,' is there anything left? Is there something that at least some of us can agree on? Let's find that, and work from there.
That's just neighbors talking to neighbors.
On the national front: Do you know who your congressperson is? Does he or she know how you feel about these things? If we all let our representitives know what we will not tolerate, and enough of us get together on this and ask for the same things, shouldn't it stand to reason that those points should at least be debated in congress?
Why wouldn't a strong ethics committee-one with actual teeth--be a nonpartisan effort?
Accountability. Is that something we can all agree upon? Is that a start?
Yeharr
Move to Canada.
I really think that improving education is something we can all agree on.
I agree with pc. A good education is vital. I also think we need to take personal responsibility in our government. We've got to vote. Paul Hackett might have won in Ohio if more than 20% of the people voted. We need to support the candidates we believe in -either financially or with volunteer work. If we can keep the big corporations out of the equation, we'll be a lot better off.
BP I love Demand Accountability as a slogan. Politicians need to know they're being held responsible to the people who elect them.
No parole for sexual predators like the guy in Idaho. There's ample evidence that they can't be reformed, and it's a hot button with middle America, soccer moms, etc. Everyone should be able to get behind this.
Jason, that was going to be my number 6.
Move to Canada.
If Dems wanted to win nationwide races and statewide races all they would have to do is give up the abortion issue. Most people like Dem's other policies (non natl security policies) and would probably vote dem. If u give up abortion and let it be state by state, you wuld probably win hands down. Now, I woudn't vote Dem, but I think alot of people would.
Real changes need to be made in party politics. We need to change the issues that define the elections. When they steer us to abortion and gay rights, we need to ask them about education and health care. We need to demand accountability and stop letting ourselves being goaded into discussing issues that have already been discussed to death. Make them offer suggestions on how to improve specific bills and laws. Then, maybe, we'll have a real debate. And we need to stop pretending that Republicans and Democrats are two different parties. They're all closer to the right than the left, so let's call them all the same and start running real Independants.
Why should the democrats give up on abortion choice. 2/3 of the country is Pro-Choice.
Source
Nobody wants an abortion. The Left needs to drive home that message. Promote sex education, birth control awareness and availability and yes, abstinence as an option. Bring the discussion of sex into the 21st century and stop letting the right wing puritans stifle the discussion of the most natural thing we do. Sexual ignorance causes abortions.
People, yes Kids too, are going to have sex. Women are going to get pregnant. Some of those pregnancies are going to be unwanted. It is there we need to focus our efforts.
I read an article somewhere, I'll try to find it, that said if the states had the choice of banning abortion the number of abortions would only go down slightly. They showed stats that the number of abortion clinics in those states that would ban it is relatively small and would be quickly replaced by clinics on their borders. It would be the poor people in the south that would be most affected because they would have to travel the farthest.
I think it wpuld be a great business opportunity to provide low cost transportation to out of state clinics for woman who make that choice.
Get on the bus, pay your fair, tell the driver that you're going to a double duch affair.
They shouldn't give up on it, but when need to stop making it the main issue of elections. Abortion is a state issue, and when it's a Presidential election, we need to discuss federal issues. When they mention abortion, we need to say, "That is a state issue. What we really need to be talking about is..." Our elections have become a constant debate about a few issues that are NEVER going to be agreed on. We don't talk about issues like Health Care, Social Security, Education, and Immigration Policy, which are the issues that are draining our economy and hurting our people.
I think you misunderstand me....or maybe I misunderstood the question....I took it as how do u define a message for Dems to win office. Whther 2/3 support abortion or not is irrelevant, the issue dominates as driven by both Pro Life and Naral. If abortion wasnt a "national" issue, then the party wouldn't be beholden to Naral, which I think hurts your cause. Naral is far too dominant in deciding who can "be a Dem" if you pardon the term.
Let me ask you this? Could a Pro-Life Dem even get a chance to speak at your convention, let alone run for national office with party support?
I don't think so, however as fervent pro-life as some of my brethren (and myself) are, we would put a pro-choice guy(or gal) on the ticket if it meant winning (or more likely in that siutation, not losing).
Any politician who has anything to say gets to speak at my convention. The problem is, I don't get to have a convention because our government is not very polite to third parties. The Supreme court has made the decision on abortion. I care how my representitives view the issue, but what they're actually going to DO in office is much more important. I want to know what they plan to do about education, health care, immigration, and social security.
Polanco,
Where in Pa r u? Stellers or Eagles side?
I'll grant you on the 3rd party issue and to be hoenst I dont even know why I entered this discussion since I am a conservative, but I do think if you look at it objectively, from a PURELY political strandpoint, the abortion issue hinders nationwide Democratic objectives.
Dude--I've put up with a lot from you, but if you want to be allowed on this blog, there are limits. And you are dangerously close to crossing the line.
On some subjects, it's one strike and you're out.
It's not 'Stellers.' It's 'Stillers.'
You've had your strike. Tread carefully.
Yeharr
The funny thing is I meant to write Stillers, but for some reason didn't.
Can I call the Pirates the Bucos?
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