Democrats Should Adopt The Mantle Of Reformers ??

[kentuck]

http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/003793.php

<snip>
Since we now know that the pharmaceutical industry is bankrolling the GOP front group USA Next in its efforts to smear the AARP, and since we know that the White House turned the Medicare drug benefit bill into a budget busting exhibit of corporate welfare by removing price controls from the final bill to line the pockets of the same pharmaceutical industry, why don’t Democrats go on the attack against this industry? It’s not like the industry is that popular with the public.

<snip>
We also know that the Democrats can score major points in their effort to regain parity in one or both houses of Congress next year by assuming the mantle of a reform party. According to this Kaiser Family Foundation poll released yesterday, going on the attack against drug companies by demanding that the Medicare drug benefit be fixed now to include price controls and even means-testing would be a huge step for the party. Not only would the Democrats be able to argue this case as a party of reform, but also as a party of fiscal responsibility and anti-corporate welfare. It’s not like the drug companies are going to penalize the Democrats too much anyway for this, since they give the majority of their money to Bush and the GOP anyway.

But the idea of a reform agenda has the potential to carry the Democrats a long way next year. In an effort to benefit from being the party out of power fighting against a corrupt and entrenched GOP machine, the Democrats can push an agenda that paints the White House, Bill Frist, and Tom DeLay as tools used by Corporate America for private gain over public interest. Demanding that the corporate welfare provisions of the Medicare drug bill be removed now can be just the first step in such a reform agenda, and the Kaiser poll shows that there is widespread popular support for taking on Bush on this, even within his own party.

While they are at it, Democrats can use the just-released findings of a GAO study to call for the closing of corporate and individual tax shelters that cost the federal government on average almost $25 billion a year in lost revenue. Since Bush is proposing $18 billion in discretionary domestic spending cuts in the upcoming Fiscal Year, and many billions more between now and 2010, and since his own party is against the proposed cuts in farm aid, law enforcement, anti-drug programs, border security, and human services programs, Democrats should also push reforms that close these tax shelters and use this recaptured revenue to reduce the deficit without cutting needed programs. Make Bush argue that closing tax shelters is a tax increase. As a party out of power portraying itself as reformists, the Democrats would score a major victory by putting Bush and the GOP in that position.

....more

[benburch]

1. If we don't, we need to adopt the shroud.

Because otherwise, we're so dead.

[applegrove]

2. That is going back to Liberal roots. That is what Liberals always were:

applying new information to an old world. And yes there is much to reform in this neocon world. Much transparency required.

[dorktv]

3. We also should be the guys who are going for REAL campaign

finance reform. How about a national Clean Elections campaign? Of course the DSCC and DCCC would hate it but they really do nothing but harm.

[Tigress DEM]

4. Stop Fat Cat Welfare.

The tax cuts or shelters to the richest of the rich need to be brought out in the light and examined.

If we're going to remove all tax shelters we should go to a flat tax where everyone pays purportionately. 17% income tax, you can claim 10% in non-profit gifting, but that's it. 3% -5% to your state and you're still under 30% even if you don't give to any organization.

Can you imagine if the rich actually PAID taxes? 1% of the world's population has 50% or more of the money. In America, the top 5% have 80% of the money. 95% of us split the 20% AND we pay our taxes. No wonder our country is going broke.

We're trying to make taxes on 20% support most everything so the Fat Cats can sit back and make us work harder and harder for less and less benefits.

[cosmicdot]

5. I believe that corporate angst is a reservoir waiting to be tapped ...

therein is the new New Deal ... people can relate to the Raw Deal they're getting ...

so many people have been negatively affected by corporate systems ... abused by the good ol'boys and their mismanagement ... many have witnessed their greedy self-aggrandizement ... or many know what it's like dealing with first name only no-face 800 number in corporate america ... people are fed up ...

Big Pharma hits most every home , and is a good starting point ...

in general, corruption in this country needs to be exposed ... it's knee-high to a tadpole ...

we need more Eliot Spitzers helping to frame the national debate through proactive means on the state and local level ... there's an FDR out there ready-to-happen ...

... establish Democratic Model Programs on the grassroot level to serve as examples and best practices for others to emulate ...

corporate control of our politicians and political system must end ... our elected officials are controlled through contributions, and are hostage to their own portfolios ... opensecrets.org opens eyes ... I've seen Democrats holding shares in companies like Halliburton ... must make it difficult to criticize the profiteering going on ...


Where is the torch passed to JFK? Left on the Plains of the 1960s?
Did progress end with the Great Society?
What was the last great Democratic reform?

Exposing the little reformer with 'corporate' results should be a rally call ... we already see Texans having issues with the education 'reforms' left in the wake of 'Governor' Bu$h ...

"Adopt The Mantle Of Reformers":
I'm all for it ... hopefully, our politicians will join in ...

in the final analysis: our 'leaders' are going to have to choose between us, the people, and corporate america, a non-person ...

[applegrove]

6. Yes I agree that if we react to what is going on by studying the real

problem (MBA schooling, corporatism, etc.) and build a science and an understanding around the issue (corporations are built to inherently always be starving - and so will always want more) then we can talk about the solutions that need to happen to insure that the corporations serve humanity and not the other way around. This is exactly the pendulum. And I agree Eliot seems like an amazing warrior and that attacking Bush policies on the issue of transparency and breakdown of markets (areas where the market does not adequately deliver to human beings) are the areas that should be looked into. I imagine and an amazing amount of study is going into the issue right now.

I have great faith.

[me b zola]

7. Absolutely

If we don't return to traditional Democratic values, there will be mass exodus from the party. Begin by supporting candidates who understand these values and aren't in bed with big-business or the repubs. Shame candidates whose values do not represent the interest of their constituents.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Easily said. They feast at the same trough as the repugs.

But, they could start by cutting off donations to the party from the corporate "donors" and kick out the lobbyists.

Sigh..it is to dream that politicians of any stripe would do such a thing.