Tom Delay's challenge to Democrats

[many a good man]

The Democrat Party was once an idealistic, forward-looking policy
colossus. The New Deal, the Marshall Plan, the Great Society, the
space program, civil rights. And yet, today, one is hard-pressed
to find a single positive, substantive idea on the left.

- Rep. Tom Delay, R-TX. Jan. 6, 2005

Is now the time to rouse the sleeping colossus?

I think we must all admit that Congressman Delay has a good point. The
"policy colossus" of the left has been asleep for the past generation.
In order for the Democratic party to survive we must present a
bold new vision that showcases our values, unites us in a common cause,
and strengthens the nation.

We must announce a new long-term vision for our country and work
tirelessly toward achieving our ideals. We must leverage all our
strengths and abilities by pouring money into policy think tanks,
public relations and grassroots activism. Here are the "big
substantive ideas" I think we should espouse with renewed vigor:

1. Health Care Cost Control
2. Universal Health Insurance
3. Universal College Education
4. Tax Fairness
5. Apollo Project for Energy Independence


HEALTH CARE COST CONTROL

Rising health care costs pose the greatest threat to our economic
security. If we don't act soon to overhaul our nation's once great
health care delivery system, it will cause irreparable harm to both
the public and private sectors.

The Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees report Medicare
costs are projected to exceed those for Social Security in 2024.
Social Security is NOT in crisis, but rising health care costs will
eat up our entire social security checks if something isn't done NOW.

The competitiveness of businesses both small and large in the United
States is greatly harmed by our system of employment-based health
insurance. Double digit rising costs constrain the entrepreneurial
spirit and vitality we need to create jobs and opportunity.

Its time to de-couple health insurance and employment once and for all.

UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE

We have the luxury of being able to learn the lessons from
the decades of experience of other industrial nations' national health
care systems and devise one best suited for the unique circumstances of
America. We know a single-payer system like Canada's will immediately
lower insurance costs 15-25% and streamline the billing processes of
millions of health care providers so they can put more effort into
healing than they do into bookkeeping. Unlike Canada we can allow
supplemental insurance plans to augment (and help finance) the public
health insurance system.

If other nations can provide cradle-to-grave health coverage for
ALL its citizens, the world's richest and most powerful
country certainly can, too.

UNIVERSAL COLLEGE EDUCATION

Why stop providing free public education at the 12th grade? Many other
nations provide a robust public higher education system at virtually no
cost to qualified students. We can do the same and take it one step
further by providing vocational/technical retraining for adults as well
so our workforce can be more flexible and quickly adapt to changing
economic conditions. An education system that leaves behind so many
bright, qualified young people only because they lack the financial
resources is immoral and weakens our nation.

TAX FAIRNESS

The problem here IS NOT that taxes are too high, the problem is wages
are too low! Our complex, cumbersome, corrupt tax code allows billions
to slip away in obscure loopholes while the average citizen pays more
than his/her fair share. Tax breaks over the past 30 years have gone
disproportionately to the rich and big corporations, who need the extra
cash far less than the average working American. Current tax laws give
incentives to stashing money and moving jobs overseas. A fair tax plan
will stimulate wages and investment here at home so corporations can
focus on building better products instead of fishing for loopholes.


APOLLO PROJECT FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

JFK promised the impossible dream of putting a man on the moon within
the decade. He mobilized the creative spirit of America and
infused it with research money for math and science education.
We walked on the moon and all sectors of society benefitted from
the side effects of all the discoveries that made it possible.

Now we're facing a century where cheap oil will disappear and
wars over oil will become commonplace. We must identify the
obstacles to energy independence and put our best minds to work on
the problem. The choice is between squandering our nation's
blood and treasure on the selfish control of worldwide oil reserves
or being in the vanguard of a new energy paradigm that can bring
countless benefits to all the people on the planet. This shift
will allow a great fundamental change in our foreign policy-- one
that leads to prosperity and peace as opposed to our current
misfortune of war, poverty, and instability.


In all these plans outlined above, one thing binds them all
together: the Democratic Party's moral vision for America and
the world. America must fulfill its destiny of becoming the
world's beacon for liberty, equality, and justice. By accomplishing
these goals we will come one step closer in bringing those dreams
into reality.

The Democratic party vision promotes a morality that is based
on humanism and the social gospel of Jesus. Liberty allows the
free expression of religion on the personal level, but requires
tolerance on the public level. Society can promote morality
and justice by ensuring that all of its citizens are fed,
clothed, sheltered, healed and given the opportunity to develop
the gifts given to him/her by the Creator. This is the only way
the limitless potential of humankind can be unleashed.

[Obviousman]

1. See, these should be our reforms

But, the democrats are too scared of being defined by the GOP. They should define themselves! Really? How simple is it?

[pinto]

3. encourage you to be part of the solution. I think this is a good starting

point. What do you think? Thanks.

[Obviousman]

5. Most definitely

I hope besides obstructing, which Reid and Pelosi seem to be gearing up for, they also propose, even though they have no power to do so. It would at least lay the groundwork for 06 and 08 and beyond.

[pinto]

2. Big kick...n/t

[coloradodem2005]

4. We need to have vision.

Instead of debating whether we should be more liberal or more moderate, we need to find issues that are progressive in nature and get behind them.

[TheFarseer]

6. We have been bringing in new ideas

They just get buried under a mountain of Dan Rathergate, swiftboat liars, and other distractions. Personally, I don't think universal college education is a good idea. College isn't for everybody and I have a whole theory about this I won't get into, and I'm not convinced universal health coverage is doable either. But some good ideas for next time are:

1. control outsourcing

2. a REAL incentive to save - a tax write off for the first, say, $100 for interest on a savings account(or similar), so that normal people will have an incentive to save and small business can get a loan from the bank.

3. control health care costs. Some form of tort reform is necessary, but there's alot more that we need to do, tort reform is just a start

4. Tax fairness

5. Real answers for education, not just more money and not bull$hit that just makes us all feel better.

6. ABOVE ALL energy independence. If we poured the money for tax cuts into energy research, that would stimulate our intellectuals and our science and research industry and create jobs and find the answer for the next century's great challenge. Wouldn't that be better than stimulating China's manufacturing industry like these tax cuts are doing???

[yellowdoggess]

7. excellent list of priorities

I kept waiting for Kerry to make the pitch for energy dependence as a challenge like the space race. Hoped he would do it at Convention, then at the debates. Maybe it woulda, coulda been his inaugural speech.

[many a good man]

8. We need BIG ideas and tie them to VALUES

Our number one problem is that we have allowed our enemies to define us. We are seen as the party of high taxes and lax morality by more than half the country, including almost all the rural and southern regions. The only way to break through the filter is by SPEAKING BOLDLY.

A comprehensive declaration must be made that makes CLEAR the connection between our policies, which they tend to support, and our values which are unclear. The only way we can break through the barrier is to redefine ourselves in a bold startling way. We must make clear our long term commitment to these ideals. Right now we need VISION more than individual, confusing policy proposals. These commitments must be long range, not a policy goal to achieve in the next election cycle. We must throw off the impression that our candidates will say anything to get elected-- instead show them a future worth fighting for.

[me b zola]

15. I agreed with most of your original post, however,

You really lost me with the values thing. Never in my 41 years have I felt that the Dems lacked values or morals. I just left another thread where everyone was jumping on that bandwagon. I feel that the two differing views-R&D- on SS speaks volumes on which is the party with higher morals. Name an issue that both the R&D's are both discussing and it becomes crystal clear whose values are supportive of the average American, hell, all Americans, and whose values seek to make the rich richer at the average Americans expense.

I find the movement of insisting religious consideration be placed in political thought & policy to be quite alarming.

Here's a value for you. I find the corruption, fraud, & theft to be much more detrimental to society than a common criminal. But yet white collar criminals are treated much gentler by our criminal justice system.

I value life, and therefore work for social justice, but I demand sovereignty over my body.

I value education--for ALL--and I don't want religious thought in a science classroom.

The whole value issue seems to be a red-herring.

[trezic]

9. A couple missing points

1. Political reform. I'd say changing how congressional districts are drawn is the most important aspect of this. Ending the congress of extremes is necessary for any kind of progress.

2. Foreign policy/national security. Democrats have taken a 'Canadian' line on this since Vietnam (not for anything, just against the GOP). Continuing American preeminence and power is not a bad goal. I would argue one method would be to finally start grounding the military, the army in particular, on counterinsurgency doctrine. Vietnam and Iraq style conflicts will become much more prevalent should a challenger to American hegemony arise.

[many a good man]

10. Not an all-inclusive list

Peoples' eyes glaze over when you start wonking away on policy
details. We must come out with the broad outline of visions that
show what we stand for. Democrats must understand that most people
are not capable of dissecting the finer points of policy debate --
they vote on values and character. We have these in spades over the
Republicans, but just don't do a good job of showing it to the public.

If I were to add a sixth, it would be support for a Fair Elections
Security bill that would standardize the voting process and make it
transparent and secure. This would illuminate our core party value
of fairness and equality.

On the foreign policy side, we should continue to stand for
internationalism. For building a smarter, leaner military that acts
to STRENGTHEN the United Nations, which we founded. We can keep the
military budget where it is, just gradually move spending to homeland
security initiatives that will create jobs and opportunity here at home.

[Ken Burch]

13. I'd like to suggest an idea that deals with several areas at once

on POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE-How about training former welfare recepients(at minimum wage with health benefits during training, and at union wage scale once training is completed)to install alternative energy technologies in their neighborhoods and to fix up their living spaces to be energy effecient? This would give these people job skills, lower heating bills and better neighborhoods.

This would also create continued employment opportunities maintaining and upgrading the systems and the neighborhoods, and possibly reduce crime in the neighborhoods by giving more people a stake in keeping the places together.

[Ken Burch]

14. Also, we need to go back to Robert Kennedy's insight about

"The inhumanity of institutions", and find ways to make our proposals decentralized, locally democratic and as non-bureaucratic as possible.

We should outbid the Republicans on "local control" issues by proposing more direct democratic decision making, on community issues, social issues, and, at times, on economic issues.

This would also involve giving local activists and groups a say in the process.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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[despairing optimist]

11. Actions speak louder than words

We are rapidly approaching an economic and moral abyss similar to what happened at the end of the Roaring Twenties, and we all know who was in charge during that decade. When the chickens finally come home to roost and the Republicans have once again shown the bankruptcy of their approach to government in the abject impoverishment of millions, the Democrats (or their successors) will find the wherewithal to rise to the occasion and provide a new New Deal. FDR did the Republicans a favor: he saved capitalism for them at a time when people were about ready to revolt. We'll all have a front-row seat at the next major historical turning point; some of us may even be actors in it.

[NEOBuckeye]

18. I agree with you, despairing optimist.

The great unravelling will begin in earnest between 2008 and 2010 with declining oil reserves, skyrocketing energy costs, economic collapse and the effects of global warming. Having fully exploited mankind, nature and the Earth's finite resources, Modern Corporate Capitalism has reached its' endgame. The good news is as you mentioned: With the GOP firmly entrenched in power, they will not be able to avoid blame once the SHTF. It will be up to the Democrats and the Left to lead the opposition that will drive the Republicans out of power and implement the New Deal of the 21st Century.

[AuntiBush]

20. I could not agree with you more!

Thank you. As an Historian, and History major with special interests in our founding fathers in my most strongest of opinions regarding whom was the absolute best President in the United States history, it's FDR hands-down. Elected 4 times, during the absolute worse times (till now) in our history as a nation, he gave us "hope" when there was none (depression). I'd be here all night long talking about FDR, but thing is for certain, historically, "desparing optimist" is correct - the New Deal did in deed save capitalism and the destruction caused by the prior Republican party!

I only hope we have a front seat left in 4 years.

[Dickie Flatt]

12. He wasn't talking about us

We're the Democratic Party, not the Democrat Party. I'm not quite sure who DeLay was talking about, but it's not us.

[mattclearing]

16. Brilliant. Where can I sign up?

Sounds like a fantastic plan.

One thing, though...

I think Tom DeLay is effectively rubbing our noses in it.

A major incentive for Republican deficit spending is that it prevents the Democratic Party from introducing costly new reforms...as long as we are in the red, Democrats don't see how we can afford universal blah blah blah.

DeLay knows this, and is pretty much saying, "Nyah nyah nyah, we gave away all the money you guys would have spent on health insurance, and then borrowed so much money, you'll never make another government program again!"

Clinton almost singlehandedly made up for Reagan, and Gore would have fixed it, but Bush has continued the fiscal insanity with renewed vigor.

Fix the budget in the short term, but in the long term, the important question to address should be:

How to make paying for government seem responsible and worthwhile again?

Because as long as it is a choice between the party of taxes and the party of tax cuts, we have a huge near-insurmountable disadvantage.

We need to be the party of responsibility again. The Republicans like to think of themselves as the Party of personal responsibility, but they don't think anyone should pay their taxes in an ideal world.

We need to make sure that people know that personal responsibility means paying for government.

We concurrently need to make sure that the government is worth paying for.

That's a big part of the Democratic Party's folly over the last twenty-five years...they have effectively tied our hands, making us incapable of providing the kinds of social programs and worker-friendly policies that make us Democrats.

To summarize, fix the deficit, propose new programs, push responsible, useful government.

Those should be our goals for the next twenty-five years.

[HootieMcBoob]

17. Sounds like the kind of party I'd be proud to be a member of

Let's get the ball rolling now!

[bobbieinok]

21. new deal, great society, civil rights.....and Delay and republican

leaders support these ideas??????? ....of course, you bet ..... working to destroy social security, a major component of the new deal, shows how important they think these democratic ideas are

I'M SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING REPUBLICANS TELLING DEMOCRATS WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHO WE NEED TO HAVE AS LEADERS..

[Laurab]

22. Show me one

"single positive, substantive idea on the right". I see a whole lot of ideas, none positive, most destructive or damaging. Maybe they're substantive, but that's not exactly a good thing in their case. Perhaps he should practice what he preaches. I guess they win elections, but I'm pretty sure they don't do it honestly. When we get them out of office, we won't have any time for ideas, we'll be too busy fixing all the damage they've done.