What is the MOST left-leaning position you hold? I have an idea....

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

I was reading the first part of a crazy column in the Dallas Morning News, entitled "Evangelical involvement is reshaping U.S. foreign policy for the better" (yeah I'm not kidding you) and I got an idea.

(I said I read the first part, because I have a general rule of not reading columnists who are obviously mainlining crack cocaine.)

Anyway, the insight I had was this: conservatives, those on the right, get WACKY views put out there in the mainstream press. Can we agree on that?

But when was the last time you read a REALLY way out there left-leaning position article in a mainstream paper?

I don't know if they do this on purpose or not, but my theory is this: they get some REALLY far out on the right positions put out in mainstream media, and they when they go for middle of the road stuff, no one bats an eye!

Do we need to do this? It seems to make sense.....get some VERY left-leaning articles (probably quite a few) in mainstream papers and magazines to make moderately left positions seem....pretty normal by comparison.

It's been a long day so I may not be thinking correctly, but just to generate a list of ideas, I'd like to know what your most liberal position is...

I think mine are that I don't always think capitalism is such a good thing, I think ALL drug use should be legal, can't think of anything else just now, but I am sure there are more...

[JHBowden]

1. Their wackos hurt the Repigs.

At least in Illinois they do. Let the GOP be wacky; we'll be the party of sanity.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. Good point

I just wonder if it doesn't make it easier to get their platform made into policy.

Shrug.

so what's your most left-leaning position?

[shraby]

3. I think all college and

health care should be paid with tax dollars.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

7. Yep there's that one

I agree with that, too, ESPECIALLY the health care one. I forgot about that.

[cestmoi]

33. This is very droll. Up here in friendly Canuckistan

universal health care is mainstream, Canadians across the board except for the pockets of conservative morons love our health care system. It is strange to think that tax funded health care is a far left position. Like I always say "if Lazarus lived in America he'd have stayed dead."

Life is strange. You go Democrats.

[libhill]

51. Life isn`t strange

America is.

[cestmoi]

58. LOL. I won't argue that. Strange but interesting.

[Warpy]

22. Education not based on class but based on aptitude

Progressive taxation with those most able to pay shouldering the biggest burden of government.

Health insurance as a right.

A living wage for all who work to live.

Complete sovreignty over our own bodies. Bye bye "victimless crimes."

A right to die with dignity in our own time and not to have to wring every last bit of misery out of a life which no longer holds meaning.

A government which acts on behalf of the people against the rich and powerful.

Proportional elector voting with an instant runoff against the top two vote getters in any close election.

See, I don't want much.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

24. Those are great Warpy

I honestly can't find anything to disagree with there.

And I honestly don't understand why those positions are considered radical or anything like that. They sound TRULY compassionate to me.

[DaveSZ]

5. The most left-leaning viewpoint I hold?

I'm an advocate of trust busting, and a progressive economic policy in general.

On most all civil liberties issues, I am a strong proponent of civil liberties. I think some liberals go too far in restricting civil liberties, but we aren't as bad as the Fundies for sure.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

9. Forgive me but I'm not real familiar with the term

trust busting. Do you mean corporations?

As for the rest of your post, ITA.

[NewJeffCT]

90. I disagree - they serve a purpose

The RW wackos serve an important purpose... when Nazis like Ann Coulter spew their garbage, it makes anybody slightly to the left of them (a la Rick Santorum, Sam Brownback, etc) seem much more mainstream. 40 years ago, Barry Goldwater was considered so far to the right that he was hopelessly out of the mainstream. If Goldwater were alive and in the Senate today, he'd be considered one of the few moderate Republicans (If I'm not mistaken, wasn't he pro-choice & pro environment, and also legitimately for smaller, fiscally responsible gov't)

[cprise]

4. You are on the right track

That's why countries with powerful socialist parties are doing well these days: They are aware of a broader spectrum of politics than we are, and center-Left policies don't scare them (what we call "far Left" here). They know that extremes should be avoided on both sides, and you can't do that if the population is familiar with only one ideology.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

6. VERY good points!

And can I say I totally agree?

:)

[PfNJ]

8. universal single-payer health care system.....

run by the government, which, to be honest, isn't even that far-left to begin with, it would really just be joining the rest of the civilized world, in providing health care to ALL citizens.....

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

10. Yeah

I don't even really consider that to be that radical at all. It's just a bit radical to a lot of Americans.

I mean WACKADOO stuff! LOL!

[shraby]

12. That a constitutional amendment

be made saying that sitting presidents cannot pardon former administrations for crimes they've been convicted of.

[PfNJ]

oh, and.....

public-financed pre-K programs for all children 3 and up, and at least 2 years of publicly-financed, community-college level education to anybody who needs it, so that everybody can really have a chance to prosper, and better their lot in life, regardless of the financial situation into which they were born.....

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

21. You are sounding downright American there, njdem! eom

[Dying Eagle]

66. Agree

Universal Health Care, Its too bad that this is only a far-left topic. I hope some day it will be discussed as a more mainstream idea.

[Mike Niendorff]

11. I think you've summarized it pretty well.

Right Wing Propaganda Tactics 101.

Bush and his band of crooks did the same thing with most of their early legislative proposals, too. Put forward a proposal that's truly obscene, then pretend to "compromise" by settling for a "watered down" version that's only 99% as obscene.


MDN

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

16. EXACTLY!!!!!!!

That is EXACTLY right. So. How do we do the same thing? And/or would we WANT to do the same thing? If not, why not?

[Just Me]

13. Way left-leaning? Do you mean, like, encouraging open-thought,...

,...and being open to examining multiple solutions to any defined problem?

:bounce:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

18. No I consider that to mean

you are simply an intelligent, thinking individual.

And apparently that means liberal nowdays, since I am hard-pressed to find the same on the right-hand side of the political spectrum (they are like a dying breed or something...).

[Just Me]

29. Okay. Is consistency in applying very basic moral rules,...left-leaning?

I don't think I need to give examples.

<awww hell - on edit - I'll give just one: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" :)>

[Just Me]

39. For example: the death penalty.

1) Evidence proves it fails to prevent violent crime in this country (e.g. it's not an effective deterrent);

2) Evidence proves innocent people have been subjected to it;

3) Evidence proves it provides little, if any, psychological closure to the victim(s);

4) There is no evidence whatsoever that it is worse than suffering a life behind bars;

5) THOU SHALT NOT KILL.

6) (on edit) A seed/root not yet sprouting and breathing on its own is somehow prioritized over the living beings which suffer on this earth.

[senseandsensibility]

14. I don't think workers

should have to pay any income taxes on earned income. Instead of the corporations(or a majority of them as I heard last week) paying no federal income tax, I think they should pay it all. My most liberal ideas tend to involve workers' rights, so I am also for a living wage.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

20. I'm right there with you on that stuff.

ESPECIALLY since corporations pay LESS in taxes now than they did fifty years ago. That's ridiculous. On the backs of the workers....

[Cuban_Liberal]

15. Guaranteed public housing.

We've been making half-hearted attempts at it, ever since Truman was President, and we've never quite gotten the balls to just DO IT.

[PretzelWarrior]

17. Our civil rights include universal healthcare and post 2ndry edu.

how bout them apples?

[BeFree]

19. Extemes always make for a more comfortable middle

A way left idea?

How about closing the wage gaps? Make it where the top earners only make twice what the lowest earn.

One way left idea that has worked (somewhat) is the idea that women should be paid the same as men. Also that women should have equal rights! (used to be way, way left)

To balance things out, using my first example, and using the current wage scenario, point out how some get paid 500 times more than the lowest earner.

Taking things to the extremes has always led to balance. You are on the left^TM track.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

23. Very good points, too

this has been a fantastic thread so far, very energizing to me....(especially since my ENTIRE newspaper is about.....well, you know who...)

[jdj]

42. Start teaching comparative religion in kindergarten...

while there is still hope for the kid.

Decriminalization of prostitution and illegal drugs.

Unionization of all major trades.

I'd really like to go out on a limb and say no exposure to religion for children below the age of consent, but that would probably start a flame war.

[left is right]

64. Love the left(TM) track

I have been saying for years that the RW's gain an unfair advantage by being associated with correctness/righteousness.

[Just Me]

101. Economic equality/justice is perceived as way left. n/t

[Fovea]

25. Nationalize Oil

Natural Gas, Coal, and all non renewable energy sources.
Use the revenue generated by selling to consumers to
finance alternative transportation methods, national health care, and public education to the Bachelor's Degree level.

Legalize MJ and use the tax revenue to pay for addiction treatment.
Same thing with taxes on Ethanol beverages.

Renegotiate all international trade agreements. Sign on to Kyoto. Join the Int. Criminal Tribunal.

But hey, I am a leftist.

[PretzelWarrior]

31. that's a GREAT one. how about building up union power again?

making sure all have a liveable wage, health insurance, and decent prices for things like energy, housing, education?

[Fovea]

36. ABSOLUTELY!

I am on board. I think we need Unions to stop global labor exploitation and a faster race to the bottom.

[seabeyond]

26. sh*t seems to be abortion though i would think repug

since it is the honoring of constitution in word and spirit. that is a rightie issue isnt it, staying true to constitution.

[shraby]

30. How about a flat tax

with no deductions..meaning no paperwork and the rich will pay the same percentage of their income as the rest of us.

[seabeyond]

32. the rich would love it.

they want that. they will pay a lower percentage of earnings than the poorest per dollar. they a advocates of the flax tax

[shraby]

35. Face it, many of the

rich don't pay anything as it is now...or next to nothing. Their income is put where most of it isn't taxed.

[TheFarseer]

75. that's not liberal at all

that position is about as conservative as it gets. I for one, vigorously oppose a flat tax.

[Djinn]

87. hardly a left idea

let alone a far left one.

A single mother on minimum wage should not pay the same percentage of tax as Bill Gates.

[jdj]

43. one more: everyone claiming to be "pro-life" must adopt

or foster at least one unwanted child for every anti-abortion rally they attend.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

47. Oh man I like that one

when I was in college, I always argued with those people. I said "if you are so concerned about unwanted children, how many have YOU adopted?" That always ended the conversation REAL quick.

Hypocrites. It's like they are saying "You HAVE to have that baby, come hell or high water, and we AREN'T going to help you OR have any compassion for you once it's here. If you go on welfare or food stamps, we will shame you for it every chance we get."

Bastards. Reproductive rights for women. Completely. Not half-ass.

[SideshowScott]

27. Id say Health Care and ending greedy destruction of our forrests.

Im all for Universal Health Care, I understand and kinda agree with the THEROY of how our that a Pay health care system will help put money for medical advances BUT with the GREED thats running rampant in our insurance and medicince systems I would say that Universal health care is the way to go. I do not want to be apart of any scocity that would have someone die just beacuse they cannot afford a doctor to treat them. I would hope at the very least that some kind of common ground is reaced so everyone who is an american citezen can have proper health care and we can still have the funding to make America the leader in medical advances in the world.
I think it can happen.
And im appaled at he way out forrests are being cut down for greed. I HATE seeing a patch of woods being cut down for another strip mall or apertments. I lived behind a beautiful patch of woods with foxes, racoons, birds etc that has been torn down for more useless houses that I know ill never be able to afford when there is so much land that has already been devloped but is sitting rotting that could be used for the very same thing. I am all for protection of our wildlerness with stricter laws on devleopment and clean air and water.

[whistle]

28. National Health Care Insurance for all U.S. citizens...

...free prescription drugs to all the elderly
...voter registration for 16 year olds and up at high schools
...on-line voter registration
...nationalize the energy industry
...mandatory national recognition of collective labor bargaining for all labor groups (private and public)
...nationalized transportation system to deal with the energy crisis and environmental pollution and the movement of goods and materials
...free public education through four year university to deal with the drop in skilled competitive labor force
...free education for all Americans regardless of age
...total federal, state and local campaign finance reform for all elected officials

[shraby]

34. Free nursing homes for the aged

so they don't have to lose all they worked for all their lives in order to be able to afford care in their infirmity.

[baldguy]

37. Income tax for churches.

Eliminate the Dept of Defense.
No more legal "personhood" for cororations.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

48. Oooo those are gooooooood......eom

[cestmoi]

38. Beyond the lies, Canada's universal healthcare rocks.

I don't know how much Americans really know about universal healthcare so I found some links to a few of our Canadian hospitals should you be interested in eyeballing the care available under a public health care system. (The links include video clips and photos which are worth eyeballing)

Hospitals here in Canada keep track of performance so several of the links include these performance reviews.

Universal healthcare is much more efficient than anything provided in the US because it doesn't have a costly insurance bureacracy to factor in and hospitals can pool resources.

Recently a Canadian doctor who had moved to Florida to work as a family doctor came back to Canada to practice as she was fed up with the paperwork and arguning with HMO's about care. Her salary BTW was the same in both countries.

O'Reilly refers to Canada as Canuckistan which suggests that we are on par with the old soviet system however I think a quick eyeball of some of our hosptials puts that myth to rest.

http://www.sickkids.on.ca/AboutHSC/section.asp?s=Photos+of+Sick+Kids&s...

http://www.uhn.ca/tgh/clinical_services_building/index.asp

http://www.uhn.ca/patient/wait_times/?nav=8 ;8

http://www.uhn.ca/uhn/corporate/oppm/site/corporate/corporate.asp

http://www.uhn.ca/uhn /

http://www.uhn.ca/twh /


http://www.uhn.ca/uhn/firsts/?nav=8 ;8

http://www.uhn.ca/pmh /

[kaitykaity]

40. Check out this guy.

Robert Jensen, author of "Writing Dissent."

http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=2477§ionID=36

The book is precisely about how to get radical ideas, or as you
called them, far-left, into the mainstream media.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

41. Cut the military budget by 25%

(instead of Kucinich's timid 15% :-) --we'd still have the largest military in the world by far) use the U.S. military strictly for defensive purposes, let other countries be the "superpowers" in their own regions if they feel like it, and use the money to provide universal health care, repair and modernize the nation's infrastructure (a source of non-exportable jobs), and housing subsidies. (For the price of a B1 bomber, a city could build a light rail transit line.)

If a CEO or other executive earns more than 100 times the annual income of the lowest-paid worker in a company, everything over that number is taxed at 100%. I mean, if you can't make it on $25,000 a week, you're just not a very good manager!

If Congress votes to go to war, then the appropriately aged children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews of the people who voted "yes" (along with the president's children and other young relatives, of course) will be the first to be drafted.

Any company that has more than 49% of its workforce overseas will be considered a foreign company for the purposes of bidding on U.S. government contracts. If two companies submit equally good bids, then the one with the higher percentage of its workforce in the U.S. will get the contract.

Every student would be required to take visual art, learn to play a musical instrument, study the methods and aims of propaganda and PR so as to learn to recognize manipulation, and learn a foreign language well enough to survive in a foreign country, unless a physical or mental disability prevented this.

Any church that sponsored a political event as part of its religious services or passed out religiously based voter's guides for an upcoming election (as opposed to renting out its hall on an equal basis with other community groups) would lose its tax exemption.

[VOX]

44. Higher taxes on the wealthy, $$$ for public education, end death penalty,

Yes to women's right to choose, yes to affirmative action, cut the defense budget, close the corporate tax loopholes, etc.

The usual stuff. :)

[ContinentalOp]

45. What is THE most left leaning position period?

I've never bought into this concept that there are ideas that are too left or too liberal. Or that "the extreme left is the same as the extreme right." As long as we're talking about democracy and not an economically "left" dictatorship then how can there really be any liberal social or economic policies that go to far?

To help me understand what you mean maybe you could point out left-leaning positions that go beyond that line past the most left leaning position you take.

[PretzelWarrior]

46. everyone makes the same wage no matter their occupation.

that would be really left and could be achieved through a so-called democratically elected government.

the point is....that is REALLY far left of what even most liberal people think is a sane approach to modern organized society.

[ContinentalOp]

49. OK, I could get behind that.

Re: "everyone makes the same wage no matter their occupation."

I see nothing inherently evil in the idea (as opposed to some extreme-right ideas such as racism). That's the worst the left can come up with? :)

Of course logistically there could be some problems but if it actually worked (most likely after many other liberal reforms) and the majority of people were happy with this system then I see no ideological problems with it.

[Kinkistyle]

93. delete

oops

[libhill]

50. socialized medicine

even if we have to subsidize it with higher income taxes- at least you`ll have something to show for your money, other than high tech military crap.

[sandnsea]

52. Admit it's a way out there left leaning position

And make sure it's based on fact, not wild speculation. And that it isn't represented in the media as a mainstream Democratic position. And when mainstream Democrats try to explain to you that you have a way far left leaning position, and try to rephrase it to appeal to the mainstream, don't have a kitten! Know that you're helping the country to move forward!

[PretzelWarrior]

56. huh? I don't buy it. The OPPOSITION should label as extreme

just like you don't see GOP leaders calling Christain Coalition extreme and far right wing.

We should be the big tent party embracing many many ideas. including centrist but not excluding left wing fringe ideas that may include the one or two that revolutionize our country for the better.

[sandnsea]

95. yes they do

The mainstream Republicans give the impression that the fundamentalists are extremists. They don't run on a Christian Coalition platform of teaching only creationism and making divorce illegal or something. They temper that right wing message and then implement it under the radar or by going through local school boards and such. They are part of the Republican Party, but they don't expect their platform to be front and center and they don't criticize their own party when they don't put their entire platform front and center.

Our left is extremes of leftism that gets labeled as the Democratic Party as a whole. Extremes of leftism being everything from single payer health care to pure socialism. And the not so far left uses the socialists anti-Democratic message to beat up on the Democrats. They don't sit under the big tent at all. They will not help us take issues like health care and put it out in a way that will allow the mainstream to support it in order to make progress. We're not going to revolutionize this country in one election. The left needs to be more like the Christian Coalition and help do it a bit at a time, over 20 years even, like they did. If we don't, they're going to win.

[HarveyBriggs]

53. 40 Acres and a Mule, Updated

Reparations for slavery.

All workers MUST be properly compensated, if not in their lifetimes, then payment should go to the heirs.

Reparations to be paid by states which have flown the stars and bars; debt split among those states by pro-rating the amount of time that state has officially flown that or any other flag of the CSA.

While there are inequities to this or any other similar reparations proposal, they pale in comparison to the institution of slavery, and also to the continued avoidance of this issue.

Harvey Briggs

[kcwayne]

102. Not all slave states were in the confederacy

Maryland, Missouri, and Kentucky were slave states but remained in the Union.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

54. I think this is why we need

people like Dennis Kucinich et al to be out there, actively representing these views.

[ContinentalOp]

55. a few more...

Total disarmament and dissolution of the military

Open borders

Mandatory voting

Full employment (everyone gets a living wage from the govt. work is optional and voluntary)

The profits from all public lands and resources go to the public (natural resources, airwaves, public lands, etc.)

[DieboldMustDie]

57. Eliminate corporate "personhood."

Require by law that corporations, in their decision making, take into account the well being of their employees, as well as society at large, not only maximizing shareholder profits.

In the short term I'd suggest that Senator Kerry propose 10% increases in the minimum wage each year he's President. In 8 years that would bring it to roughly $11 per hour. ;)

[SarahB]

63. I like that one!

:thumbsup:

[John_H]

59. Socialized--and I mean socialized--medicine and pub. funded elections

[Webster Green]

68. I like that idea......actually I'm considering moving to Cuba....

I wonder if that is considered leaning to the left.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

70. ROFL, I should think so! eom

[TheFarseer]

77. what does eom stand for?

[crossroads]

83. end of message...

:hi:

[ContinentalOp]

72. Can you do that?

I'm serious, what sort of immigration policies do they have?

[Sugarbleus]

74. LOL....they say it's a beautiful

Island country. LOL

Not sure Castro allows drugs and alcohol too freely; leaves smoking some weed on one of their beaches while sipping a pina colada out of the question I think. Not sure. lol

My most left leaning ideals are also Democractic Socialism; not anti-capitalism mind you, just capitalism with conscience. Free or cheap health care for EVERY American whether they work or not. Free or cheap education for those that cannot afford to pay for it. Amble, accessible, and Affordable housing for all.....including renters and the homeless. Legalize drugs. Allow doctors to be the judge of whom really needs heavy pain killers and not the feds. Provide drug treatment and Mental health treatment centers/services in every community for free or really cheap. People FIRST.

[Yupster]

60. Universal health insurance

It's got to happen. Nothing else will work.

[stavka]

61. Mass executions at the end of WWII and the US Civil War

I'm not sure that's liberal....but its waaaaaaayyyyyy to the radical left.

A real answer? - find some way to massively redistribute wealth after death without loopholes.

[HarveyBriggs]

92. I like your thinking

Actually, I think some radical gun legislation would have a similar effect.

Mind you, I enjoy my right to own guns and I love to hunt. But I'd give that up for a while -- just a while -- if we could rile the bubba-right to the "cold-dead fingers" point, then maybe call the National Guard and go "Kent State" on the whole stinking lot of them. We'd see if they really meant "cold dead fingers!" Hee-hee-hee! Or, if they will do a George Wallace on us.

Peculiar how a crowd that thinks a Winchester in the Easy Rider Rifle Rack will keep them free still thinks we can occupy a nation like Iraq where the right to carry RPGs has not been abridged.

Speakin' of occupying. We've occupied Dixie for 140 years, with no luck. How's come most folks from down there think they can succeed in occupying Iraq?

; - )

Winkin' & Noddin' Harvey

[mbee]

62. Schools, particularly the ones in the inner cities should be open

24/7 so that kids that live in horrible cirumstances have a save place to go with three meals so they don't have to go to school hungry. Colleges are open all the time so we would just take this one step further and keep them all open all the time. This would be much cheaper than sending deliquents to prison. If we are a country of family values we should put our money where our mouth is. We the people in our country need to step up to the plate and take care of our children and stop all this greed.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

65. Good one, I like that. eom

[smiley_glad_hands]

67. Freedom to Speech

[ContinentalOp]

69. Entrance Exams for public office.

Anyone running for public office should first have to pass some type of rigorous entrance examination and the scores should be made public.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

71. HEY NOW!

I LIKE that idea!!! That rocks, Continental!!!! What kind of questions would be on it???

[ContinentalOp]

73. Thanks,

The idea just occurred to me though I don't know if it's been proposed before. I think it should be a very strict test geared toward a graduate level education. It would test a broad spectrum of knowledge in the fields of history, governments, law, economics, philosopy, current governments around the world, etc. The idea would be to create a test that would favor the "policy wonk" and dedicated public servant and disqualify candidates whose sole credential is fame.

It would basically be like any other public license such as the bar exams, medical license, certified engineers, pilots licence etc. Why should we accept less from our public servants?

It should be the same test for all federal elected positions. Whether individual state governments adopted the test would be left up to the states but a governor running for president would have to pass the test.

[flaminbats]

76. pain needed just to save our country shall be unimaginable

From a Senate candidate's webpage...
"1. No American business may deduct any business expense for any labor costs incurred outside the U.S.

2. An additional flat tax of five percent will be levied on the gross income for any American company whose labor force is more than 25% outside the United States. The proceeds will be used to retrain and educate Americans laid off by companies which outsourced their labor.

3. Any American company which relocates abroad (i.e. the Bahamas) in an attempt to avoid U.S. taxes will pay an additional federal flat tax on all U.S. sales of five percent of the gross. Proceeds will be used to fund health care, retraining, and education for American workers.

4. Salaries of all non-exempt employees earning more than $150,000 per year will no longer be deductible as business expenses."

There are obvious budgetary priorities...cut military spending in half, reduce overseas deployments, abolish the Department of Homeland Security, and repeal the Republican tax-cuts. As the surpluses return use all of this money to pay down the National Debt.

Expand Medicare to cover everyone, giving young workers something in return for the higher payroll taxes that will be needed to keep the program solvent as the babyboomers retire. Reenact the Windfall Profits Tax on big energy companies, and to use this money to develop renewable sources of energy. Raise taxes on plastic surgery, cigarettes, and alcohol to drastically increase funding for the NIH and to train people going into the medical profession.

I know the idea of abolishing the department of Homeland Security, paying more taxes, and not occupying foreign countries sounds unattractive to some. But this is the price we must pay for having a National Debt, government entitlements, and a world empire. Insecurity is now the price our country is paying for creating a Department of Homeland Security to do the job of the Defense Department! But only through sacrifice, patience, and wisdom will all people enjoy the fruits of their labor.

[Forkboy]

78. drafting politicians

:)

[troublemaker]

79. Most extreme? That the First Amendment means what it says.

That's my lunatic fringe issue and it's a lonely one.

But the question was "most left-wing" and I don't know if First Amendment absoluteism is a left-wing issue. The left is pretty damn hostile to the First Amendment in my experience. (Being less hostile than the extreme right-wing doesn't exclude being 'pretty damn hostile')

I would estimate that about 95% of DUers think they support the idea that the First Amendment means what it says but when it comes down to cases very few really do. Everyone has their concerns, exceptions and special cases. It's a hell of stance. (Sort of like opposing the death penalty except for 'terrorists.')

But that's cool. I doubt even 1/2 of 1% of the general population thinks the First Amendment is anything more than a 'serving suggestion.'

Not only must all publications be legal (even horrible ones) but non-profits and churchs should be abolished as tax classifications. If you want to run a corporation that asks for donations and gives all the money away to good causes then you won't have any profits left over and won't be taxed.

And political contributions must be absolutely unlimited and anonymous. If Republiacn billionaires want to buy elections that is as much their right as buying yachts. If people don't like it they don't have to vote for them.

And no frigging government subsidies for the arts. Period. The government shouldn't take on the job of deciding what art to promote.

And so on...

[FDRrocks]

80. Decriminalize drugs..

and treat hard drugs as a health-care issue.

I agree with the far above post on free College and Healthcare. I also think Welfare and Social Security should be increased. People can bitch about taxes and "big government" but those are just good investments that have 100% chance of paying off. Ignorance and Poverty breed crime.

[nose pin]

81. Pot should be legalized and taxed

Just like alcohol and tobacco. The taxes should be used for edju... edju... edjumacation.

[crossroads]

82. Hmmm I can think of several wackadoo ideas...

Free health care and Rx drugs.

Euthanasia on demand.

Abortion on demand up to 3 mo. pregnant.

Free college or job training (choice) obligatory 1 year of community service in career of choice for each year of college completed -this would add to the free pool of Dr's., social workers, lawyers, etc.

0 tax up to $50
5% tax to $100 K
8% tax to $175 K

Tax in graduate amounts over $175 K

Cut military spending 25% to fund schools, environment, ecology, and infrastructure projects.

Legalize pot for those who wish to waste time doing drugs.

Free nursing homes for elderly.

Age 45 to 50 watches preschoolers (age 2 to 4) if able bodied (this would insure free nursing home if you need it) we need sensible types in these jobs. Ages 40 to 45 tends/watches the elderly (this insures free childcare). This frees everyone to work in a career and provides a workpool (if they choose). If you don't participate, you don't get the benefits.

Legalize stem cell research.


Those would be pretty far out IMO...
:shrug:

[bvar22]

84. If you would really like to see progress made on these issues:

Stop sending money to the DNC/DLC, and begin supporting progressive Democrats.

I have returned all requests for money from the DNC with the information that I will be sending ALL contributions directly to Marc Dayton and Dennis Kucinich.

Support the Congressional Progressive Caucus
http://bernie.house.gov/pc/


The website of the Progressive Democrats of America looks good to me, but I won't be sending money until I find out more about them.
http://www.progressivevote.org/

Download Tom Hartman's Friday with Bernie(Sanders) show from:
http://www.whiterosesociety.org/
Tom has a regular session every Friday with Bernie Sanders I-VT who discusses many on the issues mentioned in this thread.

Vote for Kerry in Nov! It's an important beginning. After we get Kerry elected we can begin the reformation of the Democratic Party

[markses]

85. Abolition of private property

I'm kookoo for coco-puffs...

[PVnRT]

86. Mandatory marijuana

Seriously. Shut up and smoke it.

[Djinn]

88. it's telling that the ideas

mentioned here as "far left" or "extreme left" have been in place in western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (amongst other places) for decades.

Although in AUstralia and the UK there are plenty of "new" Labor types and right wing "free marketeers" who'd like to change that.

[shimmergal]

89. Citizen's shares,

as in Norman Spinrad's SF world Pacifica (A WORLD BETWEEN, pub. 1979?)

Free media access and broadcast time for all citizens (also from Spinrad's book)

All state-recognized marriages to be civil unions, for straights or gays, BUT the couple would have to write their own contract concerning the relationship between the two of them, not just accept the state's "default contract."


And definitely, end corporate personhood and _enforce_ the provision that corporations have to operate "in the public interest." (This is already part of the law in most states; needless to say it's honored more in the breach than the observance.)

Oh yes--the most moderate of all--have presidential electors in each state allocated proportionately to the percentage of votes each candidate got, not winner-take-all. I believe a couple of states already do this.

[eeyore]

91. 30 hour work week with a living wage

And mandated paid vacation on par with the Germans.

My friend always asks me "Who really won the war?", and it always gives me pause.

Also, I have a pregnant friend who just visited Canada. She was told that new parents get state paid Maternity/Paternity leave of 5 months each, or something "crazy" like that.

[Kinkistyle]

94. Holland

Yes. Holland.

[Disturbed]

96. Legalize Prostitution

Allow prostitutes to have a union, as well.

I like a whole lot of other suggestions but this one hasn't been posted.

[H2O Man]

97. I believe

in the Constitution of the United States of America. That is, according to the current administration, not only "radical left," but down-right dangerous.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

98. health care for ALL & college education for ALL cure for conservatism =

college

[eurolefty]

99. Tobin tax

I support ATTAC - Association pour la Taxation des Transactions pour l'Aide aux Citoyens.

http://www.ceedweb.org/iirp/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATTAC
http://www.attac.org/indexen/index.html

[union_maid]

100. The most left leaning positions I hold aren't so wacky, I don't think

Universal healthcare and a real social safety net to provide stablility to individuals and families, not limited to those already in abject poverty, but to be extended to those in temporary need and to keep people out of poverty. I think that's just sane.

[OpSomBlood]

103. Definitely Universal Health Care....

On most other issues, I'm a centrist. I lean "right" on guns only because it seems that right-wingers are the only ones defending gun rights these days.

[LWolf]

104. I could do that, but

I honestly don't think some are that far out in radical left field, so to speak. Universal health care, for example. Not exactly a rare, unknown commodity in other parts of the world. Oh, well. Here goes:

Universal Health Care, for 100% of the population. Care, not "coverage." Including mental health care and alternative medicines and methods.

Individualized education, meeting each learner at their point of need and taking them where they need to go. As far as they can go. No more one-size-fits all system, no more academic "competition" guaranteeing a whole class of "losers." Education to include social and character development, the arts, thinking, etc., and to continue through college or trade school, giving 100% of the adult population a skill with which to make a living. Class sizes, preschool through high school/trade school capped at 15, which is the magic number research shows gives the best advantage to students. An education system that pays for itself instead of depending on me to spend 10-15% of my salary providing for unfunded needs. Teachers' salaries that actually value us; that encourage us to enter the profession and to stay in the profession. No more high stakes testing of any kind. Parent education, starting with the conception of a child, about the kind of nurturing, interaction, and environment that develops healthy bodies and brains from birth through the beginning of school.

A living wage for everyone who works. "Living" meaning it will pay for decent housing, clothing, transportation, food, etc. for a family on a single income, freeing up plenty of time to invest in the actual family. A 30 hour work week. Longer vacations.

Guaranteed housing for all; no more homeless. A rein on developers gobbling up open space; smarter, better use of the space we've already used. Leave the open space open.

Proportional representation and instant run-off voting.

No GMO crops. No Frankenfoods. Environmentally friendly food production; no hormones, no antibiotics, no pesticide, no herbicide. Sustainable, clean energy a high priority. Clean air, water, and soil mandatory.

No death penalty. Ever.

Incarceration for violent crimes only; work programs to payback victims of property crimes.

Rehabilitation, not punishment.

Free, non-corporate sponsored airwaves.

That's a start.