I saw the first signs today saying A New Direction for America..."You deserve good health care"...."
Didn't know what organization was. Shouldda guessed.....I suppose the BIG Spenders of EVERYONE's money think we need Socialized Health Care...including for all the ILLEGALS that have come in...The tada...."new" plan that is being ballyhooded by the Dems as of now (they started the roll out in June, but not many were paying attention...).....
From Kos: The Covenant: a New Direction for America (framing)
dailykos.com
by GFW
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 12:54:15 PM PDT
So, I've been thinking of an effective Democratic campaign covenant to galvanize voter support in the weeks before the November election. Akin to the Contract with America, this would be a combination of clear, pragmatic bills to pass in the first 100 days of the new Congress, and ambitious goals to frame the end of the congressional races.
I like the "New Direction" slogan that the party has put forward. I think we need to link it with some policy positions. The following suggestions are necessarily breezy--it's partially an exercise in sloganeering and agenda setting--and I would need dozens of diaries to flesh this out. I invite your input! What do you think?
The Covenant: a New Direction for America
GFW's diary :: ::
The Covenant: a New Direction for America
National Security: Grunts need better pay, better training, and better education--especially in the languages and cultures of hotspots. We need to increase the number of Army divisions by one or two. The State Department's mission should redirect toward international development, democratic institution-building, and public diplomacy. The clandestine forces must reinforce the longer-term grand strategy of the US, unlike in Afghanistan in the 1990s or Somalia this year. We must redeploy from Iraq as soon as possible, and ask for greater involvement from regional and international players to rebuild the peace.
Direct Election of the President: This would boost turnout in states with uncompetitive races under the Electoral College system, particularly small, rural states that are ignored despite their over-representation in the Electoral College system. Democrats will reach out to heartland states, while Republicans will reach out to the coasts.
Energy Independence: We need to immediately raise the minimum fuel efficiency standard to 40 mpg in five years, and close the SUV loophole. This will force the failing American auto industries to reform and face the future of oil scarcity. 20 percent of our energy should come from renewables or nuclear by 2030.
Public Health Act: Health care costs are making US firms uncompetitive in the global marketplace. We need to ease the burden of health care on industry by adopting a hybrid system, like in France, with a combination of Medicare for all and the packages of reforms recently enacted in Massachusetts. We need comprehensive reform to address the externalities, under-provision of public goods, and misaligned incentives embedded in our current system.
Personal Security Act: Our personal privacy and identities are at gross risk. We should extend California's financial and personal privacy safeguards to the rest of the nation.
Global Warming: Immediately institute a cap-and-trade regime for carbon emissions, possibly joining the European carbon market. We need to get to 1990 emissions levels by 2020 to prevent a catastrophe here in America.
Corruption and Bribery Act: Congress should enact comprehensive reform of bribery and corruption laws. Congresspersons, staff, and family should receive no gifts, ever. Government contractors should be banned from making any campaign contributions. The Defense, Intelligence, and Homeland Security communities should be thoroughly audited in the wake of the ongoing Republican bribery scandals. Elected officials must recuse themselves from votes or decisions affecting former employers or employers of ex-staff, family, and family of staff. No one in government can work for any contractor until five years after leaving service. Congress should make these laws national--extending to state and local authorities--and across all three branches in Washington.
Quality Pre-Kindergarten for All: The US should fund quality pre-kindergarten for all 4 year olds. This program should model on Medicaid--the states run their own programs, and shape them as they wish, but receive matching funds from Washington. Washington should require teaching credentials, full-day programs, and a basic teaching curriculum. This is not daycare.
Non-Partisan Redistricting: End gerrymandering on a national level. To the greatest extent possible with the concept of equal representation, districts should be compact, follow existing state and local jurisdictions, and be color and party "blind". A presidentially appointed and congressionally approved panel (perhaps the FEC or retired judges) should assign reasonable weights to these requirements and use computer technology to help write boundaries.
Any thoughts on the last one? |
