Sorely needed legislation, which the Congress won't touch

[Demeter]

Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_julian_e_061115_democrats__agenda_3a_s.htm


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November 15, 2006

Democrats' Agenda: Sorely needed legislation, which the Congress won't touch

By Julian Edney

The newly elected have eight foot smiles, and with this many Congressional seats won, Democrats are thinking, new legislation will be easy, like picking low hanging fruit. In the next couple of weeks, dinner table conversations will get round to priorities, and people will talk about education, welfare, minimum wage, healthcare. The liberal media will carry arguments on immigration and poverty, and other thoroughly predictable points.

But the Republicans are not a spent force. For strategic reasons there are some national changes that we must have; they form the agenda below. But I predict that Congress will not touch them, and I explain the reasons. The following list is largely a domestic agenda. Most of the items involve the shifting of money, but some are ideological. (DESCRIPTIONS HAVE BEEN CUT OUT SEE ORIGINAL ARTICLE )

1. Corporations should pay taxes.
2. Food stamps.
3. Formal end to the occupation of Iraq.
4. Repeal the Patriot Act.
5. Progressive tax on luxury items.
6. A 1% federal tax on all commercial advertising.
7. Corporate three strikes law.
8. More low income housing.
9. Universal health care.
10. Usury laws.
The Democratic Party has been called the party with no ideas. That's not true. The real problem is, lefties are splintered into myriad special interest groups. They have an overabundance of agendas. The problem is to coordinate on an agreed focus for the common good. The power to move against conservative ideology in the coming years will require uncommon leadership. Without a fortified, single agenda, Democrats will look laughable as they have for many years: all dressed up and nowhere to go.

In the next two years, ideas will be needed to provide unity. Creating an ideological base for the Democratic party is going to be hard. And in the process, Democrats will find out who they really are. But that is the shape of odyssey.



Authors Bio: Author: Julian Edney can be contacted through his website, http://www.g-r-e-e-d.com/GREED.htm


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