Democratic Underground the best think tank online

[Melodybe]

That is what we are, you know. What else do you call a group of intelligent people getting together thinking of ways to best help society.

Since we ARE the best think tank online here is our first project, to draft a Democratic Contract with America to send to all Democrats running for office in 2006.

Here is what Tamyrlin79 and I came up with last night and a few changes suggestedby brokklynite and hedda_foil:

In 1994, six weeks before the midterm elections, Newt Gingrich introduced the Contract with America, running on this the Republicans gained control of congress. For America to elect democrats we must have a new Contract with America and it must include these items:

1 The Election Reform Act: electronic voting machines MUST have an auditible paper trail, voting machine manufacturers must make their source code available to states using their equipment, and voting machines must be equally distributed proportional to population.

2 The Media Reform Act: the Telecommunication Act of 1996 must be repealed, media ownership must again be regulated and the Fairness Doctrine must be re-instituted.

3 The Fair Share Tax Act: the Bush tax cuts must be repealed, it is imperative that the congress work to eliminate the massive budget deficit and return to an era of balanced budgets and fiscal responsibility.

4 The Energy Independence Act: America must wean itself from its dependence on foreign oil, it is a matter of national security and environmental importance, we must focus on conservation and technology to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

5 The Affordable Health Care Act: America must move toward an affordable universal health care system, the idea of profits over patients must be ignored, we must cut inflated drug and medical equipment prices and better regulate insurance companies.

6 The Ethics in Government Act: this bill seeks to reduce the influence of lobbiests in congress and governmental agencies, corporations WILL NOT be allowed to write policy (ie Enron writing our energy policy and pharmaceutical industries writing our drug prescription plan), their must be no conflict of interests for people appointed to head government agencies like the FDA, EPA, etc (pretty much all of Nancy Pelosi's recent bill on ethics).

7 The Decent Foreign Policy Act: the United States may NOT engage in preventive war, the administration may NOT for any reason lie to the American people under the guise of security, the United States will NOT condone torture and will adhere to the Geneva Conventions, a military draft may NOT be reinstated, an all volunteer army provides Americans with popular veto against any and all wars.

8 The Science for the 21st Century Act: promoting Government support for new scientific discoveries and development of technologies to improve the Quality of Life for all Americans, the government may NOT refuse to award grants to those studies that disagree with the current administration's agenda IE global warming and stem cell research.

9 The National Privacy Act: the unconstitutional aspects of the Patriot Act must be repealed, the US government my NOT use the armed forces to spy on American citizens,
the government has NO place in family matters (ieTerri Schiavo) unless a law is being broken, if the National ID is to go into effect it may not make available any personal information such as credit history, medical records, etc. Social privacy issues such as gay rights and abortion will also be protected.

10 The Real National Security Act: the national guard may NOT be sent abroad, our ports and harbors must be protected, and boarder patrol must be adequately funded to cut down the flow of illegal immigration.

Here is a link to Newt's Contract feel free to compare and contrast or add to any that I have above:

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Contract-with-...

Here is a link to my earlier thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3756816

You have your assignment, how would you draft this?

[NYCGirl]

1. If we're a think tank, where are our paychecks?

If we're an online community, we're paid just what we're worth.
:evilgrin:

[xultar]

2. Cha-Ching!

[mopaul]

4. well, "I'm" not a think tank

yeah, where's our think tank money? if i had it, i'd donate it to the greatest think tank, DU

[acmejack]

22. You're merely an unpaid intern (as are we all).

Keep plugging, though-rumor has it we will all become highly paid (maybe I misunderstood and it was just high) Senior Fellows upon our retaking the Congress in 06 and a very large bonus in 08 when we throw the illegitimate ones from the WH.

[baldguy]

34. Speak for yourself!

I get paid a lot more than I'm worth, thank you!

wait, that didn't come out right...

[tinfoilinfor2005]

52. Of course you get paid a lot more than you're worth...

Because you're not nearly as dumb as you look!

What can I say, I like paying people compliments!

[SoCalDem]

3. Great ideas, BUT

unless we have a majority in both houses, I cannot see many republicans jumping onboard..

The Gingrich "Contract on America" worked because they had the majority in congress, and Clinton was stunned for a while and they worked FAST..Remember too, that we have had "weak" democrats in the Senate for a Lonnnnnnng time, so it's not that surprising that newt-boy got his way..

Clinton's harrassment by the media began before his election, and only got stroonger, so he never really had as much control as he should have. He pandered to the republicans, in hopes that they would let up on him, but they only intensified their attacks.. and we all know how it turned out.

Republicans are pitt bulls...Deomcrats are Labradors

[Melodybe]

5. Republicans did not win a majority in either party until they

campaigned on the Contract with America, these are the things that Democrats should run on so that we can regain at least one house of congress.

We are paid in accolades and smilies:

:) :7 B-) :party: :toast: :bounce: :smoke: :think: :loveya: :tinfoilhat: :hug: :grouphug: :pals: :yourock: :blush: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot:

[AuntiBush]

19. 45 Democrat Senators Represent MORE AMERICANS then

55 Republican A$$wipes, according to Senator Joe Biden on the Senate floor last week during the Bolton debate.

The Repuk Sen's keep calling our Dem's the "minority," and it seems to have struck a cord with our Dems. I say we STOP saying we're the minority when in fact, we are the M-A-J-O-R-I-T-Y!

:bounce::bounce::patriot::bounce::bounce:

[Melodybe]

21. Right on, I forget that sometimes myself but I'll never do it again.

Thanks for the kick in the pants.

[AuntiBush]

27. It's "even" logical, when one thinks "demographically."

Republican congressional members represent more COWS, HORSES and LAND then American people! Think about it, demographically.

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. Actually, as I remember it, the '94 generation ran on the promise

of a contract -- they used that as their campaign platform. They didn't have the majority till after that election, when they then moved to implement their contract.

We need to get such a platform out and use that to re-take congress. This looks like a real good place to start. Get our candidates speaking with one voice on these different issues, each one would then be supporting the others. If they are all pushing the same agenda, coverage for one is coverage for all, and the public will hear one talking and say 'you know, I heard so-and-so saying the same thing last week -- maybe there's something to this'.

Our politician have for too long been running like democrats and governing like republicans. We need to run like republicans (speaking of strategy, not stands) and govern like democrats.

[AuntiBush]

28. Is it any wonder Repuks love to change an areas "zones!"

You're right...

Our Democrats need to start fighting fire w/fire and fast!

[Tamyrlin79]

29. what are you talking about?

Democrats controlled both houses of congress in 92-94 under Clinton. '94 was the Contract with America election, when the Republicans took over BOTH houses from the Dems. The national republican "contract" program helped lift all Republican boats that year.

The point here is to steal a page from their playbook.

[Misskittycat]

6. Election Reform plank needs to get rid of electronic machines.

These proposed reforms are not enough to ensure a tamper-proof election.

[Melodybe]

7. That's debateable, with open source and a paper reciept

e-voting would be fuckloads better than it is now.

Here's the thing, this was just what we came up with last night. All DUers should draft their own and we can have vote on the aspects we, as a community, like best.

[SoCalDem]

8. A M E N ....paper is just fine with me..

They only need to peel off "national" elections from local/state/propositions and it's easy as pie..

a 5 x 7 card would do the trick, could be easily stored and tabulated..The MAX number of races in a national election would be 3..Someone would have to try really hard to spoil that ballot:)

a sharpie, a ballot-card and a locking ballot box..that's all we need..

and a bunch of local people to come in a count them at the end of the day..

Video tape the counting process and screencap the tabulated totals as they are "called in"..

An office caluclator and a chalkboard would be sufficient in the central tabulating area..

On "odd" years, they states can elect the county commissioners/governors/statehouse legislators/mayors, etc.. I couldn't care less who is county commissioner in Loveland, CO, BUT I DO care how their votes for president/senate/congress are handled.. Those people's votes in DC DO affect me:(

[Stinky The Clown]

9. I would suggest you abandon calling it a 'contract' ..........

..... because that is so eaily spun as being copycats of Grinchgingrich.

Your idea is worthy and laudable, to be sure, and you present a strong first step, but the framing worries me.

I understand where you want to go with this, but to be a copy of Gingrich's thing is just too obvious a target. We need not only a new name for it, but a whole new paradigm.

Again, I'm not in way putting this idea down.

[Melodybe]

11. I like calling it the same thing because it points out how republicans

are in breech of contract.

Again please folks come up with your own and we can get together the best of the best to send to our senators and congress people.

[Tamyrlin79]

30. Melody...

I agree that we should call it something than our own "Contract". However, surrendering that verbiage by no means prevents us from calling the Republicans in breech of their Contract.

All of this verbiage goes back to the idea that we have a shared socio-political compact (enshrined, at basis, in the constitution). This is the same underlying philosophy that gave us other language like "the New Deal" from FDR...and Contract with America from the Republicans.

Thus, consider synonyms and framings of the words deal, contract, compact, etc. Avoid Contract, because that is what the Repugs used and it has a "business" connotation to it that I personally would like to avoid. Perhaps "21st Century Compact"? Something like that.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

33. we need to figure out the neg. triggers...and toss them..

keep the good stuff. So.. how did the Contract with America turn out? did they keep their promises? If we use the failures of the contract to prick peoples former anger about it, and contrast it with ours... hmmm..

[ailsagirl]

10. Thanks for posting this, Melodybe. You obviously put a lot of

work into it. Your points are well taken.

[Melodybe]

12. Cool, don't you guys think it would be great to totally gank

the Contract with America and make it a talking point that the republicans in Congress are in Breech of Contract.

I love that idea.

Who's with me?

[0rganism]

13. Instead of "Contract with America" how about a "Committment to Democracy"?

I like the gist of your proposals, and I'd add two more.

11. The Responsible Stewards Act: Recognizing that we do not simply inherit a biosphere from our ancestors, but also borrow it from our descendents, the United States shall take necessary regulatory and collaborative measures to ensure the continuation of a healthy ecosystem in which native species are allowed to flourish. Notwithstanding items 4 and 8, we will encourage the use of clean, renewable energy sources and minimize the impact of any resource extraction on the surrounding environment.

12. The Labor Dignity Act: Because a reliance upon foreign sources of underregulated cheap labor for durable goods production has weakened our national manufacturing base, we will restore the integrity of the workforce-to-consumer infrastructure by requiring any outsourced labor pools to adhere to a strict schedule of continual human rights and environmental standards improvements, or face severe tariffs that will cover the difference in labor costs.

[Melodybe]

15. I actually prefer the Contract with America, it gives our dems a chance

to drip with sarcasm. Just want the republicans are in "breech of contract" to be uttered by every democrat over and over until it sinks into the consciousness of the American public.

But I really like your suggestions, all of us should be working on these.

[Extend a Hand]

14. we also need a

Corporate responsibility act
that will allow company executives and sharesholders to be held personally liable for the actions of the corporation.

[Melodybe]

16. Nice, I'm thinking we should find a way to

come up with 10 clear and concise points, like Gingrich. Maybe add one more just to one up him.

Thanks for the wonderful additions, we should have this ready by around May of next year.

[AuntiBush]

17. 11: Stop taking our Social Security & Placing I.O.U.'S in the Treasury!

He's purposely, and willfully destroying it!

[Kurovski]

18. Where do I sign?

I'm all for it.

Personally, I'm tired of hearing the RW spin of " The Democrats have no ideas."

The reality is, the Democrats had better do what is suggested in your post so like the R's we can all say the same things over and over and over and over and over and...you get the idea.

that'll bury the "no ideas" horseshit once and for all.

It's not that we don't have ideas, it's that they haven't been tattooed on the American psyche like a product's slogan.

[abbiehoff]

23. The Republicans are demonstrably in default on their contract

but because of that, the problem with calling this by the same name is that people won't really expect any follow-through. I however agree wholeheartedly with the principle. I'd spell lobbyist a little better. I'd also put something in about Social Security being an insurance plan to guard against financial ruin, not an investment plan through which the participants build personal wealth.

[Stinky The Clown]

24. I'd suggest adding "The Minimum Standard Of Living Act"

That goes well beyond a minimum wage. It would encompass housing, health care, nutrition, child care ... it would establish that not one of our citizens would ever fall below an acceptable standard of living. That the least of ours would be better off than the best of the least of the world'

[Melodybe]

25. Kick cause I like hearing people talk about this.

[unkachuck]

26. I love it....

....may I suggest one? Obstruction of Democracy....the willful spreading of lies and disinformation about a political candidate six months or less before an election....

[reprobate]

31. A suggestion: Class A Federal Felony to give money to election campaign.

Yeah, I know that the USSC calls it free speach, but there are so many people today who know that the corporations make the law by buying the politicians that this doesn't really have to be doable, it just has to strike a cord in the people's minds.

[Stinky The Clown]

32. I can get behind that is a heartbeat!

[Toby109]

35. Seems to me they could just

put a cap on spending based on a sliding scale for President, Senator, House, etc. Talk about democracy.

[stevebreeze]

36. I know that is how the Buckley Vs Vallejo?(spelling) case is spun

but the USSC did not say that money is speech. A rational solution has been tried in a couple of states. AZ and Main have a clean elections act. More here http://www.publicampaign.org/

[Melodybe]

37. Kick cause I want someone else to do some writing

[BrightKnight]

38. A Proposed Legislation Forum

A "Proposed Legislation" forum might be a good idea. Anyone could propose a law and have it discussed and perhaps advocated. The forum could have sub forums roughly along the lines that you have suggested. You migh also add an overall legislative agenda section.

You might also include threads for actual proposed legislation. I hope that the DNC has already worked out a national strategy. Still, seventy thousand heads are usually better than a handful of committee members.

I would also like to see a party platform discussion forum.

[Melodybe]

40. Cool idea, I'll send it to Skinner

[eridani]

39. My addenda in italics

1 The Election Reform Act: electronic voting machines MUST have an auditible paper trail, voting machine manufacturers must make their source code available to states using their equipment, and voting machines must be equally distributed proportional to population. Electronic voting machines MUST have a paper ballot that is the official ballot if there are discrepancies in the machine count, random audits must be performed on 5% of precincts,...

2 The Media Reform Act: the Telecommunication Act of 1996 must be repealed, media ownership must again be regulated and the Fairness Doctrine must be re-instituted. Should we include something on the Digital Millenium Copyright act here too?


3 The Fair Share Tax Act: the Bush tax cuts must be repealed, it is imperative that the congress work to eliminate the massive budget deficit and return to an era of balanced budgets and fiscal responsibility. Payroll taxes for Social Security are a heaviet burden on lower income people which should be remedied by removing the $90K cap. Income taxes should be lowered and the money made up with a wealth tax.


4 The Energy Independence Act: America must wean itself from its dependence on foreign oil, it is a matter of national security and environmental importance, we must focus on conservation and technology to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We support the Apollo Project's policy of increasing employment by funding the technology that must inevitably replace oil.


5 The Affordable Health Care Act: America must move toward an affordable universal health care system, the idea of profits over patients must be ignored, we must cut inflated drug and medical equipment prices and better regulate insurance companies. We must establish universal health care with everybody in the same risk pool. Everybody in, nobody out!

7 The Decent Foreign Policy Act: the United States may NOT engage in preventive war, the administration may NOT for any reason lie to the American people under the guise of security, the United States will NOT condone torture and will adhere to the Geneva Conventions, a military draft may NOT be reinstated, an all volunteer army provides Americans with popular veto against any and all wars. The US must give up its project of controlling the world by force, starting with reviewing military bases abroad with the intent of closing half of them. We must not start a new nuclear arms race, and must forswear offensive weaponry in space. We must cut all missile defense funding excepting projects related to intercepting large meteors.

[Tux]

41. Democratic Contract for America

1. Voting machines must print 2 receipts to show the votes. Software for the voting machines must use the GNU License. No one manufacturer can have an exclusive contract and must use the open source software and the machines checked for fraud.

2. Public broadcasting must be neutral in covering political news. For every show for liberals, must be an equivalent show for conservatives. Other views must be represented as well. Commercial media must label itself, as part of their motto, if it continues to support a certain political view or party.

3. Tax cuts must be repealed in favor of tax drop-outs. An American can sign a form that excludes themselves from paying taxes on some program they don't like however they are not allowed to benefit from that program till they remove their exemption and pay proper taxes for four months.

4. As a matter of national security, alternative fuels, fuel efficiency, and technological developments to remove us from OPEC's oil. Corn/soy-based plastics must be promoted in order to reduce our need on OPEC even more.

5. In order to control healthcare, all hospitals and clinics must be non-profit after the current fiscal year. Private physicians can still be for-profit but the non-profits must be competitive salaries to staff members.

6. Any use of the military must meet the standards of international law, Constitutional law, human dignity, and use honest information. If our nation is to enter war, all information to support it must be made public to the American people.

7. Lobbyists and corporations are not allowed to influence lawmakers nor write bills. While corporations are treated as people, they have no voting rights and are not citizens since only citizens can vote.

8. Research and development of scientific and technological nature must be maintained to promote a healthy capitalistic economy. Any research that is controversial must be explained, in full, to the American people and they can vote to continue that line but an alternative method must be available as well to continue the idea.

9. Patriot Act must be repealed. U.S. Government must maintain democracy and liberty be allowing citizens to have privacy of their personal lives.

10. National Guard and Coast Guard will never be send to a foreign war so they can protect the Homeland.

[DemsUnite]

42. A couple of additions...

Minimum / living wage

Public funds for public education only

Commitment to maintaining social security (as a public program, no benefit cuts)

[Melodybe]

43. Keep the good ideas coming folks I want us to have the best 10 points

ready by May of next year.

I'm thinking that if we all work on this, then we'll vote to see which ten topics are the most broad, which are the most important issues, and which issues will win us the most votes.

[Lone_Wolf]

44. Here's what I would add

A full disclosure and accountabilty act... A law that dramatically decreases the number of secrets the government can keep from it citizens. A democracy needs an open government so that the citizens can make fully informed decisions.

Abolish Corporate Personhood... The rights of corporations should not trump the rights of people.

Parity in Senate... The Senators votes are weighted according to the populations of their homestate. Personally, I think it is ridiculous that a Senator from Wyoming has as much clout as a Senator from New York. Also, instead of a 6 year term, make it a 4 year term.

Increase the number of Representatives in the House to 2800... Currently, each Rep represents about 650,000 people. By increasing the numbers of Reps in the House to 2800, means each Rep would represent 100,000 people. This, in theory, make each Rep vote and act more in accordance to their constituents wishes.

[Melodybe]

46. I LOVE number one! and Number 2!

Wow, good work!

Keep it up, I'm going to mail Skinner tomorrow about making this a forum all on it's lonesome.

[Raiden]

45. We need to get everyone on DU to sign this

and send it to Dean and the DNC

[Melodybe]

47. My thoughts exactly, I have his email address, it was already something

I was planning to do.

[anarchy1999]

48. Absolutely! You are on it! Thank you MelodyBe!

I'll need some reading time.

What a compilation!

[missouri dem 2]

49. Excellent list

A couple of additional ideas:

1) Repeal of the bankruptcy bill

2) End to corporate welfare bill. Corporations should not receive tax breaks for out sourcing jobs or be allowed to set up phony overseas addresses to avoid taxes. In fact republicans think that the flat tax is a great idea. I do too, except that I think that it should only apply to corporations and individuals who make more than 1 million dollars a year.

[Melodybe]

50. Change the inheritance tax to the Paris Hilton tax

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3771620

[Melodybe]

51. Kick cause I mean it

We need to be working on this.

If you don't protest, if you don't organize, if you don't do much for the cause except be informed you can do this.

Help us come up with the best 10 points imaginable for the Democratic Contract with America.

We need this by May of 2006, we have lots of time to perfect, let's do it.

[LaserBeam]

53. I'm with you Melodybe

Let's work on the message, not the attack. Use our mental frames and not fight theirs. Tell our story, not respond to theirs. Their story leads to destruction. Ours leads to hope. I can send you a platform if you'd like.

[Melodybe]

54. Post it here, I'm kicking this thread every day until we

have writen, re-writen, proof-read, focus grouped a real contract with America.

I want it to be perfect.

[Melodybe]

55. Nothing new?

If you aren't doing anything you can help with this.

I was thinking about one to end the war on drugs, it's a waste of money and counter productive.

Come on folks this is your country too.