Democratic Plan Election 2006 – A New Direction for America

[stevenleser]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steven_l_060617_democratic_plan_elec.htm

June 17, 2006 at 16:30:13

Democratic Plan Election 2006 – A New Direction for America
by Steven Leser


When the American People go to the polls this November 7th to elect a new congress, they will have a clear choice, a choice between the failed policies of the Bush administration and the current majority Republican congress, and a New Direction unveiled recently by the Democratic Party. For two years Republicans have been answering criticism of their bad policies by claiming that Democrats ‘do not have a plan’. They can use that excuse no longer.

The Democrat’s New Direction For America aims to make health care more affordable, lower gas prices and achieve energy independence, help working families by increasing the minimum wage substantially, cut college costs, ensure a dignified retirement for all, and pledges a return to fiscal discipline in the federal government where revenues and expenditures are balanced. The Democrats New Direction stands in stark contrast to the last six years under a Republican administration and congress where polls show that more than 66% of the country believes we are going in the wrong direction. We have rising health care costs, rising energy prices, an out of control budget and trade deficit, rising college costs, and rising insecurity about retirement.

Now it is Republicans who do not have a plan, unless they call for more of the same, if they dare. The last six years has been an unprecedented time where one party has held nearly universal control over the federal government. The Republicans thus have had the ability to enact their agenda at will. In the great debate between Democrats and Republicans over which philosophy is best for running the country, we may not know for sure if the Democrats are right but the last six years have unequivocally taught us that the Republicans are wrong. The Republicans are left with nothing to show for six years of control of the American political scene. The economy is lukewarm at best. The financial markets are at the same levels they were six years ago, barely any new jobs have been created and if you factor in growth of the population, jobs have actually been lost. The rest of the world views us and our motives with suspicion after our stated justification for a pre-emptive war failed to pan out. An end result of failure greets Republican efforts of the last six years everywhere they turn.

It is more than time for a change and the American people know it. The Democrats have presented a plan that will bring prosperity back to our country. The only thing left is for Americans to do their duty, show up to the polls on November 7th and vote Democratic. If by chance you feel sorry for your local Republican congressperson or senator, don’t worry, as new retirees, they will also benefit from the new Democratic agenda.

Learn more about the Democrat’s New Direction for America at http://www.housedemocrats.com. Below is copied from a pdf document at that site.

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A NEW DIRECTION FOR AMERICA


Democrats in Congress offer a New Direction, putting the common good of all Americans first for a change, and will:

MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE
Fix the prescription drug program by putting people ahead of drug companies and HMOs, eliminating wasteful subsidies, negotiating lower drug prices and ensuring the program works for all seniors; invest in stem cell and other medical research.

LOWER GAS PRICES AND ACHIEVE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
Crack down on price gouging; eliminate billions in subsidies for oil and gas companies and use the savings to provide consumer relief and develop American alternatives, including biofuels; promote energy efficient technology.

HELP WORKING FAMILIES
Raise the minimum wage; repeal tax giveaways that encourage companies to move jobs overseas.

CUT COLLEGE COSTS
Make college tuition deductible from taxes; expand Pell grants and cut student loan costs.

ENSURE DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT
Prevent the privatization of Social Security; expand savings incentives; ensure pension fairness.

REQUIRE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Restore the budget discipline of the 1990s that helped eliminate deficits and spur record economic growth.
Learn more at http://www.housedemocrats.com.


THE WRONG DIRECTION
The Bush Administration and the Republican Majority in Congress have taken the country in the wrong direction for Americans and their families.

RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS
Under this Administration, the cost of family health insurance has risen more than 70%, or an average of $4,500 per family, and 6 million more Americans are uninsured. Meanwhile, the Majority has enacted a confusing and costly prescription drug benefit that prohibits Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices, has cut funding for medical research, and has prohibited federal funding of a real stem cell research program.

RISING ENERGY PRICES
Gas prices have nearly doubled and exceed $3.00 per gallon in many places, and dependence on foreign oil increased to 60%.
Meanwhile, the Republican Majority has blocked efforts to ban price gouging, rewarded oil and gas companies with billions in new subsidies at a time of record profits, and opposed investments in alternative fuels and
energy efficient technology.

RISING ECONOMIC INSECURITY
Real family income has fallen every year of the Bush Administration, while CEO compensation has soared. Meanwhile, the Majority has blocked any increase in the minimum wage for 7.5 million workers, while providing billions in corporate tax subsidies that encourage sending jobs overseas.

RISING DEFICITS AND DEBT
The Majority has turned a projected $5.6 trillion budget surplus into a $3.2 trillion budget deficit and put us on course to double our national debt to nearly $12 trillion by 2011.

RISING COLLEGE COSTS
Tuition has increased by $2,000 (57%) at public universities and by $5,000 (32%) at private universities since the 2000-2001 school year. Meanwhile, the Majority has cut $12 billion from college student aid, increasing the costs of loans; has frozen Pell Grants for higher education; and has failed to extend the college tuition tax deduction.

RISING RETIREMENT INSECURITY
The Majority has fought to privatize Social Security, which would have cut benefits for the middle class and added trillions to our debt, and failed to protect workers’ pensions while CEOs receive hundred-million dollar retirement packages.

[msongs]

1. how about a BETTER plan.....new is kinda....ho hum nt

[KaryninMiami]

2. Seems they left out something-...Stop Rigged Elections

Because until we do that, all the plans and exciting "new agendas" in the world will not matter. Period. Not even a mention of "election reform".
What is it about this that the DNC refuses to see? Are they just in total denial? Geeezzzzz.

THEY RIGGED IT BEFORE AND THEY WILL RIG IT AGAIN.