Reply #33: i'm trying to put together a coherent post on this topic [View All]

[welshTerrier2]

it hasn't quite gelled yet ...

i may call it something like: "Losing the left" or maybe "Message Building 101" ...

here's the basic idea ... it MAY be the case that there is NOT a significant difference between "the left" and the Party's mainstream with regard to OBJECTIVES ... it MAY be the case that we disagree only over tactics ... I believe, if that is indeed the case, the Party could be far more effective in winning support from "the left" ... I believe "the left" would be far more supportive of the Party if they saw their differences more as one of "pace" rather than "direction" ... it's much easier to be patient when you know you agree on the ultimate goals ... right now, that's just not the case because the Party refuses to state the objectives as a COHESIVE message ...

the core platform should be:
1. our democracy is under attack - we need a "revolution of reforms" to restore our country to the vision on which it was founded
2. our democratic institutions have been badly corrupted by the abuses of big money into the political and legislative processes - lobby reform about whether a lobbyist can buy a meal for a Congressman for up to $50 versus $75 is a dog and pony show - our country and our government is under attack - PERIOD!! real reforms are needed.
3. American foreign policy has, for generations, been conducted for the profit of a narrow few and has done tremendous damage to US prestige and credibility. We cannot, in the name of security and patriotism, continue to weaken our nation with unnecessary defense appropriations to cater to lobbyists, the corporations and shareholders they represent and selected Congressional districts. Such spending and policy abuses weaken the nation. A strong defense is absolutely necessary; wasteful defense spending coupled with an imperialist foreign policy that caters to corporate profits fails to achieve the objective.
4. No citizen, corporation or organization should have disproportionate access to or influence on any elected government official. For every private meeting elected officials hold with those seeking to petition the government, they should have to hold free, public meetings in their districts of equal or greater duration.

The above platform is an "objective" ... it's a goal or a target ... we will find wide disagreement over pace and tactics ... but there is just no excuse for failing to layout a vision of where the Party wants to go ... there's been way too much "policy wonkiness" (e.g. healthcare, tax reform, Iraq) but there's been too little CONTEXT for these policies ... it's not that the Dems have NO MESSAGE; it's not that I disagree with many of the policies they've espoused; it's that they have failed to speak to the underlying themes and values ... and when that happens, the message is weak and support from "the left" is weaker ... it doesn't need to be this way ...