I don't hear these points being stated, but in my humble Man on the Street opinion, they need to be addressed.
- Address Repub favorite issues DIRECTLY, like welfare.
- No more Mr. Nice Guy. Fight fire with fire.
- Yes, it is class warfare.
- Your Freedom - from government help.
- Take back the Social Security issue, since it is workers' money.
- Don't chase one-issue uninformed voters with gay or womens rights issues.
Hopefully Dem ideals will overcome the short term economic problems.
- We need to discuss DIRECTLY the issues that Republicans try to use “off the public radar screen” to sway voters to their side, such as welfare, government in general, class warfare, rugged individualism, etc. Expose these issues that are discussed in private settings, churches, family dinners, country clubs, etc. – e.g., state affirmatively that Democrats do not condone welfare cheating any more than we condone tax cheating, but we do believe in helping the less fortunate among us, whether they be black, white, or brown, using government resources if necessary, because private charity would not be sufficient. I have not heard any Democratic say that the reason that we need assistance programs is because private businesses do not pay a living wage. In reality Republicans prefer that government makes up the difference. Take back the private discussion talking points!!!
- Recognize that Republicans will be ruthless and relentless in their pursuit of power. So we must take the gloves off and fight back. No more Mr. Nice Guy!!!Their real goal is to (1) reduce their taxes, (2) Remove government regulation of business, in any form and (3) reduce spending on assistance to people in need, so they will have more money for their military-industrial partnership. The wealthy, by definition, have more to gain or lose from government policies, especially regarding taxes and regulations. So they are willing to spend big $$$ to influence elections, with whatever sleazy tactics it takes to win. And the recent Supreme Court Citizens United decision will help them do it. Dems need to talk about WHY some government programs and protections are necessary.
- Republicans try to diffuse Democrats points by reversing the criticism – they say that Democrats are engaging in class warfare. In fact they are pushing THEIR class warfare agenda, and WINNING big time. The economy was humming along nicely back in the 1990's when taxes were higher on the wealthy, and real estate wasn't a free – for – all environment. Counter their idea of a flat tax with the historically successful progressive tax structure – those who have succeeded in their lives, in our Capitalist system, should contribute more toward keeping it running, both socially and militarily.
- Likewise, Dems must counter the simplistic Republican idea that everyone should be “free”to pursue their American Dream (code word for no help from Government). No need for welfare or Social Security, just let “them” beg on the streets for food, or on the street corner for work, like in the Middle Ages, (or currently in Mexico). Of course we must give Republicans a head start on that Dream with no taxes on inherited wealth, inside connections to jobs, and lucky real estate investments – translated: no inheritance taxes or capital gains taxes. Explain that “capital gains” means profits on investments, for those that don't have money for investments.
- Take back the Social Security issue – The IOU's in the Trust Fund are no secret. But Dems do not say that the Fund represents employees' wage and salary deductions and employer matching funds and the IOU's MUST BE PAID BACK. The borrowing from the Fund went to cover the operating deficits resulting from big irresponsible tax cuts. Yes, some Dems went along with the cuts, but take back the bigger point – the piggy bank has been raided. They were robbing Peter to pay Paul, and the piper must be paid – and other metaphors.
- Don't waste air time on gay marriage or abortion, since most Christian fundamentalists are one issue voters anyway, they vote against their own best interests, and can't be persuaded. In fairness, many uninformed conservatives do not follow politics closely enough to know that their leaders are in fact using all the dirty tricks they can muster. And most of the media does not expose it. Only certain web sites like politifact.com, mediamatters.org and factcheck.org. try to keep track.