One of the things that truly scalds my gnards about our current RepubliCon "majority" in America, especially the Neo-Cons, is their unwillingness to be honest with the American people about what their larger overall agenda is. While they pay lip service to "spreading freedom and democracy" in the Middle East, it's quite clear that their true interest is in "obtaining oil resources," and quite frankly: "conquest," and "ruling through fear via a state of
permanent warfare. . ."
. . . While they talk about "protecting America from the terrorists" by spying on Americans, and data-mining through personal information, the Bushies are in fact systematically
shredding our Constitutional freedoms, starting with our
Fourth Amendment protections. When they say they "Clear Skies Initiative," they mean
"making it easier to pollute;" when the Neo-Cons say No Child Left Behind, they mean
dumbing down America by gutting our public schools, especially in areas where the public education system is facing crises.
The list goes on. These Neo-Con scumfucks almost NEVER tell us what exactly it is they're trying to accomplish. Even worse, by using New World Order doublespeak, they USUALLY tell us that they intend to accomplish the opposite of what their true motives are.
Enough already.
I believe that the Progressive Majority that currently exists in America can be reflected in our elected Government if we continue to committ ourselves to being fully open, and honest with the American people about what it is that Democrats, and we in the progressive/liberal movement have to offer to Americans:
1. Universal, single payer health care.
This issue is a sure-fire winner. Americans already overwhelmingly want a universal health care program. You don't have to be a genius to figure out that our health care system is a mess. You just have to get sick or injured! We are the only nation in the developed world, besides South Africa, that doesn't provide health care for all of it's citizens. This can and should be Honest Agenda Item #1.
2. A Deparment of Defense, rather than a Department of Offense.
Does anybody really doubt anymore that basing our foreign policy on invading and occupying nations that don't do our bidding is misguided, and beyond that, morally wrong? I would argue that IF anyone does, they are a shrinking number. CNN's latest poll shows that more than half of us think invading Iraq was a mistake. Those numbers are only going to grow. If Democrats and liberal/progressives are willing to be honest about the importance of diplomacy over military strategery, I think we will have a winner with the American people. This is an issue on which I think the differences between being honest about one's agenda, and lying about it, is most evident. If the Neo-Cons had simply come out and said: "We are going to war to protect our oil supply," I think many Americans would have had a lot more respect for the administration, and I'll bet that more people would be on board with the Iraq War today. Instead, they fed us a bunch of horse shit lies about "weapons of mass destruction" and "spreading freedom." Now Mr. 29% gets to deal with the backlash.
For progressives, this means saying: "We're going to get the U.S. out of Iraq, and we're going to do it as soon as is feasible," as well as, "We don't start fights, we FINISH THEM!! The doctrine of pre-emption has failed.
3. We need to save the world.
Say what you will about Al Gore; love him or hate him as a possible Presidential candidate, but this man is showing some real leadership on the important issue of Global Warming. Anecdotal evidence of this phenomenon is starting to really hit home, and more and more Americans are going to be looking to our leadership for answers. According to the liberal media folks over at Fox News, most Americans believe global warming exists and that it's a major problem. There's no doubt in anyone's mind which party is better on environmental issues.
4. We need to rebuild the common good.
The biggest failure of conservative government is that it views our society as jungle of all-against-all competition. In this worldview, every person must scrap, scrape, and scrablle for themselves, and in times of crisis - as in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - the conservative government's essential response was a non-response: There is no help coming. We need to establish a sense of "American Family," that we are all in this together, and that when one of us suffers, all of us suffers. This is where the American so-called "Right" has truly failed the people. A society comes together not for the benefit of a few wealthy fat-cats at the top, but for the benefit of all. If we are honest about re-building that sense of togetherness, the people will respond.
These are just a few ideas for starters. I think that by highlighting the fact that progressives are willing to deal HONESTLY with what our true goals are for the American people, and the world, we can build a representative majority that is in-line with our majorities in the realm of public opinion. As for the RepubliCons - they just don't "do honesty."