2016.
34 Senate seats to choose. 24 Republican.
438 Congressional seats.
Countless state senate and assembly races Let's start counting them and mapping them now.
Countless local races for county legislature, judgeships. Let's count and map them now, beginning today.
Let's start fielding candidates now for all these positions. Post where we have progressive candidates, and where we still need them as a live web page of the whole country.
As progressives -- not just Democrats, but actual progressives -- we need to be tough, determined and principled. No more voting this lesser than two evils stuff. No more chasing the delusion of 'compromise' and bipartisanship. We have to run on our values.
The platform is below the curlicue cloud, where the dawn of a new day awaits.
Our platform:
1. Get money out of politics. We will only back candidates who will back overturning Citizen's United and public financing. Otherwise, primary them.
2. Rather than take money from donors for campaigns, we will direct supporters to give their time and money to worthy non-profits, ones that can start to make a difference in people's lives, even as the campaign is going on. Begin to rebuild a civil society even before taking office. The votes will follow.
3. Seek the endorsement of 1,000,000 scientists. Insist that science, not politics guide us.
4. Draft candidates with real expertise, real credentials. We must draw from the best and the brightest. We don't need to continue to fill the ranks with lawyers.
5. Any candidate who doesn't come out full throated saying that global warming is real, and represents the largest threat this country and the world faces, primary them.
6. Insist on the institution of a livable wage. It is only just.
7. Demand progressive taxation - we are going after the oligarchs. Economic populism is not only good politics, its good policy. Without a middle class and with a permanent underclass, America is gone.
8. Reinstitute the draft. No more have our wars fought by a 1% we can ignore. The children of the oligarchs must serve as well. No more shall the rich literally bleed us without consequences to their own class.
9. We need a national civil service program for all between 18-19. If we are to rebuild this country, the youth must lead. If we are to break down economic, social, and racial barriers, we need our youth side by side helping us to tackle our many national challenges.
10. Build big things -- high speed rail, large scale environmental remediation projects. Build our future. Banish fear and bring this country into the 21st Century.
Right now the Democratic Party is an empty husk, and the right is certifiably insane when not utterly callous and greedy.
A New Progressive Era must begin. We must inspire a nation now rightly despondent and disgusted at the state of our politics. We need leaders who speak with passionate reason, people who are truly ready to fight for this country and its people.
Let the right scream socialism all they want, let them go hysterical. Welcome their hatred as FDR said. Bust the trusts, take on the monopolists, protect nature, as TR did.
We tried to be good soldiers for the Democratic Party. Now it's our turn to lead it. The right does not play by the rules. Let's rescue America by reasserting them -- One person, one vote. Education as the ladder up, science, invention as our economic engine. Become again the country of the future rather than the fearful mean unjust place we are rapidly becoming.
The country needs us -- all of us.
If not us, who? If not now, when? -- JFK
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead