How Democrats Can Become Relevant Again (And Rescue the Nation While They're At It)

[IDemo]

Robert Reich
Posted: March 2, 2011 11:53 AM

Republicans offered Democrats two more weeks before the doomsday shut-down. Democrats countered with four. Republicans held their ground. Democrats agreed to two.

This is what passes for compromise in our nation's capital.

Democrats have become irrelevant. If they want to be relevant again they have to connect the dots: The explosion of income and wealth among America's super-rich, the dramatic drop in their tax rates, the consequential devastating budget squeezes in Washington and in state capitals, and the slashing of public services for the middle class and the poor.

It is not a complicated story. Begin with what's happened to the typical American, whose wages have been stagnant for thirty years. Today's typical 30-year-old male (if he has a job) is earning the same as a 30-year-old male earned three decades ago, adjusted for for inflation. (Although women are doing better than they did 30 years ago, their wages still trail men's.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/how-democrats-can-become-_b_830277.html

[Kurmudgeon]

1. The country needs to vote out the GOP and quit blamng the Dems for right wing's stupidity.

[ladjf]

3. Yes. Kick out the Republican leaders and replace them with

Democratic politicians who are smart, patriotic, courageous and unconcerned about amassing personal wealth.

[Fuddnik]

5. I'll put an ad on Craigs List to see if we can find some.

[ladjf]

6. I know. Intelligent, patriotic, courageous and non-avaricious people

seem to be hard to come by. But, America has 350,000,000 people. Surely there are a few who could fill that bill.

[txlibdem]

11. The first disqualifier should be that a person WANTS to be a politician

Maybe we need a draft for congress (and the state and county offices as well).

(knock, knock) "We're here to take you to Washington, Miss."
"But I never asked to be a politician..."
"Exactly. That means you are the perfect candidate."

[swilton]

8. The country won't vote the GOP out

until they have something to vote FOR!

[Lastactiongyro]

16. Or they start having mass starvation in the streets, eventually something

will happen to wake up everyone.

[ladjf]

2. Dr. Reich continues has great effort to educate the American People.

If we had any sense, we would try to put this man into the Presidency. He has the brains, the will and the courage to lead us out of this "great heist" predicament.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. Damn I wish someone in DC --

was listening to this man. :cry: Obama's a jackass for listenng to the crew he as right now.

[Populist_Prole]

7. Trouble is; More relevant as an entity, or relevant to any greater good?

Too many in the Democratic party think that the only way to become more relevant is to become less progressive and more like the cons. "Third Way" and all that..................................

Pardon my cynicism.

[blue97keet]

9. Do what neither party has the guts for - cut the trade debt, stop offshoring.

Trash the FTA's

[yurbud]

10. they don't want to.

[txlibdem]

12. Love your blog

Just read this:
"SANCTITY OF CONTRACTS: Wall Street execs vs. Wisconsin public workers"
http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/

You nailed the truth with that for sure!

[plumbob]

13. Yes, good work!

Bookmarked for future. Thank you!

[yurbud]

15. thanks!

[JohnWxy]

14. you want relevance? how about a little short run ACTION on the part of DUers? ...see link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x590855">Question for DUers: do you think it's worth it to email to urge repeal of tax cut extensions (Dec)


debate is good, but somewhere along the line a little action to try to make things happen is good too (even necessary).

....it's just a thought.