We do need a "Contract with America" soon.

[Delarage]

I think us liberals should develop an action plan for when we take back the government. It should have 10 or so things that we can work to promote and that all of our candidates should sign onto.

I'd include:

A massive effort toward energy independence (alternative energy, conservation, revised building codes).

An end to cronyism and a commitment to putting the best people for a job in that job--from our ambassadors, to the U.N., to the E.P.A. No more foxes guarding the chickens.

Health insurance for all Americans. This would greatly benefit businesses as well as the uninsured.

Election reform. Reliable voting machines with paper trails. An end to gerrymandering. Public funding for elections. Someone other than millionaires should be in Congress if they are to truly represent us. Not that millionaires can't represent us, but it's easier to keep our issues in mind if you're one of us.

Beefed-up regulators in the E.P.A and the S.E.C.

Laws to end/prevent further media consolidation and monopoly-forming.

A reduction in abortions (legal but rare) via improved birth control education and availability, legalizing the "morning after pill," increased funding for facilitating adoptions, etc.

These are the main ones I could think of sitting here. But we should get something together and hit the streets with it.

[marmar]

1. But call it something else...

Like our Commitment to America. When I hear Contract with America I think of Gingrich and the beginning of this political darkness that we can't seem to come out of.

[Telly Savalas]

12. Or we could call it "our platform"

[gumby]

2. Good List.

I especially like the "reduction of abortion" approach.

I wish that the "opposition party" could unequivocally say, "Women can't be equal citizens without the recognized ability to control their fertility; therefore, we are implementing these steps to prevent unwanted pregnancies." And, then go on to innumerate those steps. Perfect solution. Why don't they do it??????

[WillyT]

3. Will Jodie Foster Play The Lead ???

Sorry...

:spank:

[Delarage]

4. Ooops! I should check my spelling before I post (n/t)

[WillyT]

7. It's All Good !!! - And I Think You Are Spot On, BTW !!!

But I agree... it has to remind people of the New Deal, or the Marshall Plan, NOT the Contract On America.

:hi:

[alcuno]

5. Call it "The Democratic Plan for America."

After all, we're always hearing about how the Democrats have no plan. Therefore it ought to be called a "plan."

[cynatnite]

6. Absolutely not!

I'm totally against any type of 'contract with america' whether it's the dems or the repukes. The repuke version is why I left their party. It was exclusive and insulting.

Another thing...it's copying them and that repells me. Why do we have to adopt their tactics or steal their ideas?

We don't need no stinkin' contract with america. We already know what we stand for and we will take back the govt.

[neidermeyer]

8. So what if it's copying...

we need to put forth what we believe ,, so your against copying their tactics?? why not ?? they work don't they...

It sickens me that we have to watch every word so as to not offend anyone ,, lets put what we believe on paper for the world to see ...

[cynatnite]

10. It means the dems have no ideas and can only steal from the repukes..

that would be their spin and I do think it lacks creation and originality. It's a piss poor publicity stunt.

We don't need a contract with america to stand for our ideas or put forth new ones.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi neidermeyer!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Fovea]

9. The New Deal V2.0

I think that about says it all for me.

[madame defarge]

11. Check out this Progressive Pledge...

http://www.democracycellproject.net/pledge.shtml

[izzybeans]

13. Call it addendum's to the bill of rights and amendements to the

constitution. No need to create new contracts, we've got perfectly good one's in place. They just need some updating per your suggestions. If we are interested that is in expanding democracy within our own country to include life sciences, technology and the economy.

[Kailassa]

14. Come off it !

After all the years of struggle to make abortion legal, you want to include in your "contract" a promise to reduce abortions to the level of being "legal but rare?"

Go pull the wool over someone else's eyes and stop trying to chip away at solid DEMOCRAT principles.

[Dawgs]

16. Solid Democrat principles...

What solid DEMOCRAT principle, that you're for abortion?

Relax, they are not suggesting making abortion illegal, they are suggesting that we should try to reduce abortion's by educating people on how to avoid unwanted pregnancies. There is a big difference between making abortion illegal and reducing abortions.

I think most Democrats, like me, agree that reducing abortions is a good thing.

[Delarage]

18. That kind of reaction is what offends people.....

I'm not trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. I think abortion is a terrible procedure, often brought about by terrible situations, that needs to be legal. I think most Americans agree.

[progressivejazz]

17. The public seems to care more about illegal immigration.

More than about any of these things.

You've created a liberal "wish list" that I support, but we need winning issues with the public at large.

The immigration issue would go away if the government just raised the fines on employers of illegals and really enforced the law. (Of course, they'd have to diligently enforce the law against discriminatory hiring practices also.) This should be a plank in our platform.

If we don't deal with the issue of illegal immigration the Republicans will, and they'll kill us in next year's elections.

[ProfessorGAC]

19. We Need A "Contract ON America"

It's time we start calling this insurrection from the radical right exactly what it is. We need a position wherein we give notice that we will take positions and promote policies that will stop their fasicst tendencies and the intentional destruction of this republic. The far right needs to be served notice that they will not get away with it and that policies will be put forth to stop them in their tracks.

This country and its gov't are about the people, not what some narrow-minded and small thinking twits on the far right want. They are seditionists and we must take a stand against stealth insurrection.
The Professor