What do you want in the Dem' Platform for '08? The DNC wants to know

[groovedaddy]

Today the Democratic National Committee and Obama for America unveiled a bold new initiative to involve the American people in the development of the Democratic National Platform. This year, for the first time, voters will have the opportunity to take part in Platform Meetings in all 50 states to help shape the Democratic Platform.

Members of the public will be invited to host and attend Platform Meetings in their communities as an opportunity to exchange ideas and share perspectives on the challenges we face. To facilitate the process, the Obama campaign and the DNC will send policy experts and DNC Platform Committee members to as many meetings as possible to serve as facilitators. Each Platform Meeting will produce a written summary that will be reviewed and considered by the Platform Committee.

"From the beginning, we said we were going bring down the traditional walls of the Democratic Convention and make this event more accessible and include as many people as possible," said Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean. "This process will empower Americans in all 50 states to make their voices heard as they help write the document that embodies our Party's values and vision for the future. Barack Obama will bring real change to Washington, and as we write the Democratic Platform, there will be a clear choice between more of the same failed policies of the Bush Administration with John McCain or real change with Barack Obama who will make the American people, not the special interests, the priority again."

http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/07/listening_to_am.php

For starters:
1. U.S. Military out of Iraq by Jan. 1, 2010.
2. Universal Healthcare
3. Abandon so called "free trade" policies
4. Heavily regulate finanical & energy markets
5. Come up with a plan to deal with global warming
6. Increase spending on alternative energy sources at least 10 fold.
7. Return to Franklin Roosevelt style "Keynesian" economics.

What would you add?

[patrice]

1. I'm a Capitalist: I want Real Value in exchange for the Real Value of our Labor/Talents. nt

[jody]

2. Fight to reclaim all rights enumerated in the Constitution most importantly 4th Amendment.

[qijackie]

3. Ratification of the ERA constitutional amendment. nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. I'd add the following

election reforms: http://www.hostdiva.com/liberalchristians/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=116&Itemid=29&limit=1&limitstart=1

[niyad]

5. unequivocally pro-choice

[niyad]

6. repeal of the patriot act and its offspring

[LWolf]

7. I want

to get out of Iraq and the war on terror
HR 676
universal public pre-school through college
Repeal NCLB: no high stakes testing
no NAFTA/CAFTA
Election reform

Return to Keynesian economics is good, as well.

There's one meeting close enough to afford the gas to get to. If I don't have child care duties that night, I will go.

[DevonRex]

9. Excellent suggestions.

Oh well, off to work now. Maybe I'll come up with something later. You guys are pretty quick, though.

[DevonRex]

8. Thank you for posting this. We need to know how to have input.

I like your suggestions. I'll have to think about what else I would like. I'm not too up on Keynesian economics, to tell you the truth. Hell, going back to piggy banks would be better than what Bush has done.

[groovedaddy]

10. You're welcome. It is important. n.t

[groovedaddy]

11. Info on John Maynard Keynes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Maynard_Keynes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keynesian_economics

[BridgeTheGap]

12. I want to see something in the Platform for holding Bush, Cheney, et al.

accountable for what they've done to this country, other countries and the environment, up to impeachment after the fact, criminal and/or civil liability.

[harun]

13. H.R. 676

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HR_676">H.R. 676
2. U.S. Military out of Iraq by Jan. 1, 2010.
3. B*sh and Cheney sent to Hague for trials.
4. 80% grant, up to 30K on first 100,000 full plug in electric cars (sell, not lease) each year.
5. Embargo lifted on Cuba.
6. Massive funding increase for nuclear power plants, wind power generation, solar power generation, batter batter technology, bio-fuels, etc. (and research).
7. Cut defense spending by >30%. Cancel all missile defense shield projects.
8. Opening of ANWR and offshore drilling but ONLY if it is fully Nationalized. Have Chavez help us with how to do that.