Would the addition of these to the Democratic Platform Help or Hurt?

[Yollam]

Would the addition of these items to the Democratic Platform Help or Hurt?


A return to the progressive income tax of the 1960s (remember, real prosperity that wasn't based on massive debt?)

Restoration of corporate & capital gains taxes

More funds to the states contingent on their reduction of regressive sales taxes

Single-payer, NON-PROFIT National health care

National Preschool & Daycare, in recognition of the FACT that almost in all cases, both parents must work to support a family.

A new minimum wage that reflects regional cost of living variations and is pegged to the CPI and is at least sufficient to rent a basic apartment and buy food.

New laws on offshoring/outsourcing that require that ANY US company that offshore production MUST comply with UNITED STATES minimum wage, worker safety and environmental laws as well as those in the foreign country.

Some measures of protectionism, since our "competitors" are using their cheap labor and monetary policies to compete unfairly.



These are all items that would be crucial to my ever coming back to being able to enthusiastically call myself a democrat.

Do you think they would help the party in terms of attracting voters, or not?

[ixion]

1. social issues and taxes are not the important thing right now

I think someone needs to speak the truth and put an end to the WoD and the WoT and dismantle DHS and the unPATRIOTic Act.

IMO, these are the most important issues.

[porphyrian]

2. I can't speak for other voters.

I was under the mistaken impression that it was obvious bush was a piece of shit, yet he was elected twice. I love your ideas, though.

[Yollam]

3. One little self-serving...

...kick.

[tjwash]

4. No new laws on offshoring/outsourcing

Repeal them altogether. It was a mistake to enact them in the first place

[Yollam]

5. Meaning that they should be illegal, or unrestricted?

If you mean they should be illegal, I tend to agree. But if that's not possible, I think my idea would at least make offshoring less appealing, and if companies were still to offshore under those conditions, it would do the communities they were in a lot more good.

The problem is that the so-called "free traders" have all but won the war of rhetoric, since their corporate allies own the media and organized labor is in its death throes. Who remains to stand up against the race to the bottom?