Pope Francis shows Democrats how to take back America

[BlueStreak]

34. Well, Obama has SAID a lot of the things Pope Francis is talking about

and his support is in the dumpster. It is more than talk. The public has gotten weary that Obama doesn't have any bottom line most of the time. Everything is negotiable, so when he takes a position, even his supporters don't trust him. Look at the Keystone pipeline, for example.

The Pope has the advantage that e doesn't actually have to *DO* anything. He isn't really held acocuntable for any results. When you aren't accountable, it is easier to stake out positions and stick to them.

It seems to me there are certain bedrock principles that most Democrats should be able to agree on without compromise, and this is what they should be standing for. I think Kos did a good job with their proposal.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/12/22/1263930/-A-Democratic-contract-with-America-How-to-retake-the-House-and-combat-economic-inequality

1) Increase the federal minimum hourly wage to $12.50 and index it to inflation.

2) Create jobs through federally funded infrastructure spending.

3) Improve education—and save money in the long run—by funding universal pre-kindergarten.

4) Increase the earned income tax credit and make more middle-income families eligible.

5) Increase the personal exemption on federal income taxes by $500.

6) Shore up Social Security by subjecting income over $300,000 to the payroll tax.

7) Implement the Warren Buffett Rule to ensure that people earning over $1 million are paying at least an effective tax rate of 30 percent.

8) Eliminate "Mitt Romney's favorite tax break" to ensure hedge fund managers pay regular income tax rates on their incomes.

9) Eliminate subsidies that go to millionaire farmers.

10) Close other corporate tax loopholes, including ones that reward corporations for moving jobs overseas.

If the Dems all got behind this, we would sweep the elections. But the problem is that most of them aren't actually on our side.