Possibly the most important thing: Dems need to get better at the propaganda wars.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

44. I just think most people are self-centered.

Republicans have pounced on it with their propaganda.

When people are making minimum wage, they've been told it's the fault of high corporate taxes used to support lazy people on welfare for example.

Look at the many examples of self-absorbed attitudes:
(1) Global warming? I'll keep driving my gas-guzzling HUGE truck because it's safer for me and my family if we're in an accident.
(2) Gun restrictions? So what if having more guns in our society is inherently dangerous? I'm a "responsible gun owner," so why shouldn't I own an assault rifle with a large clip? I won't mow down a bunch of people with it. I live in a rural area where I don't expect gun violence anyway. I'm looking after my own!
(3) Vaccinations? I've heard they MIGHT cause some health issues for me and my family. Never mind that diseases will become more widespread if everyone adopted this attitude. If other people want to be vaccinated or not own guns, then good for me!
(4) What's the problem with private schools? So what if pulling kids out of public schools hurts them? I'm looking after my own kids! Other parents should do the same!
(5) Too many people in the world? I'm making babies... and lots of them! Too bad!
(6) Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians killed during Bush's invasion? Oh, well. They look different anyway.

On and on.

I even see increased selfishness in more mundane ways. I decided to buy a burrito at Taco Bell the other day and got trapped (due to high curbs and other cars) behind some woman in the drive-through who must've ordered at least $70 worth of food. Instead of being conscientious by walking inside to place her order, allowing her to step aside as other customers were served, she chose the drive-through. Then after several bags of food were transferred through her car's window, she sat there for about two more minutes. I assumed that even more food was on the way. NOPE! She apparently decided to continue blocking the long line of cars behind her as she checked her bags to verify that she got everything. A decent person would have pulled into a nearby parking space to do that.

Is conservative propaganda to blame for these attitudes? Maybe. I'm not sure.

I'd really like to know HOW countries like Germany convince their citizenry to take fewer work hours to help keep employment high. Are they just more united as a people compared to people here, or do their liberal-minded politicians present a more convincing message that it's good for everyone? Another example is their universal healthcare. I heard several years ago on NPR that it's paid by a flat-rate income tax (I think around 8%) on everyone. 8% of zero is zero, so people with no income pay nothing. On the other hand, their most wealthy citizens pay a LOT. Can you imagine the arguments if we adopted something similar here? We'd have super-rich people, and their propagandists, arguing that it was UNFAIR for them to pay so much when there was little chance they'd ever get back what they paid into the system through healthcare benefits!