A Guaranteed Plan for Victory

[Raiden]

Most Democrats have one thing in common---Populism. The Republicans are the elitists; however, they have been extremely successful at convincing people that the Democrats are the Elitist Party. We need to convince the masses of the truth once again. Why do you think that when Republicans are accused of being the party of the rich they yell "CLASS WARFARE!" at the top of their lungs? Because they know it's a fight they'll lose. We need issues that will bring people together, not divide them. These are the issues we need to fight for...


*POPULIST ISSUES*


Economic Populism We need to attack the Republicans with all we've got on how they support big business over the working man. Also, we need to win over labor unions again. They are starting to abandon us. I know that if we can frame the debate just right, we can easily pull the middle and working classes together in order to overthrow the plutocrats in power. We need to master the art of using code words to paint the Republicans as the party of the rich. The anti-Robin Hoods. "The Republicans are the anti-Robin Hoods--they steal from the poor and give to the rich!" Stuff like that. Flat-out ignore the Republican claim of "class warfare." They're the ones who've been attacking the middle and lower classes from the top-tier for decades. It's time we turn the tables.

Fiscal Conservatism During the 1994 "Republican Revolution," the Republicans used fiscal conservatism as their vehicle to recapture the House. They blamed Democrats, who had controlled the House for decades for the budget mess. It worked like a charm. We need to do the same. We need to paint them as "Borrow and Spend Republicans" just like Howard Dean did in the primaries. We need to reinstate "pay as you go" spending like John Kerry recommended during the election. Nobody wants to leave their children with big debts. If we are able to frame the debate, we can do to the Republicans what they've been doing to us for decades with the "tax and spend liberal" tag.

The Environment This is a big winner because you can't really argue against it. We need to accuse the Republicans of declaring war on the Environment. We need to get people to be concerned about what kind of world they'll be leaving behind for their children. We could get well known environmental activists, I'm thinking Robert Redford, to go around speaking for this issue. I think that if we pursue this issue the right way, we could pick up some western states.

Gun Control This is the one issue that kills Democrats, especially in the South and in the West. I know a lot of potential Democrats who vote Republican just because of this issue, even more than abortion and gay marriage. This is the Republican's big wedge issue. If we are going to be the party who defends the Bill of Rights, we need to support it ALL, not just what we like. Think of it, the NRA, which is basically a mouthpiece for the Republicans, would become powerless... Muawhahaha!

Technology I like the description of the left/right divide as metro voters vs. retro voters. Why? Because basically it is a subtle way of saying progressive vs. regressive. We could really make this true by becoming the 'party of the future' as opposed the 'party of the past.' How do we do it? Come out even stronger in favor of technological advances such as stem cell research and alternative fuel sources. I know we already have, but we have to scream it more often and louder. Democrats = the party of the future, Republicans = the party of the past!

Hemp I know I'm going out on a limb here, but this is a winner. What we have to do first is make sure that people realize that there is a big, BIG difference between marijuana and hemp. Then we need to push local candidates in rural areas who favor hemp legalization. This is the perfect solution for the lagging tobacco industry. Tobacco farmers are losing more and more money each passing year. How do we solve this dilemma? Let them grow hemp instead of tobacco. It's cheaper, more environmentally friendly, more economic, more useful, and hemp is a weed so it will grow in just about any soil. I know hemp is a winning issue because even my hardcore conservative freeper global issues teacher (who I love, despite her flaws) thinks it's a good idea. She believes that the prohibition on hemp is completely pointless and stupid. Think about it, we'll pick up tobacco farmers, which can win us states like Kentucky and North Carolina. That's 23 electoral votes just between those two states. Add possibly West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee, and that's a whole lot of EV's.

Economic Issues I know several people who voted for John Kerry just because he wanted to raise the minimum wage. We need to push this issue for all it's worth. The Dems need to come out strongly in favor of a living wage tied to inflation, which will increase as the cost of living goes up. We need to also come out in favor of fair and equal pay. Women and men should make the same amount of money for the same amount of work. There is no excuse for any differences in pay on the basis of sex. Another thing is how unfair it is for CEO's to make 500+ fold more than the cleaning lady working twice as hard. Republicans care about the CEO more than the cleaning lady. That's just wrong! Finally, a social safety net. It appears as though the DLC is trying to get the Democrats to abandon the New Deal. WE MUST NOT! We need to expand the New Deal and the War on Poverty if anything. We need universal health care, along with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, welfare, etc. True Populists must stand up for the social safety net.

Voting Issues There is no issue of more dire importance to the Democrats that voting issues. As long as DIEBOLD counts the votes, we'll continue to lose. We need to stand up against BBV machines and we need to make paper verification of votes. I doubt that 'receipts' of who you voted for, which can be verified, is too much trouble. Finally, we need to go after anyone who try to disenfranchise minorities.



*PROGRESSIVE ISSUES*


Abortion We have got to stop conceding on this issue! We just need to reframe the debate. We are not pro-abortion, we are pro-choice. We know that here at DU, but do the masses? We need to explain the difference clearly. Remember that the majority of Americans support abortion rights.

Civil Rights We also cannot concede any ground on Gay rights. We cannot stand for homosexuals to be turned into second class citizens just because they are attracted to the same sex. Telling a man that he cannot love another man because he has a penis, or telling a woman that she can't love another woman because she has a vagina is GENDER DISCRIMINATION! Telling a gay couple that they can't get married because they have the same equipment is GENDER DISCRIMINATION! Let's call it what it is.



*HOW WE WIN*

Populist Message Self-explanatory...

"Class Warfare" Like Iraq, a war the Republicans can't win.

Strong CandidatesWe need more people running for office like Howard Dean and Wesley Clark. We need strong Populist candidates who will fight for the little guy. Candidates with experience, strong messages, and backbone. We can win!

Strong Message The DNC needs to grow a backbone and adopt a strong message, and fight for that message; instead of running from it. "POPULISM, POPULISM, POPULISM!"







Peace :) :kick:

[FormerDittoHead]

1. Public Education

[unblock]

2. nominated

although the hemp issue is a loser.
hemp == marijuana == gateway to hardcore drugs, in the minds of the masses. loser issue, politically, at least on a national level. maybe it can succeed in district where the farmers are.

[catbert836]

5. It's not a loser issue

It's a great example of a potential wedge issue, it'll drive rural voters increasingly towards the Democratic Party.

[catbert836]

3. Congratulations on an excellent post!

This is what I've been saying since Nov. 3, but not in so many words and so much detail. I'm bookmarking this and nominating it for the homepage.
The populist issues are the best. If we carry this out, I can see the Midwest and parts of the South starting to go Democratic.

[coloradodem2005]

4. I agree.

We need to press these issues. I 100% agree with the environment, however the Republicans would say that we are wasting money. We need to combat this.

We need to change our stance on gun control. I am for criminal background checks and gun registration, but we need to find a more acceptable way to deal with the gun issue.

[benEzra]

6. Especially the gun issue

I don't know why so many progressives who don't own guns, view gun ownership as a left/right issue at all. It's a civil liberties issue.


FWIW, if anyone is interested, I have a little blog on the topic over at the DFA forum (there is also an older version at commongroundcommonsense.org):

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2635&sid=3f231e549a017c5bc8195afe813aad90

[newyawker99]

15. Hi benEzra!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[The Gigmeister]

7. Outstanding post!

We need more of these!

But, drop the pot stuff. It's a loser, and not any kind of big deal anyway.

[amjucsc]

8. A few disagreements

I really don't think that pushing a big business/rich people=bad line is going to help us--after all it's done so much for the party in the recent past-- if the Republicans are scoring points off of us for "waging class warfare" then waging class warfare for real probably isn't a good idea.
I do agree with you though that the Dems should remold themselves into the party of fiscal responsibility--Bush is helping us with that by being so damn irresponsible--and by de-emphasizing certain liberal policies like gun control that play badly with moderately conservative voters. If we do that then we may be able to put some red leaning states into play and have an easier time mustering 270 EVs.
PS: And sorry I just don't get the hemp thing.

[Raiden]

9. I just put hemp down because

it could help us win states like KY and NC


NOT marijuana---hemp. Big difference. Hemp lacks the THC found in marijuana, and therefore can't be used as a drug. Growing hemp on a widescale would decrease the potency of marijuana through cross pollenation. Anyway, I digress.

The reason the hemp issue could help us win states like KY and NC with lagging tobacco industries is because hemp would be a wonderful replacement for the tobacco industry. In other words, a saving grace for tobacco farmers in rural areas... Its inexpensive, economic, and has a multitude of useful purposes. We don't have to pursue this nationally, I was just throwing some ideas around for winning in rural areas.


From http://www.hemp.co.uk/

Hemp is the number one plant for producing clothing, paper, plastics, building materials, food, beverages, cosmetics, methanol fuel and an impressive array of cleaning and paint products.

And we can keep growing it every year.


Hemp seed is unique in the vegetable kingdom. Its profile of proteins and fats are the most complete and ideal for human nutrition. No other plant source, not even the soybean, compares to hemp in its range and balance of nutritional benefits, making hemp the world’s premier food source. Hemp seeds have fiber, protein and essential fatty acids (EFAs). You can use the oil for salads and cooking, and the meal to make flour for cookies, pizza, pasta and bread. You can even make veggie burgers, buns and cheese all from the hemp seed! Serious beer lovers think hemp based beer and ale tastes great and even just roasted seeds with salt are a tasty and nutritious alternative to fried potato chips.

Essential fatty acids are important compounds we must eat because our bodies do not manufacture them. Hemp is the earth’s best source of EFAs not only because it has the highest total EFAs of any seed oil (80%) but also because the ratio of EFAs is considered the optimum balance for human health! EFAs lower blood pressure, help organ muscles to contract and regulate stomach acid and body temperature. EFAs are also necessary for the normal functioning of the reproductive system, hormone regulation and for breaking up cholesterol deposits in the arteries. A body deficient in EFAs causes changes in cell structure that can result in brittle and dull hair, nail problems, dandruff, allergies and dermatitis. In fact, most diseases associated with aging from arthritis to liver spots on the skin, are results of EFA deficiencies. Isn’t it interesting that hemp seed also served as a primary fodd source during times of famine in China, Europe and Australia as recently as World War II? Hemp is a viable element in the fight against world hunger and is healthy for us all.





If you're interested in learning more about hemp, more information can be found here...

http://www.hempnation.com/
http://www.thehia.org/
http://www.hemp.com/

[SHRED]

11. Let's get some guts

When the truth, about hemp, is known it no longer is a drug or left vs. right issue. It becomes a save our nation's economy and environment issue.
No longer should we be dragged down by petroleum , wood, and cotton among others.

Notice my signature below, follow the links, and learn that hemp can replace all without a huge retooling of our industrial and agricultural infrastructure.

[amjucsc]

14. No I got the difference

Seems like a bit of a boutique issue-- but then again what the hell do I know? I'd actually be personally happy if the Dems decided to support the legalization of pot, though I don't know if the country is ready for that yet.

[catbert836]

10. It's worked for us in the past

I see no reason why we shouldn't attack the ivory tower of big business. It's a very real problem. The Repukes have scored points by shouting "class warfare" largely because we won't fight them over it. Rich people= bad works, but we haven't used it because our leaders are all rich and dependent on big business. Remove them, and problem solved. If we don't fight big business, we're admitting defeat.

[amjucsc]

13. Not in the last few election cycles

Maybe you've heard the statistic about the fact that 19% of Americans think they're in the top 1% income bracket? Or that some ridiculious number of Americans expect to be wealthy some day? You're gonna have a hell of a time winning over those people by going after rich people.

And if you go after corporations you'll have a hell of a time winning the votes of all the small investors out there who have their retirement savings squared away in 401(k)s.

Oh and we'll get a lot of corporate campaign contributions if we go after corporations wholeheartedly.

My $0.02.

[DireStrike]

12. When have the Dems (big D) attacked that way in the "recent past"?

Seriously, I'm young so I don't know. All of my political life it's looked like neither party cares about the lower class(es). It's been impossible to argue that the Dems are the populist party for one reason - the prominent dems always have their hands in the till as much as Repubs! Every political argument I get into, I can't push this angle because the other guy can always say "so did Clinton" or "so did Kerry".