Friday, December 15, 2006
Things I'd like to see from the Democrats...
While I know there will be an insatiable desire by those long out of power in Washington, to suckle off the previously Republican favored lobbyist teat, I hope they'll remember Americans voted for change. I have this sinking feeling that all we'll get from them is watered down legislation which gives a grand illusion of progress while accomplishing nothing.
Things I'd like to see:
1. Get out of Iraq. Quickly. Bush's grand adventure is a failure, we've not only lost hearts and minds in the middle east, we've probably sent them sprinting towards radical fundamentalism. Unfortunately keeping our troops there longer isn't going to change this reality, we can either exit with a bad result and 3000 dead or exit with a bad result and say 5000 dead. I know which I'd pick.
2. Healthcare reform. The richest country on the planet should not have the poorest insured rate of industrialized nations. This is the area where we can do the most good for the largest number of Americans. Get too it.
3. Balanced budgets. A surplus would be nice. This won't come easily, as the supply siders undoubtedly still feel that the magic of Reaganomics will surely start working any day now. Guess what folks, we've had this theory running our government for 17 of the last 25 years now, and it was the other 8 years that saw the greatest economic expansion. Coincidence? I think not.
4. Simpler tax code. It would be nice if I could either not spend $50 on software every year to do my taxes or pay $150 to have someone else do them.
5. Tax the rich people. They don't need tax cuts. And their money could fund a host of needed social programs.
6. Taxes on greenhouse gas emissions. The planets getting warmer, if you'd like to keep the beach where it is I'd get to work on this.
7. Slight raise in minimum wage. Again helps the greatest number of people in an appreciable way quickly. Just do it.
8. Repeal of Military Commissions act and related acts/clauses what have you. I want my freedoms back.
9. Paper trail for electronic voting. I refuse to believe election results that can't be recounted by hand. Particularly when we have certain machines showing the 18000 people didn't vote in the biggest race in a district. Yeah, that really happened.
Don't just sit there and feather your nests for '08, let's get something done. These are your marching orders, ten hut.
Things I'd like to see:
1. Get out of Iraq. Quickly. Bush's grand adventure is a failure, we've not only lost hearts and minds in the middle east, we've probably sent them sprinting towards radical fundamentalism. Unfortunately keeping our troops there longer isn't going to change this reality, we can either exit with a bad result and 3000 dead or exit with a bad result and say 5000 dead. I know which I'd pick.
2. Healthcare reform. The richest country on the planet should not have the poorest insured rate of industrialized nations. This is the area where we can do the most good for the largest number of Americans. Get too it.
3. Balanced budgets. A surplus would be nice. This won't come easily, as the supply siders undoubtedly still feel that the magic of Reaganomics will surely start working any day now. Guess what folks, we've had this theory running our government for 17 of the last 25 years now, and it was the other 8 years that saw the greatest economic expansion. Coincidence? I think not.
4. Simpler tax code. It would be nice if I could either not spend $50 on software every year to do my taxes or pay $150 to have someone else do them.
5. Tax the rich people. They don't need tax cuts. And their money could fund a host of needed social programs.
6. Taxes on greenhouse gas emissions. The planets getting warmer, if you'd like to keep the beach where it is I'd get to work on this.
7. Slight raise in minimum wage. Again helps the greatest number of people in an appreciable way quickly. Just do it.
8. Repeal of Military Commissions act and related acts/clauses what have you. I want my freedoms back.
9. Paper trail for electronic voting. I refuse to believe election results that can't be recounted by hand. Particularly when we have certain machines showing the 18000 people didn't vote in the biggest race in a district. Yeah, that really happened.
Don't just sit there and feather your nests for '08, let's get something done. These are your marching orders, ten hut.
