[continue]
Bush has shown over and over again that he thinks in terms of "us against them." He believes he is right and everyone who disagrees with him is wrong. He has divided the country by devoting his time to helping the rich, which has alienated the poor and middle class. He has pitted the religious right against those on the left with his same-sex-marriage amendment. His answer to terrorism is attack, attack, attack, a policy that even Rumsfeld thought might produce more terrorists. Democrats think in terms of "all of us together." They want to bind the country. Though they may not have much opportunity to legislate, they should counter Bush's combative ideas with more country-binding ideas in order to teach the country the big difference between the 2 parties.
Bush says he is going to push for revamping social security, simplifying the tax code, offering more tax cuts and attacking trial lawyers. The big problem is going to be with Social Security. Bush wants to have private accounts, accounts citizens may invest in the market in order to get higher returns. Democrats are dead set against this. They feel that once you privatize social security it will no longer be a last resort cushion available to everyone. If you have means and your social security investments do not pan out, it may not cause you much pain. But if you depend on all of it to live on, a big mistake in investment could pauperize you. Republicans are concerned with the rich; Democrats are concerned with all members of society.
Besides, I don't think there is that much urgency in "fixing" social security. And if there is, it makes more sense merely to advance the retirement age, rather than fiddling with privatization.
Bush stated he wants to simplify the tax code. That's what he says, but what he wants to do is introduce a flat tax - one tax rate for everyone. Again, something for the rich. If we were to have a flat tax, it would mean that the poor who paid less than this value before will pay more, and the rich who paid more before would pay less. Isn't this a wonderful scheme for helping the rich and socking it to the poor?
Yes, the Democrats should be for simplifying the tax code and doing it the right way. Most of the complexity in the tax code is due to all the special arrangements, trick clauses and other "loopholes" inserted for the purpose of reducing the tax burden on corporations. Many, as a result, pay little or no taxes. Let's "simplify" the tax code by getting rid of all the loopholes. I'm not sure if Democrats would be able to do this but the tax structure offers an excellent opportunity for teaching the populace about Democratic "values."
Of course, Bush is for more tax cuts. It appears that the Republicans want to remove all taxes related to non-employment income - investment income, for instance. What this will do is place the entire tax burden on those who work for a living. Those who invest money, will pay no taxes, and those who invest their life work, will pay plenty of taxes. This will divide the country terribly. Democrats are against this sort of thing. Everybody should pay their fair share so that we may bind the country, instead of tearing it apart. Another opportunity for teaching.
A big plank in Bush's agenda is attacking the trial lawyers. He claims that trial lawyers increase the cost of health care and other commercial products. Bush attacks trial lawyers because big business does not like the suits against it for bringing sickness, injuries and death to ordinary people. The trial lawyer is one of the few people the little guy can turn to when he is seeking redress for harm caused him by a powerful corporation. This plank shows starkly Republican thinking versus Democratic thinking. Republicans defend business - right or wrong. Democrats cheer trial lawyers that try to level the field somewhat between big business and the little guy. Here is another opportunity for teaching the difference between Republicans and Democrats.
OK. Enough for what Bush wants. What are a few of the major issues for Democrats? I am sure that most Democrats would be in favor of enhanced civil rights for all, a minimum wage that allows those who work for a living to live decently, and for reducing the growth of terrorism by binding the wounds of the world. There are many more issues. But let's look at these fundamental ones.
The Bush administration, following its macho approach, gave us the specters of Guantano Bay, Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, same-sex-marriage amendment, and the removal of funding for clinics around the world that mention the word "abortion." It is filled with secrecy and is closed-lipped. These policies lead to resentment. Democrats fight for religious, ethnic, race, as well as sexual, civil liberties for all. Republicans are exclusive; Democrats are inclusive. This is because Democrats want to bind all elements of the country together for greater harmony.
This brings me to the minimum wage. I believe the minimum wage, more than any other issue, demonstrates the huge difference between Republican and Democrats. Republicans say business cannot afford it. They go on to say people will lose jobs as a result, but this is evidently a smokescreen. The fact remains that there are people who work and cannot support their families on what they earn. This is outrageous in a rich society like ours. Democrats want to boost the minimum wage. Though I am sure Republicans will not bring this up, Democrats should do so at every opportunity. As they do so, they should explain to all the difference between the dividing Republicans and the binding Democrats.
A word about America's relationships with other countries. Like the Republicans, Democrats are in favor of spreading democracy around the world. Unlike the Republicans, Democrats do not believe you can spread democracy through war. War brings hatred, resentment and conflicts. War produces breeding spots for terrorists.
You spread democracy through internal and well as external techniques. By building a unified, caring, just and harmonious democracy at home, you set up an example for others to follow.
Externally, it is a little more difficult. You do not interfere. You do not subvert elections. You do not exploit economically. You do not come as a big-shot advisor to show how to improve an economy. No. You make yourself available to other countries. You listen to what they say their problems are. You listen to what they say you may do for them. And then you work together with them.
Democrats believe that by doing good we can help other countries, show them the value of cooperation, thereby binding countries together.
A Republican's first reaction to almost every crisis is to attack. A Democrat's first reaction to almost every crisis is to try to find out the cause of the crisis and then find ways to reduce it. Republicans are attackers; Democrats are builders.
In the following 4 years, Democrats must demonstrate at every turn that, unlike the tear-down Republicans, Democrats seek to build-up societies both at home and abroad.
Democrats have a vision of binding America and binding the Globe.
