The New Democratic Platform

[The Original Greaser Bob 2843]

11 minutes ago, Incredulity said:

Kind of a bellwether of the election result.  Keep it up.

Keep what up?  Suggesting that people who don't treat others with respect are assholes?

Okay, will do.

[Incredulity 11680]

12 minutes ago, The Original Greaser Bob said:

What's really something is you believing something so fucking moronic.

The Left has literally declared anyone who said they wanted to, “judge people by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin” as racist for the last decade.

Some links of those literal statements would be helpful.

https://theconversation.com/how-the-distortion-of-martin-luther-king-jr-s-words-enables-more-not-less-racial-division-within-american-society-195177

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/04/11/not-racist-bone-his-body-origins-default-defense-against-racism/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/colinseale/2020/01/20/mlks-i-have-a-dream-speech-and-rejecting-colorblindness-for-todays-children/

https://news.wttw.com/2024/01/15/how-clashing-interpretations-martin-luther-king-s-legacy-fuels-fight-over-dei-and

https://untiredteacher.medium.com/if-i-never-hear-content-of-their-character-again-it-will-be-too-soon-b373f9490362

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/17/mlk-is-revered-today-but-the-real-king-would-make-white-people-uncomfortable
 

https://penncapital-star.com/commentary/from-the-grave-mlks-telling-white-folks-stop-it-just-stop-it-michael-coard/

 

https://www.mississippifreepress.org/martin-luther-king-systemic-racism/

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/amp/ncna960756

 

 

 

 

[The Original Greaser Bob 2843]

You do realize that people outlining particular speakers who are misusing the quote is not the same thing as:

The Left has literally declared anyone who said they wanted to, “judge people by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin” as racist for the last decade.

By your logic, MLK's kids think MLK was racist for making the statement.

No argument that the Left has used identity politics at its peril, which is what my statements on this and other threads about going forward is about.  That's crazily different from your bombastic and silly statement -- and none of your links (that's not behind a firewall) support it.  They simply support a debate on whether considerations of should play into the statement.

[Incredulity 11680]

1 minute ago, The Original Greaser Bob said:

You do realize that people outlining particular speakers who are misusing the quote is not the same thing as:

The Left has literally declared anyone who said they wanted to, “judge people by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin” as racist for the last decade.

By your logic, MLK's kids think MLK was racist for making the statement.

No argument that the Left has used identity politics at its peril, which is what my statements on this and other threads about going forward is about.  That's crazily different from your bombastic and silly statement -- and none of your links (that's not behind a firewall) support it.  They simply support a debate on whether considerations of should play into the statement.

Akshuallly1!111!!!!!

[TwiceHorn 31515]

On 11/8/2024 at 2:49 PM, ocugolf said:

Problem was the Orange man wouldn’t allow her to address her real platform. They created fake outrage over tampons in boy restrooms, Haitians eating dogs and cats, men playing women’s sports, and all that. Harris had to spend way too much time shutting that down and pointing out ridiculous it all is compared to presenting her platform and connecting with voters. Her last two days where she didn’t even mention his name were the best she ever sounded to me. I guess I could be completely off base since she got blown out, but I really liked the positive, confident Harris telling her plan. Giving America some hope.  

Yeah, that's the truth.

Great example:  all the trans ads.  Trans protection was not a big part of Harris' or Allred's platforms at all.  But, as Democrats, and decent humans, they had their voting records and statements against ridiculous GOP initiatives to solve non-existent problems involving 0.5-1% of the population.

And Trump and Cruz rammed that up their ass repeatedly.

The irony of it is, that I think a fair number of people that voted Trump aren't really against LGBQT, they thought it was a non-issue at the Presidential level.  But the GOP made it one.

Also, although the victory was decisive and startling, it was not a blowout. About 175k votes in the swing states made the difference.

 

[Dnaguy 12023]

Idk how the dems win back working class people outside of a true crisis that breaks the grossly mutated form of Reaganism that is MAGA.

The gilded age and the roaring 20’s it spawned died with the Great Depression. 
Considering the 1917 pandemic seems to be about ~ 100 y off, one could speculate that an equally fun dildo of consequence coming down the pike in 2028. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Welshy 907]

Interesting piece on Identity Politics from the times. NSIAP
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/09/opinion/democrats-identity-politics.html

 

 

Edited November 11 by Welshy

[LCHorn 2626]

2 hours ago, Dnaguy said:

Idk how the dems win back working class people outside of a true crisis that breaks the grossly mutated form of Reaganism that is MAGA.

The gilded age and the roaring 20’s it spawned died with the Great Depression. 
Considering the 1917 pandemic seems to be about ~ 100 y off, one could speculate that an equally fun dildo of consequence coming down the pike in 2028. 🤷🏼‍♂️

It really shouldn’t be that hard.  Upthread I referred to yesterday’s PSA podcast with Sarah Longwell.  They also talked about who is the Joe Rogan on the left and one of them said “Actually, Joe Rogan WAS the Joe Rogan on the left.”  
 

Point is that a big part of elections going forward is you have to include a media strategy of everywhere all the time, and you can’t forego media like Rogan or conservative outlets.  The Dems aren’t stupid, they have four years now to polish a message and Trump has done absolutely nothing to think there won’t be huge areas of popular discontent in two and four years.  Dems policies continue to be favored over GOP policies.  
 

I think a bigger challenge is they have to break the cycle in which every election is a change election.  

[G650 14272]

13 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

I think a bigger challenge is they have to break the cycle in which every election is a change election.  

Good luck

[Dnaguy 12023]

40 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

It really shouldn’t be that hard.  Upthread I referred to yesterday’s PSA podcast with Sarah Longwell.  They also talked about who is the Joe Rogan on the left and one of them said “Actually, Joe Rogan WAS the Joe Rogan on the left.”  
 

Point is that a big part of elections going forward is you have to include a media strategy of everywhere all the time, and you can’t forego media like Rogan or conservative outlets.  The Dems aren’t stupid, they have four years now to polish a message and Trump has done absolutely nothing to think there won’t be huge areas of popular discontent in two and four years.  Dems policies continue to be favored over GOP policies.  
 

I think a bigger challenge is they have to break the cycle in which every election is a change election.  

Joe Rogan is a symptom of the problem and addressing a symptom doesn’t cure the disease.

America is an addict that needs to hit rock bottom before it changes its behavior. 
The Great Recession and Covid almost killed it.

And while it changed its behavior for a little while, it keeps falling back into addiction. It’s sick. And every time we go back the shit gets more dangerous. MAGA is now full of political fentanyl.

Let’s hope we can get the help we needs before the addition kills us for real.

[Ojo Rojo 1967]

18 hours ago, The Original Greaser Bob said:

So, tell most of their base to fuck off?

I don't see a problem with demonizing unfair or illegal competition.  I do in demonizing rich people.   

Sorry, but this is way wrong.  Most of the Republican base is not rich; they are pissed off that they are not rich, in fact.  The rich, by and large, are Republicans for selfish financial reasons. Demonizing the rich is a tried and true message to get masses of working class people under your tent.

[MrBig 5424]

The only way for Dems to combat this era of misinformation is by having an extremely likable candidate capable of navigating new media like Rogan to take control of the narrative.

Without another Barack Obama we are screwed. The only politician I’ve seen come close is James Talarico but he’s way too young and inexperienced right now. Talarico is good because he’s deeply religious and articulates Democratic values in a sermon type of way that is captivating to listen to. 

[gmr548 16590]

5 hours ago, Dnaguy said:

Idk how the dems win back working class people outside of a true crisis that breaks the grossly mutated form of Reaganism that is MAGA.

The gilded age and the roaring 20’s it spawned died with the Great Depression. 
Considering the 1917 pandemic seems to be about ~ 100 y off, one could speculate that an equally fun dildo of consequence coming down the pike in 2028. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Post-2012 Republicans had no idea how they were going to compete because they couldn't breakthrough with Latinos. Weird shit happens and in a two party system the opposition has an advantage with the incumbent party is unpopular as they almost certainly will be after a year or two. 

 

[TwiceHorn 31515]

I keep hearing this stuff about how the Dems have failed working class America.  I guess that means not living up to promises.

But the Rs haven't even promised, much less delivered.

This whole thing has me:

[Horn Dog 9888]

8 hours ago, Ojo Rojo said:

Sorry, but this is way wrong.  Most of the Republican base is not rich; they are pissed off that they are not rich, in fact.  The rich, by and large, are Republicans for selfish financial reasons. Demonizing the rich is a tried and true message to get masses of working class people under your tent.

This is true.  What we need is a group of high profile “coastal elites” to start saying the quiet part out loud and enthusiastically support Trump specifically for more tax breaks for only for the rich.  Just say it loud and without apology. “We are delighted about Trump’s plan for targeted tax cuts for millionaires.”  Talk about the “god given supremacy” of people with money over those without and how that means rich should have more privilege.  Flaunt it loud and proud and make no excuses.   Nothing turns working class folks to the other side more than smugness and being told they are inferior. So shove it in their face.

[Dnaguy 12023]

1 hour ago, TwiceHorn said:

I keep hearing this stuff about how the Dems have failed working class America.  I guess that means not living up to promises.

But the Rs haven't even promised, much less delivered.

This whole thing has me:

It’s called  negging,

Dems put that pussy on a pedestal.

Republicans just told the working class that they usually don’t get with chicks with small tits and bad teeth.

And when the working class called Republicans dicks, the GOP told them ‘you know you like it.’ To which the working class giggled and eventually went home with the Republicans and got pregnant.

[MrBig 5424]

3 hours ago, Horn Dog said:

This is true.  What we need is a group of high profile “coastal elites” to start saying the quiet part out loud and enthusiastically support Trump specifically for more tax breaks for only for the rich.  Just say it loud and without apology. “We are delighted about Trump’s plan for targeted tax cuts for millionaires.”  Talk about the “god given supremacy” of people with money over those without and how that means rich should have more privilege.  Flaunt it loud and proud and make no excuses.   Nothing turns working class folks to the other side more than smugness and being told they are inferior. So shove it in their face.

Dems need to go full overboard with their praise for Trump so his street cred gets damaged by praise from “woke libs.”

[Horn Dog 9888]

4 hours ago, MrBig said:

Dems need to go full overboard with their praise for Trump so his street cred gets damaged by praise from “woke libs.”

Yup.  And it needs to be done on Facebook and and the other places imbeciles get their “news”.  Magats are basically just contarians at this point.  I mean look at the Leopards thread.  We post the effects of Trumps stated plans and their reaction is to be angry that they got what they wanted and some of us are not upset at SOME of the consequences.   Imagine if the elite libtards posted our new cars and vacations we get with our Trump dollars.  We should host a “Trump Egg Toss” charity event to fund Spa Packages for Millionaires once eggs are $10.  

Edited November 12 by Horn Dog

[Ojo Rojo 1967]

11 hours ago, Horn Dog said:

This is true.  What we need is a group of high profile “coastal elites” to start saying the quiet part out loud and enthusiastically support Trump specifically for more tax breaks for only for the rich.  Just say it loud and without apology. “We are delighted about Trump’s plan for targeted tax cuts for millionaires.”  Talk about the “god given supremacy” of people with money over those without and how that means rich should have more privilege.  Flaunt it loud and proud and make no excuses.   Nothing turns working class folks to the other side more than smugness and being told they are inferior. So shove it in their face.

There are benevolent and liberal rich, like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. Buffett has been saying to tax the rich more for years.  Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have been pumping this message forever.  It's not taking for some reason.  My guess is that the political right and right wing media have done a better job of inciting people with immigration, abortion and guns.  And demonizing liberals in general. Someone upthread, or maybe a different thread, talked about division in country music between the hippies and the rednecks and how Willie bridged that gap.  Maybe a folk hero who appeals to both the rednecks and the hippies would be able to get the message out in a way that would be heard.  I vote McConaughey.

[GW Hayduke 1953]

On 11/11/2024 at 9:17 PM, TwiceHorn said:

I keep hearing this stuff about how the Dems have failed working class America.  I guess that means not living up to promises.

But the Rs haven't even promised, much less delivered.

This whole thing has me:

That is why the GOP fights the fight in the culture war arena and not the economic arena. Guns, gods, and gays allows the undereducated and non-wealthy to vote against their economic interests.  The democrats need to leave the culture war arena and make the fight in the economic arena - affordable healthcare, affordable childcare, affordable housing, access to higher education, and tax the rich.  Identity politics is loser politics when the economic policies are on your side.  

[Pancho 44896]

🤷🏾‍♂️

 

[Dbeasy 15076]

On 11/8/2024 at 5:49 PM, Michael Knight said:

Trump proved you don't need a platform or any real policies.  You just need a simple message to the American public

Step 1: Tell them its not their fault

Step 2: Tell them you'll fix it.

 

That's it, that's all it takes to win 

Trump reached out to every possible group he could: nationalists, racists, blacks, Latinos, etc. He said crazy shit to all of the various groups that should have alienated them, but didn’t. How? 

First, he simply acknowledged their existence. Harris ignored many groups, never mentioning them. Then, the Republican messaging focused on issues that generated massive emotional responses in the majority of people. For example, the Trans issue on women’s sports is a tiny minuscule issue, but it evokes massive emotions in people. It gets people off their couches and to the polls. So the combination of the right messaging with the relentless outreach to every possible group produced just enough voters, despite him being unfit for the office. 

Trump’s campaign manager is a veteran of multiple campaigns over many many years. You learn a lot through experience.  

https://ballotpedia.org/Chris_LaCivita

Harris’ campaign manager had minimal experience. Throughout the campaign I thought she did a great job but I was completely wrong, because the messaging really appealed to me, someone who was already going to vote for Harris. She didn’t expand the tent enough using emotional messaging to a majority of the population. She hit certain segments only, like women and abortion rights. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Chávez_Rodriguez

[CooterBrown 18021]

Here's my contribution to the platform.

For every US citizen at birth, the government invests $10,000 in a Total US Market Index fund for them in a Roth IRA that does not vest until age 65.  There is no access to the account for loans or early withdrawals.  If you die before 65, it goes back in the pot. There are no beneficiaries for this fund.  This will help offset the costs for those who can't enter the work force due to disabilities.  At 7% annual growth, it would be $812,000 at age 65.  With 3.5M births per year, it would cost $35B annually.  The investment amount is adjusted annually for inflation. However, this is not a gift, it is the government fronting each individual $10,000 at birth.  When an individual starts working, the first $10,000 they pay into social security pays back the fronted money before they start accruing social security contributions so the program mostly pays for itself.  It does not replace social security.

 

 

  

[troph 24899]

Change mandated elections are here to stay until one party actually does real and lasting work for the working and middle class. I think Biden was on his way but inflation and not enough time and terrible messaging got in his way.

look I think trans rights are human rights and I’ll not ever change my position but we need to lead with a more populist message for the working and middle class and then things like climate and civil rights are secondary and not forgotten but not at the core of the platform.  Education, healthcare, childcare, unions, taxes all have to be messaged well - and we have to run against oligarchs and the political class. Kamala tried to but she was too focused on the disaffected Republican and should have been all over the working and middle class.

Warren, AOC, sanders are the standard bearers and then message the shit out of us vs them, create the messaging around our enemies. Be bold and colorful with language (avoiding messages that promote violence). Our enemies are the billionaires and multi hundred millionaires. Demonize them, don’t take their money per se don’t lock them up but promise enforcement against them (IRS, SEC, etc) and promote benefits for the middle and working classes.

learn from Trump - you MUST identify THEM and US and blame THEM tirelessly.

benefits for the middle and working class?

Children of families under a certain income or first time college? Free.

healthcare bankruptcies? Eliminate for those under a certain income. Single payer would be much better.

taxes? Increase zero tax brackets substantially (not zero SS/medicare), increase highest rates, create new Uber wealthy tax rates, including something like a 25% cap gains rate for those with millions upon millions in cap gains. 

Childcare - make it free for those below certain income levels so the second wage earner in a family often the woman isn’t effectively  working for a penance. 

Social security - above extreme incomes in retirement (say more than $500k in retirement jncome) eliminate SS benefits. Probably a drop in the bucket but it would message well.

unions - we need more of them, plain and simple. Labor has to be able to negotiate with leverage against the oligarchs. Promote them with improved legislation. 

Abortion is likely a dead issue - voters are voting for republicans and for voter led initiatives to make abortion legal in their red states (not all). 

We MUST create an US versus THEM approach and beat it into the populace. Without it, we will continually win and lose in change elections as the working and middle classes vacillate between the parties.

Edited November 17 by troph

[Horn Dog 9888]

Yup.  Unfortunately, the various social issues are nuanced and just too easy to demonize to the uneducated.  They will need to be addressed slowly and along the edges just like has been done forever.  Can’t change shit if we can’t win shit.

[pacman 7367]

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/13/nx-s1-5181821/trump-latinos-evangelicals-economy-transgender-abortion-education?fbclid=IwY2xjawGot1BleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHW2AW8XgpYyRTo8hnQ3E6yXbKQ_CxdPCYLmMfcsGoX92UO155DEJUkQj9w_aem_Ni_DH1XNYXARN_4qEkI0fA

Is there such a thing as a Democratic strategist that actually works for a living and isn't griftinf their way to a hefty paycheck?

This has been the trend for at least 8 years now.

 

Edited November 19 by pacman

[fattyflattie 4638]

On 11/17/2024 at 9:13 AM, troph said:

Change mandated elections are here to stay until one party actually does real and lasting work for the working and middle class. I think Biden was on his way but inflation and not enough time and terrible messaging got in his way.

look I think trans rights are human rights and I’ll not ever change my position but we need to lead with a more populist message for the working and middle class and then things like climate and civil rights are secondary and not forgotten but not at the core of the platform.  Education, healthcare, childcare, unions, taxes all have to be messaged well - and we have to run against oligarchs and the political class. Kamala tried to but she was too focused on the disaffected Republican and should have been all over the working and middle class.

Warren, AOC, sanders are the standard bearers and then message the shit out of us vs them, create the messaging around our enemies. Be bold and colorful with language (avoiding messages that promote violence). Our enemies are the billionaires and multi hundred millionaires. Demonize them, don’t take their money per se don’t lock them up but promise enforcement against them (IRS, SEC, etc) and promote benefits for the middle and working classes.

learn from Trump - you MUST identify THEM and US and blame THEM tirelessly.

benefits for the middle and working class?

Children of families under a certain income or first time college? Free.

healthcare bankruptcies? Eliminate for those under a certain income. Single payer would be much better.

taxes? Increase zero tax brackets substantially (not zero SS/medicare), increase highest rates, create new Uber wealthy tax rates, including something like a 25% cap gains rate for those with millions upon millions in cap gains. 

Childcare - make it free for those below certain income levels so the second wage earner in a family often the woman isn’t effectively  working for a penance. 

Social security - above extreme incomes in retirement (say more than $500k in retirement jncome) eliminate SS benefits. Probably a drop in the bucket but it would message well.

unions - we need more of them, plain and simple. Labor has to be able to negotiate with leverage against the oligarchs. Promote them with improved legislation. 

Abortion is likely a dead issue - voters are voting for republicans and for voter led initiatives to make abortion legal in their red states (not all). 

We MUST create an US versus THEM approach and beat it into the populace. Without it, we will continually win and lose in change elections as the working and middle classes vacillate between the parties.

Your entire plan is building a bigger and better free shit army?  Even don't have a pot to piss in poor people don't want to be associated with poor people.   Piss poor rural red voters out front should have told you. 

[GW Hayduke 1953]

On 11/17/2024 at 9:13 AM, troph said:

Change mandated elections are here to stay until one party actually does real and lasting work for the working and middle class. I think Biden was on his way but inflation and not enough time and terrible messaging got in his way.

look I think trans rights are human rights and I’ll not ever change my position but we need to lead with a more populist message for the working and middle class and then things like climate and civil rights are secondary and not forgotten but not at the core of the platform.  Education, healthcare, childcare, unions, taxes all have to be messaged well - and we have to run against oligarchs and the political class. Kamala tried to but she was too focused on the disaffected Republican and should have been all over the working and middle class.

Warren, AOC, sanders are the standard bearers and then message the shit out of us vs them, create the messaging around our enemies. Be bold and colorful with language (avoiding messages that promote violence). Our enemies are the billionaires and multi hundred millionaires. Demonize them, don’t take their money per se don’t lock them up but promise enforcement against them (IRS, SEC, etc) and promote benefits for the middle and working classes.

learn from Trump - you MUST identify THEM and US and blame THEM tirelessly.

benefits for the middle and working class?

Children of families under a certain income or first time college? Free.

healthcare bankruptcies? Eliminate for those under a certain income. Single payer would be much better.

taxes? Increase zero tax brackets substantially (not zero SS/medicare), increase highest rates, create new Uber wealthy tax rates, including something like a 25% cap gains rate for those with millions upon millions in cap gains. 

Childcare - make it free for those below certain income levels so the second wage earner in a family often the woman isn’t effectively  working for a penance. 

Social security - above extreme incomes in retirement (say more than $500k in retirement jncome) eliminate SS benefits. Probably a drop in the bucket but it would message well.

unions - we need more of them, plain and simple. Labor has to be able to negotiate with leverage against the oligarchs. Promote them with improved legislation. 

Abortion is likely a dead issue - voters are voting for republicans and for voter led initiatives to make abortion legal in their red states (not all). 

We MUST create an US versus THEM approach and beat it into the populace. Without it, we will continually win and lose in change elections as the working and middle classes vacillate between the parties.

This is good. We should shift almost all of our energy and policies into economic issues and put culture war on the back burner.   The hurdle though is that culture war is a winning issue for the GOP, they have dark money and twitter, etc. to keep it at the top of everyone's social media feed, and the people in our society most affected by the proposed economic policies (higher taxes on the wealthy) are the ones feeding the dark money propaganda that give the GOP their culture war power.  I'm not saying we shouldn't do it, but the more we double down on "tax the rich" the more the rich will feed the GOP propaganda machine.

Hopefully it isn't too late - but I think somehow we will need fix the playing field and address things like campaign finance, citizens united, misinformation, a fairness doctrine for the digital age.  There should be no way that a political actor like Elon can control a social media site. There should be no way that single billionaire can contribute $50 million to elect someone in the US. We would need a new supreme court to make it happen though.  

It feels like there are too many hurdles.

[CooterBrown 18021]

AOC removed her pronouns from her social media last week.  I think at least the message that "it's the economy, stupid" isn't lost on some of them at least.  I would guess you'll see a focus on the economy, inflation, wages, job growth while social issues are bullets further down the platform list.

I read something earlier that the average American reads at a 5th grade level.  Dems talk about the economy as if they're speaking to a graduate level seminar..."Nobel prize winning economists state the leading indicator of inflation reduction is the square root of yada yada yada...".  Trump says "Biden broke the economy and I will fix it."  Guess which version goes straight over the head of the voter and which comment they understand.

Edited November 19 by CooterBrown

[We’reTexas 1473]

1 hour ago, CooterBrown said:

AOC removed her pronouns from her social media last week.  I think at least the message that "it's the economy, stupid" isn't lost on some of them at least.  I would guess you'll see a focus on the economy, inflation, wages, job growth while social issues are bullets further down the platform list.

I read something earlier that the average American reads at a 5th grade level.  Dems talk about the economy as if they're speaking to a graduate level seminar..."Nobel prize winning economists state the leading indicator of inflation reduction is the square root of yada yada yada...".  Trump says "Biden broke the economy and I will fix it."  Guess which version goes straight over the head of the voter and which comment they understand.

The immediate post-election reaction among many moderate liberal talking heads like Josh Barro, Noah Smith, and Ezra Klein has been to take the gloves off and blame Democratic dysfunction in blue cities as indicative of the party’s broader governance problems. I’m already seeing some local politicians running with the new “abundance economy” buzzphrase, as well as literally and figuratively dropping the pronouns. 

[G650 14272]

Since when has Barro been a moderatel liberal.

[We’reTexas 1473]

Didn’t he become a democrat like a decade ago?

[troph 24899]

13 hours ago, fattyflattie said:

Your entire plan is building a bigger and better free shit army?  Even don't have a pot to piss in poor people don't want to be associated with poor people.   Piss poor rural red voters out front should have told you. 

The most stable democracies in the world are those with less not more wealth inequality. Currently we are racking up trillions to finance tax cuts for the wealthy. So yeah, let’s trade hand outs to those who don’t need them to those who do for the benefit of the whole. It’s novel I know but it’s kept the Northern European democracies quite stable and frankly the envy of the developed world when it comes to governance, education, healthcare, happiness, and quality of life.

[Tuco 5077]

The most stable democracies in the world are those with less not more wealth inequality. Currently we are racking up trillions to finance tax cuts for the wealthy. So yeah, let’s trade hand outs to those who don’t need them to those who do for the benefit of the whole. It’s novel I know but it’s kept the Northern European democracies quite stable and frankly the envy of the developed world when it comes to governance, education, healthcare, happiness, and quality of life.

I like it. I wish the American voter did.

[pacman 7367]

https://www.politicalorphans.com/democrats-are-misunderstanding-the-trans-rights-trap/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGw0HdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWu0OLokPnISUPrgRA9eN32BWrUCC4nTnAQRAwt8nu9IUjWO3HYbDnbZ1w_aem_3D0KGF9_ff-owjQKRWAXyg

Quote

Let’s be “brutally honest,” Rep. Moulton, who is a US Marine and a war hero, is expressing a fear of ghosts. This is the most important thing we need to understand about the war we’re fighting. Stories are powerful. Republicans are good at telling stories, partly because they own the unifying mythology of white supremacy. They don’t have to be creative, they can keep recycling the same old hero/demon stories Americans have spun for decades. 

 

[TwiceHorn 31515]

2 minutes ago, pacman said:

https://www.politicalorphans.com/democrats-are-misunderstanding-the-trans-rights-trap/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGw0HdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWu0OLokPnISUPrgRA9eN32BWrUCC4nTnAQRAwt8nu9IUjWO3HYbDnbZ1w_aem_3D0KGF9_ff-owjQKRWAXyg

 

Pithier quote:

Unlike JD Vance, who spent the Iraq War filing paperwork, Rep. Moulton earned a Bronze Star in the Battle of Najaf. The man knows a few things about courage. But look what he’s afraid of. Why is this man afraid that his daughters are going to be “run over on a playing field?” WTF is he talking about? Is that really “a challenge many Americans face?” Transgender people compose less than .6% of the US population. How did he get the idea that they’re threatening his daughter? 

[TwiceHorn 31515]

3 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

Pithier quote:

Unlike JD Vance, who spent the Iraq War filing paperwork, Rep. Moulton earned a Bronze Star in the Battle of Najaf. The man knows a few things about courage. But look what he’s afraid of. Why is this man afraid that his daughters are going to be “run over on a playing field?” WTF is he talking about? Is that really “a challenge many Americans face?” Transgender people compose less than .6% of the US population. How did he get the idea that they’re threatening his daughter? 

Incidentally, that is a very interesting blog.  Former GOPer.

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19135]

On 11/16/2024 at 4:38 PM, CooterBrown said:

Here's my contribution to the platform.

For every US citizen at birth, the government invests $10,000 in a Total US Market Index fund for them in a Roth IRA that does not vest until age 65.  There is no access to the account for loans or early withdrawals.  If you die before 65, it goes back in the pot. There are no beneficiaries for this fund.  This will help offset the costs for those who can't enter the work force due to disabilities.  At 7% annual growth, it would be $812,000 at age 65.  With 3.5M births per year, it would cost $35B annually.  The investment amount is adjusted annually for inflation. However, this is not a gift, it is the government fronting each individual $10,000 at birth.  When an individual starts working, the first $10,000 they pay into social security pays back the fronted money before they start accruing social security contributions so the program mostly pays for itself.  It does not replace social security.

 

 

  

If you do this, I would say you should give people the ability to borrow from this for certain things, like the down payment on a first home or higher education. You can put stipulations as to what kind of higher education (no for profit college, but trade school should be allowed) or stipulations on the home purchase. That would give a lot of folks a leg up that would be needed. 

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19135]

On 11/17/2024 at 10:13 AM, troph said:

Change mandated elections are here to stay until one party actually does real and lasting work for the working and middle class. I think Biden was on his way but inflation and not enough time and terrible messaging got in his way.

look I think trans rights are human rights and I’ll not ever change my position but we need to lead with a more populist message for the working and middle class and then things like climate and civil rights are secondary and not forgotten but not at the core of the platform.  Education, healthcare, childcare, unions, taxes all have to be messaged well - and we have to run against oligarchs and the political class. Kamala tried to but she was too focused on the disaffected Republican and should have been all over the working and middle class.

Warren, AOC, sanders are the standard bearers and then message the shit out of us vs them, create the messaging around our enemies. Be bold and colorful with language (avoiding messages that promote violence). Our enemies are the billionaires and multi hundred millionaires. Demonize them, don’t take their money per se don’t lock them up but promise enforcement against them (IRS, SEC, etc) and promote benefits for the middle and working classes.

learn from Trump - you MUST identify THEM and US and blame THEM tirelessly.

benefits for the middle and working class?

Children of families under a certain income or first time college? Free.

healthcare bankruptcies? Eliminate for those under a certain income. Single payer would be much better.

taxes? Increase zero tax brackets substantially (not zero SS/medicare), increase highest rates, create new Uber wealthy tax rates, including something like a 25% cap gains rate for those with millions upon millions in cap gains. 

Childcare - make it free for those below certain income levels so the second wage earner in a family often the woman isn’t effectively  working for a penance. 

Social security - above extreme incomes in retirement (say more than $500k in retirement jncome) eliminate SS benefits. Probably a drop in the bucket but it would message well.

unions - we need more of them, plain and simple. Labor has to be able to negotiate with leverage against the oligarchs. Promote them with improved legislation. 

Abortion is likely a dead issue - voters are voting for republicans and for voter led initiatives to make abortion legal in their red states (not all). 

We MUST create an US versus THEM approach and beat it into the populace. Without it, we will continually win and lose in change elections as the working and middle classes vacillate between the parties.

I would do the following:

Bring corporate tax rates back up to 35%. Corporations don't fucking pay their share. If they are going to be people, they should fucking pay taxes like the rest of us.

I would cap the federal tax rate for individuals making under 1M at 35%. You make more than 1M a year, back up to 39%. 

I'd bring back the full salt deduction so there is more equality.

I'd tax LT capital gains at 20% unless you have over 100M of wealth. 100M or more in net assets, your capital gains rate is 39%. And this is only charged on sale. No unrealized tax.

I'd want to fix the estate tax, but I'd need to think on that more.

For social security, I'd get rid of the income cap on contributions, but I'd make it deductible, especially since for many folks, they pay tax on SS proceeds (this eliminates double taxation).

I'd prohibit private equity from buying single family homes. I'd need to look at SF and NYC on their unique issues of affordability.

And that's just a start. I have tons of ideas about energy transition. The US being the global leader is a tide that raises all boats. However, there is the right way to message and the wrong way to message.

[Snake Diggity 4627]

Dems need a young male version of Ann Richards.  Maybe Chris “The Rock” Johnson?  Sadly, I’m fucking serious.  Although he probably wouldn’t win because he’s not white.  Find a young white dude who talks like Ann Richards did.

Eliminate all talk about gender.  If it comes up, immediately respond with an angry, expletive-laced tirade about rich Republicans fucking over working class people.

Turn every discussion about race into a discussion about income/wealth inequality across all races.
 

Promise immediate cash payments to everyone with a job, paid for by an increase in taxes on the 1%.  Talk about it in simple terms: if you elect me, I will send you money as long as you are working. PAWs: Payments for American Workers.
 

Promise a balanced budget amendment.

Adopt James Talarico’s message about Christianity and how the GOP are anti-Christian.

Promise free universal healthcare, paid for by tough negotiations with healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies that will result in everyone paying less than they were thru private insurers.  Bumper stickers that say “Candidate Name 2028: FUCK INSURANCE COMPANIES” would be effective.

Outflank the GOP on border security: promise that you will roll out a program to legalize all immigrants who have full time work lined up, and that minors who have been here for 10+ years can get citizenship, but that outside of that you will be cruel to illegals (building a wall, patrolling the border, shooting people who refuse to go thru official checkpoints, sanctioning countries who allow migrants to pass thru to get here).

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19135]

37 minutes ago, Snake Diggity said:

Dems need a young male version of Ann Richards.  Maybe Chris “The Rock” Johnson?  Sadly, I’m fucking serious.  Although he probably wouldn’t win because he’s not white.  Find a young white dude who talks like Ann Richards did.

Eliminate all talk about gender.  If it comes up, immediately respond with an angry, expletive-laced tirade about rich Republicans fucking over working class people.

Turn every discussion about race into a discussion about income/wealth inequality across all races.
 

Promise immediate cash payments to everyone with a job, paid for by an increase in taxes on the 1%.  Talk about it in simple terms: if you elect me, I will send you money as long as you are working. PAWs: Payments for American Workers.
 

Promise a balanced budget amendment.

Adopt James Talarico’s message about Christianity and how the GOP are anti-Christian.

Promise free universal healthcare, paid for by tough negotiations with healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies that will result in everyone paying less than they were thru private insurers.  Bumper stickers that say “Candidate Name 2028: FUCK INSURANCE COMPANIES” would be effective.

Outflank the GOP on border security: promise that you will roll out a program to legalize all immigrants who have full time work lined up, and that minors who have been here for 10+ years can get citizenship, but that outside of that you will be cruel to illegals (building a wall, patrolling the border, shooting people who refuse to go thru official checkpoints, sanctioning countries who allow migrants to pass thru to get here).

We would need to clearly define the 1%. The average appears to be aroudn 685k in Adjusted AGI. But in some states, you have to make 1M or more to be the 1%. That is one of the things I thought the Democrats did poorly. That 400k line they kept using was pretty arbitrary. I think 1M sounds about right for a single person. You make more than 1M a year, consistently, you are the 1%. That amount of scratch allows you to build wealth.

[troph 24899]

1 hour ago, Snake Diggity said:

Eliminate all talk about gender.  If it comes up, immediately respond with an angry, expletive-laced tirade about rich Republicans fucking over working class people.

100% this. 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13516]

The gop communicates that the left is full of radicals when it’s a relatively small amount. The problem is that the moderate left doesn’t want to upset those  “radicals” so they don’t refute much of the rights talking points. When they have refuted talking points, dems have been successful IMO.

Dems should also flip the script in the other direction. Yes it requires hyperbole but that is what works in today’s communication.  Create clips of public schools turning into prayer centers and add in a creepy reverend getting too close to a student. Show an incel school shooter getting excited watching a trump clip. Show the manosphere podcasters talking about women staying in the kitchen, losing the right to vote and not being able to divorce abusive men.

we have crazy (more than Trump) republicans in school boards, state legislatures and even national. Use the worst of them against the entire party. Put them on the defensive. Dems should be able to win a close Midwest senate seat just by showing clips of the Oklahoma education leader.