A Short And Simple Democratic Agenda

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by georgia10
Sat Apr 22, 2006 at 04:44:53 PM PDT

At the DNC's spring meeting today in New Orleans, Howard Dean laid out a six-point Democratic agenda:

Dean said that Democrats will fight for a six-point plan that includes raising the minimum wage, tax ``fairness'' for the middle class, ``a complete ban on gifts and travel from lobbyists,'' the inspection of all cargo coming into U.S. ports, fixing the Medicare drug plan and ``transition'' in Iraq.

If you haven't noticed, Democrats have been making a concerted effort to explain in plan and simple terms what Democrats stand for. Yes, Democrats have finally trained themselves to drop the clause-laden, inaccessible rhetoric of the past, and are beginning to embrace a much more effective method of educating voters about the Democratic Party.

For example, last fall, Rahm Emanuel laid out a five-point plan on Meet The Press that included (1) making college education affordable for every American; (2) holding a summit to fix the budget; (3) achieving energy independence in part by switching to a hybrid economy; (4) creating an institute on science and technology to spur American innovation; and (5) universal health care.

Recall that earlier this month, Senator Kerry also described in plain terms the Democratic agenda:

Tell the truth. Fire the incompetents. Find Osama bin Laden and secure our ports and our homeland. Bring our troops home from Iraq. Obey the law and protect our civil rights," Mr. Kerry said in ticking off his list, which also included supporting health care, education, lobbying reform and alternatives to oil, as well as reducing the deficit.

Senator Kennedy's new book, America: Back on Track, is centered around seven main points of change, from reclaiming our constitutional democracy to making our economy work for all, not just the rich.

Six points, five points, seven points, ten points--the general idea is that Democrats are taking affirmative steps to shatter the myth that "Democrats don't have any ideas."

We don't need a "Contract with America." We don't need to think of new ideas. We are a party full of ideas, and we're finally able to express them in a concise and confident manner to the American people.