How often have we sat there as some conservative wag has shrugged their shoulders and said “Well, maybe the Democrats will come up with an idea of their own instead of just criticizing the President’s vision.”
I have recently discovered why they are able to do this so effectively.
The Democrats don’t have any ideas.
Not one.
Well, to be fair we might have some but we’re woefully short on ones that are simple enough for the average American to understand while reading the USA Today and slamming down a cup of coffee.
In fact, all the time we’ve spent wondering how to improve our messaging and how we communicate with the American people has let us forget one minor opportunity: a good simple strong idea or two would go a long way.
And talk about opportunities. Here’s a brief run down of some of the issues out there and where the Democrats stand, and a few suggestions about how to improve our thinking.
IRAQ:
Essentially, the Republicans are trumpeting their sham elections and love proclaiming Democracy is on the march; and that FINISHING THE MISSION will honor all those who have died there. Actually, democracy is running back to the bunker because all hell is breaking loose. 140 car bombings in the month of May? Finish the mission? How about we figure out what the hell the mission is?
Of course, the Democrats are standing tall here. Whining about how two and a half years ago, George Bush lied to the American people. Well, last November, the American people poked a big fat hole in that argument saying we’re okay with him lying about weapons of mass destruction because we don’t trust the Democrats to fight.
Maybe we should start the chant: bring our troops home. Maybe we should submit a bill raising the pay for our men and women in uniform. Maybe we could get some extra pay to the families fighting to survive while a mother or father is in Iraq for a year earning a fraction of what they were earning here. Maybe we can do something, anything but whine about how Bush misled us into war and then give a lukewarm endorsement to the troops. Yes, it’s a difficult situation. Yes, there are no easy answers. But remember: the future is the issue. We broke it, we own it, it’s a mess. And it’s not exactly the same issue as Vietnam, it just might be bigger, because we can’t chopper out and leave the mess behind.
And if you want to find out the truth about what happened before the war, stop whining about it and propose a Truman Commission and pound the concept home till it happens – which it should.
OSAMA BIN LADEN:
Their idea: wanted dead or alive.
Our idea: wanted: an update.
THE DEFICIT:
Their idea: deficits are now good, those silly things we said about them being bad were because when we were young and irresponsible, we said silly things.
Our idea: (blank)
New idea: Pay as you go. (Bring it back.) This is a concept Americans understand. If you want to spend money, you have to cut somewhere else.
Basically, any issue out there from Global Warming (You say climate change, I say tulips aren’t supposed to be out in January) to a women’s right to choose (it’s the law, how’s that for starters?) to stem cells (it’s just like organ donation, something that is going to die sacrifices part of itself so others may live) – they all offer us the chance to stand up and define the world and our party on better terms.
But to show that there are some other pretty good opportunities out there, here are four more ideas:
MAKE THE FIRST TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
Imagine all those people who have real jobs actually having the time to go vote. The horror. And how exactly would the Republicans defend not wanting to give everyone every possible chance to vote? They’ll hate it. Just floating this idea will force them to show their true colors.
ELIMINATE THE IRS AND IMPLEMENT A FLAT TAX FOR CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS.
Let me see, you reduce tax cheating, make the super rich pay their fair share, turn April 15th into an average spring day and broom the entire IRS all at once? Oh, the average American will hate this one.
BAN POLITICAL ADVERTISING EXCEPT IN THE FINAL SEVEN DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION.
Americans hate political commercials. They’re annoying and bad and are shown everywhere for months on end.
Besides, the average person isn’t really paying attention until the end anyway and all those commercials cost millions and only succeed in making consultants rich (and forcing candidates to fundraise when they could be thinking.)
Going a step further, you could actually just ban political advertising altogether. Think about it, can you really tell me one good thing that comes from a Democrat looking at the camera and telling you that healthcare is a right, not a privilege?
FORCE THEIR HAND ON NORTH KOREA.
This guy is a real lunatic and he has nuclear weapons. And he actually might use them. Standing up to Saddam doesn’t take balls. Teeing it up against North Korea does. Let’s be the strong party here. And make sure that everyone truly understands President Bush is a big hat, no cattle schoolyard bully.
Yes, we need a theme, the party that had The New Deal and The Great Society now has nothing, but great themes come from a collection of ideas. Let’s start there.