In a Research 2000 poll Democrats take a beating for:
1. Not being tougher on the Republicans
2. Not doing enough for the economy
3. Not reigning in Wall Street
4. Being too cozy with lobbyists
5. Not being more progressive in the Senate version of the Health Care bill
Seems like a pretty clear indication that the Dems are just pussies. The sad thing is that I think most Americans want progressive policies and are disappointed in the Democrats ability to deliver.
Spot on. Unfortunately, conventional wisdom in American politics works something like this: When Republicans feel the need to "play it safe," they move to the right to satisfy the base. When Democrats feel the need to "play it safe," the move to the "center" (right) to have more "mainstream appeal." Notice on the health care bill for instance, the Senate bill had to be watered down at the request of one pseudo-Democrat (Lieberman) because we needed the mythical 60 votes. But why couldn't it work the other way around? Why couldn't one, just ONE actual progressive Democrat do the same thing and say "No, no way, I'm not voting for this crap. If you try to water it down to get 60 votes, then you'll lose MY vote." Why is a moderate vote always worth more than a progressive vote?
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether it's true to say "most" are progressive and disappointed, but certainly most of us that can read and think, and breathe through our noses.
ReplyDeleteJoey's point is well-made too, it's ridiculous that EVERYONE is so afraid of the extreme right that all of the placating is done in that direction. Maybe the progressives don't throw enough rocks (but again, that's because we can read books and speak in polysyllables... if you can say "sedimentary or igneous?" you're not throwing rocks.
... i neglected to close my parentheses there. maybe I should pick up some masonry.
ReplyDeleteYou're right most are not progressive but I think there is a majority, if given the facts, will decide we need to change the way we approach healthcare.
ReplyDeleteIn '65 when Johnson signed medicare into law he or congress did not foresee the astronomical costs that would come. Of course by '67 they did be the docs had grown so strong that it was too late to fix it.