Urgent message for the Democratic Party and its members: Wake up, wake up, wake up! Seize the opportunity that has been presented to you; it’s there for the taking, but to do so, you must awake from your deep political sleep.
The White House and the Republican Party are in a state of chaos and turmoil; nothing of substance is getting done. The infighting between Trump and the GOP leaders in Congress gets more vicious each day as this modern-day political Civil War continues to escalate. This party is on the verge of imploding right before our eyes.
Trump associates are getting fired left and right and the Republican-controlled Congress might as well be on recess all year round because it’s accomplishing nothing of value for America.
And while Republicans are caught in this turbulence and disarray, what are we hearing from the Democrats? New exiting ideas, new directions? Well, it kind of sounds like zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Someone needs to disable their snooze alarm and wake them up to finally get them moving.
To be entirely fair, a few of this party’s members aren’t sleeping. Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and a handful of others clearly see this opportunity before them and are doing all they can to formulate plans to convince the American people that Republicans have no clue on how to govern this nation; and should be removed from power in 2018.
Sanders is racing around the country talking about a single payer health care system and other important issues, but there must be many more Democratic leaders and party members speaking directly to Americans, clearly explaining the new directions this government must take.
If, after all this madness has been swirling around Washington D.C., Democrats don’t find effective ways to retake control of Congress and the presidency, they will continue to be largely irrelevant. And who will suffer the most as the GOP gets new life; this country and its people.
It’s Trump against a great many senators: Mitch McConnell, Jeff Flake, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and others who just don’t see eye to eye with him; that are appalled by many of his words and actions.
The Republican Party resembles a circular firing squad taking aim at one another. It is like a ship in which the crew is waiting a chance to spring a mutiny against the captain but keeps delaying because they just don’t seem to have the courage to go through with it.
This party has, over the years, evolved into one that is anti-idea and anti-innovation. And it is now fully in control of this current government which would have fitted perfectly into the era of the Stone Age.
The 2018 elections will be here before we know it. The time for action is now, not later. Democrats, wake up to this fact; when your political opponent is barely hanging on due to “self-inflicted” wounds, it’s time to put him down for the count by organizing a monumental turnout for the upcoming elections.
What we might see happen is that a great many Trump supporters, who previously vented their anger and frustration by helping to make him president, could be convinced to jump off the Trump bandwagon; because he has failed to follow through on his promises. As an example, draining the swamp and making decisions to reduce military actions instead of increasing them such as he just did in Afghanistan.
Here are some of the things Democrats need to do in the following months leading to the next election to prepare the way for a huge defeat for the GOP:
Don’t just let Republicans continue to threaten to destroy Obamacare. Make the case that there is no need to repeal and replace it; all it needs is a minor overhaul. Here’s how Democrats have missed the boat. Why, when the Republicans and Trump were trying to ram Obamacare repeal legislation through Congress, weren’t they developing an effective alternative plan that would fix its problems and provide first class health care to Americans? Remaining silent and just watching Republicans come close to destroying this program was a huge mistake in judgment and almost a disaster.
Making necessary, meaningful changes to this health care program is not that difficult; this is not rocket science. Enlist experts in the medical field to develop meaningful changes. Here is one of many articles that show how to remedy the program’s shortcomings. Democrats need to present an effective plan that the people of America can review and digest.
Democrats should have been showing the American people, by presenting a solution to this festering problem, that they deserved to be returned to power. Americans were waiting to finally see some creativity and innovation come out of this Congress; they didn’t, the Democrats didn’t provide it. However, there is still time.
Next do the same relative to the issue of infrastructure repair and its many areas of need, from roads, highways and the interstates, to bridges, waterways, and the electrical grid. Discuss the various ways to come up with the $1 trillion that would be needed to just bring it up to normal standards. People want this infrastructure repair and rebuilding to get underway but certainly don’t want this Congress to cripple important social programs to fund it.
Democrats must not just talk about job creation but show how to make it happen. Of course, an infrastructure program, when implemented, would create millions of new jobs. But more must be done in other areas. Democrats should look into what is called the “job skills gap” which relates to the 6 million good paying, unfilled jobs in this country; jobs that involve computing cybersecurity and high-tech manufacturing, data analysis among other jobs of a high tech nature.
Why do these jobs remain unfilled? Because companies can’t find the skilled workers they need. One reason is that this country has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of vocational schools that once were available to high school graduates. And, because of the large emphasis on sending our kids to college, states and the federal government have drastically reduced funding for vocational education. This situation must be reversed.
Tax reform is a really complex issue. The system that has been in place for decades is now obsolete and badly needs reform, in fact, an overhaul. And it’s not just the corporate tax rate that needs changes but every element of taxation in this country, with emphasis on the tax structure for individuals; especially regarding the applicable tax rate for various levels of income.
The Republicans would like to continue to ease tax burdens on corporations and the richest Americans while minimizing relief for the vast majority of Americans whose wages have been stagnant for many years. We need to see the creation of a very equitable system for all Americans.
When Democrats put forward their ideas and directions on how to move forward on these important issues they will be planting the seeds for a rich harvest in the next elections in 2018 and 2020. The people want to see specifics about what Democrats will do differently than has been the case in recent times. They don’t want to see Democrats simply waiting and hoping for Republicans to destroy themselves.
One thing to make crystal clear is that removing Republicans from control of the presidency and the Congress is not going to magically solve all of America’s long list of problems, certainly not. But it will be a step in the right direction and exactly what this country needs so desperately; it will be a start down a new road into the future.
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