8 points we need the American people to get straight
ILLUSTRATED: There are some myths Democrats need to correct in the public's mind. Each of us needs to change our friends' and associates' minds. Don't wait for some entity known as "the party" to do it.
Myth #1: The concept of a Public Trust is anti-business. That's not what we're saying, free enterprise is good. But unregulated free enterprise leads to a tragedy of the commons, like too many cows grazing on one field. Labor regulations and Environmental regulations are meant to preserve our greatest resources, people and nature, so no business can simply expoilt them for itself.
Myth #2: The Public Trust is code for infringing on personal freedoms. That's not true either. One person cannot unreasonably endanger the rest of the public or interfere with public policy.
Myth #3: Defense experts are all hawks. Readers of this blog know I am hot on Democrats getting Naitonal Security cred. Defense experts care about the military and are knowledgeable about the defense structure and war policies. But that does not mean a defense expert supports any war policy,... or that someone who supports a war knows what they are talking about.
I'm not asking Democrats to be hawks or doves, just to know what they are talking about when it comes to military issues.
Myth #4: Government Health Care is inefficient and Anti Business. Folks, we REALLY need to reeducate the public on this one.
-Private health insurance runs about 25% overhead, when the government is about 3%.
-All businesses' bottom lines would be improved by reducing health costs with a bigger risk pool. That is what is killing GM and Ford, in addition to mom-'n-pops.
-When explaining health insurance, remind people it is just gambling. Insurance companies are betting that they will never spend on you what you are paying in. There is no efficiency by adding in a profit motive.
Myth #5: The Nature of the UN-Iraq vote. In the so called "war vote", apparently some lawmakers "voted for the war" or "against the war". We need to get this straight.
-This was a Constitutional War Powers vote. Congress and the President share war powers. The President said (falsely) that Iraq had a WMD program that was advanced, and asked for a free hand to work with the UN in the Iraq matter. The UN may authorize force.
No one can say with a straight face that had any Democratic lawmaker been president, that (s)he would have screwed up diplomacy and reconstruction in every possible way, much less misled the American people.
-While all Democrats must claim the holding of the vote was a mistake, let's not fester our anger on them. Blaming a legislator for the executive branch screwing up a policy is like blaming Ted Kennedy for Bush screwing up No Child Left Behind.
Myth #6: We got a tax cut. Every tax cut we get is a tax increase for the next generation with interest. Most readers of this blog understand that the GOP is really trying to run down the government. But the people don't want that. The lower and middle classes will be stuck with higher local and state taxes. And with these deficits, we have higher interest rates, which is Wall Street's tax.
-Ask you conservative friends, "Since Bush hasn't vetoed a single bill, which do you prefer, more taxes, or IOUs to the Chinese and Saudi governments?"
Myth #7: Judicial Activism. If anything, this means judges overturning laws passed by Congress. In the last 11 years, it was the conservatives who voted to overturn the most laws, Thomas, Rhenquist, and Scalia. Clinton's appointees, Ginsberg and Breyer, voted the LEAST. Conservatives have an agenda.
Myth #8: That the so called “Property Rights” agenda is the best thing for free enterprise. It's not. One theory of politics, that I think is about 2/3 correct, is that liberalism is rooted in human rights, and conservatism is rooted in property rights. One fallacy of the Right is that unfettered property rights are the best thing for free enterprise. Monopolized control local land, the airwaves, and capital is an impediment to truly free commerce. Not to mention, property rights does not include the right to pollute your land, air, or abuse workers. This is bad for free enterprise and bad public policy.
Myth #1: The concept of a Public Trust is anti-business. That's not what we're saying, free enterprise is good. But unregulated free enterprise leads to a tragedy of the commons, like too many cows grazing on one field. Labor regulations and Environmental regulations are meant to preserve our greatest resources, people and nature, so no business can simply expoilt them for itself.
Myth #2: The Public Trust is code for infringing on personal freedoms. That's not true either. One person cannot unreasonably endanger the rest of the public or interfere with public policy.
Myth #3: Defense experts are all hawks. Readers of this blog know I am hot on Democrats getting Naitonal Security cred. Defense experts care about the military and are knowledgeable about the defense structure and war policies. But that does not mean a defense expert supports any war policy,... or that someone who supports a war knows what they are talking about.
I'm not asking Democrats to be hawks or doves, just to know what they are talking about when it comes to military issues.
Myth #4: Government Health Care is inefficient and Anti Business. Folks, we REALLY need to reeducate the public on this one.
-Private health insurance runs about 25% overhead, when the government is about 3%.
-All businesses' bottom lines would be improved by reducing health costs with a bigger risk pool. That is what is killing GM and Ford, in addition to mom-'n-pops.
-When explaining health insurance, remind people it is just gambling. Insurance companies are betting that they will never spend on you what you are paying in. There is no efficiency by adding in a profit motive.
Myth #5: The Nature of the UN-Iraq vote. In the so called "war vote", apparently some lawmakers "voted for the war" or "against the war". We need to get this straight.
-This was a Constitutional War Powers vote. Congress and the President share war powers. The President said (falsely) that Iraq had a WMD program that was advanced, and asked for a free hand to work with the UN in the Iraq matter. The UN may authorize force.
No one can say with a straight face that had any Democratic lawmaker been president, that (s)he would have screwed up diplomacy and reconstruction in every possible way, much less misled the American people.
-While all Democrats must claim the holding of the vote was a mistake, let's not fester our anger on them. Blaming a legislator for the executive branch screwing up a policy is like blaming Ted Kennedy for Bush screwing up No Child Left Behind.
Myth #6: We got a tax cut. Every tax cut we get is a tax increase for the next generation with interest. Most readers of this blog understand that the GOP is really trying to run down the government. But the people don't want that. The lower and middle classes will be stuck with higher local and state taxes. And with these deficits, we have higher interest rates, which is Wall Street's tax.
-Ask you conservative friends, "Since Bush hasn't vetoed a single bill, which do you prefer, more taxes, or IOUs to the Chinese and Saudi governments?"
Myth #7: Judicial Activism. If anything, this means judges overturning laws passed by Congress. In the last 11 years, it was the conservatives who voted to overturn the most laws, Thomas, Rhenquist, and Scalia. Clinton's appointees, Ginsberg and Breyer, voted the LEAST. Conservatives have an agenda.
Myth #8: That the so called “Property Rights” agenda is the best thing for free enterprise. It's not. One theory of politics, that I think is about 2/3 correct, is that liberalism is rooted in human rights, and conservatism is rooted in property rights. One fallacy of the Right is that unfettered property rights are the best thing for free enterprise. Monopolized control local land, the airwaves, and capital is an impediment to truly free commerce. Not to mention, property rights does not include the right to pollute your land, air, or abuse workers. This is bad for free enterprise and bad public policy.
posted by Teka Thomas at 7:04 PM
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