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We are in a battle not only against the Republican Menace, but a massive infection that's killing the Democratic Party.
We do also need to remember who we're here for and redirect our party's official priorities (once we have at least the power to participate in our own government) by remembering (as you say, rediscovering) what's really important. We should be a populist, labor party that governs rationally in a secular manner. The common people are the vast majority, and while the wealthy have always composed the majority of our elected representatives, for a time the common people had some power and were listened to (post WWII and during the days of organized labor), alas that time has ended utterly. We must empower the people.
Also, if anything, our party needs to move itself and as much of the country as possible, even farther to the Left--no more of this 'moderate' DINO or 'centrist' RDDINOs (Republicans Dressed as Democrats In Name Only). We can stand up for our ideologies; when they're right and good, ideals and idealists are fine (probably a Republican plot--the 'negative' connotations now associated with the word "idealist"; then again, any Republican "idealist" would, by their very existence be a negative smear on the word's meaning...). The truth is... it's very hard to find truly charismatic people who inspire and thereby are naturally "leaders" unless they have clear, consistent and strong ideals; is it any wonder that we suffer so many weak, feeble, indecisive and non- or anti-charismatic leaders, when many are trying to draw a compromist towards what they wrongly perceive as the "center" in a desperate effort to attract votess. Of course, in the real world, a politician has to get votes or they go unemployed--and we can't benefit from unemployed Democratic politicians (at least not nearly as much as we can by elected ones).
We need "the people" to realize where their true and best politics lie, and, of course, that's with the Democratic Party (even if they're not comfortable with a few petty issues). How do we do this? Or why have so many become such staunch Republicans while simultaneously being unable to recognize how they're being used? Simple enough, a great many people's world view, including attitudes, opinions and political awareness is formed primarily from their main source of information and entertainment: tv (radio, newspapers, etc)(ie. the M$M).
We don't control the public's main sources of information (and pre-digested news/opinion), and Republicans (and Republican supporting types; that is, Corporations/Business) do (worse, they "own" most of it and control all of it--and their representatives controlling our government have removed all useful regulation on their use of "our" broadcast spectrum). Without fairness in the media, the formation of people's outlook is going to be unfortunately biased against us. Children absorb much from television, when they've grown up--we may be wondering about the 50% or 70% "backwash" (blind supporters of Republican worldview). It's probably our greatest problem.
Electoral fraud is a huge problem, but it pales by comparison to the damage done to the American consciousness--bot short and long term, and it's more easily fixed (paper ballot anyone?). Without the wealth and business acumen needed to achieve similar media representation, we'll have to depend upon winning enough elections to pass laws or make regulations to restrain or disband the media oligopoly. Alas, without fair media coverage, it's getting harder and harder to win elections. Something's gotta give. Something's gotta change.
Get America's real issues, job loss, artificial economic props hiding a looming depression, massive debt, people suffering, children very much being left behind--including more and more of the middle class's children, the destruction of the middle class, the rise of dominionism/theocracy, the government's corruption, the absurd tax cuts and who benefits and by how much, the gigantic and growing gap between the rich and everybody else, America's class war and the existence and growth of our own "aristocracy", and so much more, on tv... and present the "divisive" issues fairly, and all of America (nearly) would be actively voting with us and supporting Democratic policies. Once again we would be able to take real positions with populists, progressive, labor and liberal ideals and be able to get elected. Fear would evaporate and America might once more be respected in the world.
TV is Job One. With it, we progress. Against it, we struggle. Through it, we reach the people and our liberal ideals are enabled. Imagine how fast the voter fraud issue would become an urgent matter that our leaders would take seriously... if only it got honest coverage. If the Bush lies had been exposed by the News (with them doing their job), is there any question whether or not we'd have started an illegal war? In effect, TV and the major media (mass media)--as a single unit, is the largest component of what we call "free speech". It is the main source of information for most people (alas). What can we do, though... Perhaps instead of, or in addition to massive public demonstrations against the war, or over immigration, imagine such demanding a restoration of the FCC's Fairness Doctrine and the M$M Corporations be broken up under anti-trust laws (newly made ones if need be)? Without TV coverage, how many people did modern "public demonstrations" reach? Many, yes, but consider how many would be reached with a continuous focus on the particular issues on television--and done honestly (which, cutely enough, means to be done with massive bias in favor of the Democratic positions--the reverse of today).
Convince 60 million Democrats to invest $100 (= $6 Billion) towards the purchase or creation of a Democratic News Network or the STN Broadcasting Company (Simple Truth Network). If need be, do that once each year. Ask Democratic investors to forego dividents so they can be reinvested towards the business... so in two years, we'd have more than $12 Billion. Realize that many Democrats could invest alot more than $100... and that there are more than 60 million Democrats of voting age (though the extra number didn't vote)(some were obstructed though). Can't we do this? Perhaps we could get Ted Turner or someone who knows the media industry to either manage or advise... Why can't we do this? Add this to the existing efforts to create a Democratic media presence for even better growth. Granted, this wouldn't achieve parity with all the other networks, but at least it would be out there. Alas, with cable and satellite network distribution controlled by "Corporate-minded Corporations", and they'd no doubt obstruct efforts to build a Democratically oriented network--we might not be able, without significant political wrangling and pressure, even be able to get on your TV. So, it wouldnt' be easy. We shoudn't wait; 2008 is approaching (at approximately one minute closer every 60 seconds! we'd better hurry!).
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