General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhich Would Be Better? Successful Bills or No Bills at All?
Last edited Mon Oct 25, 2021, 12:41 PM - Edit history (1)
I'm thinking about the 2022 congressional campaigns. It seems to me that having passed presidentially signed bills that help large segments of the population would be good campaign fodder for Democrats. On the other hand, not passing those bills because they don't have everything in them we had hoped probably wouldn't help Democratic candidates win elections, particularly close ones or elections in potentially flippable districts.
I think about things like that while we argue the merits of the pared-down bills that will be coming up for votes soon.
What do you think? Are passed and signed bills better than no bills at all? Even if those passed and signed bills leave out some measures we hoped would get through?
I think so. Yes, I do.
The Magistrate
(95,275 posts)"Half a loaf is better than no bread."
jimfields33
(16,257 posts)I want it done but not something that doesnt start until 2028. That would make it worse then waiting until 2023 and doing a separate bill on Medicare expansion.
Elessar Zappa
(14,164 posts)I think a smaller bill is better than no bill at all. Even if the bill is small, its something that our Dem candidates can run on.
Walleye
(31,207 posts)We fight the good fight. We win what we can and come back to fight another day. If we cant pass anything we wont come back to fight another day because we wont be elected
Red Pest
(288 posts)Get good legislation passed. It may not exactly be what you or I want, but it is a start and it will demonstrate that Democrats can get important and very useful things done. Good legislation and good programs can always be improved later with updated legislation, but get the initial bills passed now and improve them later. Improve people's lives now and they are more likely to support you later. Insist on perfection now and fail to pass anything; the voters will correctly assume that you are incapable of doing your job.
JustAnotherGen
(32,111 posts)Get them passed - then shift to Voting Rights.
Then we get everything else in 2023.
gab13by13
(21,573 posts)is worth 2 in the bush.
Wounded Bear
(58,823 posts)Even if it isn't as big as we want, it is essential to get something done to run on in '22.
If we pass both bills we should be able to retain power in Congress and maybe even pad our margin. If we retain Congress, we can do more in the 2d half of Biden's term.
Passing nothing is a recipe for disaster in 2022. We'll get creamed.
JMO, YMMV.
Xolodno
(6,424 posts)...then no bill.
They would rather sit with their thumb up the butt than actually do anything. They get elected, collect a salary and do nothing.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,555 posts)If Dems get a bill through and tout its signing, and people don't see a difference in their everyday life, I'm not sure that's much of a success.
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)Just because a situation could very well be worse doesn't invalidate one's feeling about the current state of affairs.
The rational brain may very well understand that X is better than Y. That doesn't make X any less stressful.
Pantagruel
(2,580 posts)but beyond that, I'm arguing that GOP simply can't write good legislation. They're too incompetent to create any laws that will benefit the general population while passing judicial scrutiny. All the major TRUE legislative accomplishments were attributed to Dem lawmakers like Social Security or the ADA.
Somehow we need to educate the voters that getting good laws requires electing Democratic majorities. It's illogical to elect the GOP who preach the innate evils of government to actually provide good governance.
uponit7771
(90,379 posts)Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)The offer was not good enough for the unions, so congressional Democrats scrapped the plan. It was 40 years before meaningful reform was passed. The current BBB is better than nothing. It the child tax credits/daycare are popular, there will be immense force on congress to reauthorize them.
bluestarone
(17,179 posts)Anything we can do WILL help us in 22!! That's how i look at it!! We need anything positive.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)old guy
(3,284 posts)Voter perception will depend largely on how the media presents it.
hamsterjill
(15,225 posts)But it is truly disheartening the amount that was promised in campaigns and is not being delivered. Voters are going to remember that, and if they forget, the GOP will be there to remind them.
In Bidens town hall last week on CNN, he kind of addressed this. He said he would keep trying for certain aspects of his platform after and beyond the two bills being argued now. I hope he means that and Im anxious to know his plans. There are things that were part of his campaign that I am very interested in seeing come to fruition because those issues directly affect me.
So, Ill be disappointed but hope for more in the next year. Dems need to wow voters or the midterms are not going to go well. Im sorry if thats doom and gloom, but its going to be reality.
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)Two main areas, imo, we address by passing the bills. Tangible relief for Americans from policies they overwhelmingly supported and why they voted. Honesty about why the benefits are now less, and describe a forward political path that can give the Democrats the votes they need to deliver much more before Biden's first term is over....before 2024 ends.
On edit. This will be a tall order to accomplish mainly due to the obstruction from two key voters..that is just the reality we govern with for the time being.
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