Reply #71: Your initial proviso of moderates and centrists

[Fovea]

who support the social safety net is a non-sequitor. Centrists want the for profit model that worked so well for HMO stockholders to be the model for the safety net. Progressives say look at medicare.

On this subject alone, there is no realistic middle ground. Ask 100 Americans if they want Enron to adminster Social Security. Or if they like the for profit healthcare system as currently administered by and for insurance companies enough to want a universal healthcare plan run by the same companies for the same shareholder profit.

Ask them if they want another 25 years in Iraq. Ask them if they have plans for what to do when America invades Iran, and gas goes up to $6.00/gal. Ask them if they want more job giveaway 'trade agreements.' Ask them how dependent we should be on oil 8 years from now.

In order to actually compete, America needs to reduce the burden of financing health care on employers. It also needs accountability and responsible governance from corporate entities, who no longer should be persons. In order to compete, America needs to rebuilt its industrial capacity around sustainability. Much like the world re tooled around new materials and techniques post ww2.

The world is about to crash our economy in self defense. There will be no return to a triumphant third way. No center to regain. America is turning to the left. Why? Because of the abject failure of the center to curb the excess of the right.

The electorate has been propagandized for a dozen years or so now. But sadly, the force of reality has become too compelling for even masters like Karl Rove. The new center-left asked politely for abandonment of the status quo in 06. It will be far less polite to those who, by fall of 08 prove deaf to previous entreaty.

By the fall of 08, abandonment of the neocon strategy for oil hegemony won't just be a good idea, it will be the only viable alternative to economic strangulation.

We cannot afford Dem leaders who do not work actively and without reservation toward progressive goals.

There is the big tent, and there is the mullah Nasrudin's tent, under which the camel already has its nose. Guess which one more accurately models the current Dem party?