The dems need to reframe their answer to the economic problems being inherited from republican rule. The repos claim they believe in a free market, but of course they don't. Example, the massive bailouts going on now of banks that lobbied to have regulations removed that let them perpetrate this fraud to begin with. The money is gone - it went somewhere. Someone "earned" it.
The dems come along and say, "I'll take taxes and create a fund to help out the poor people who can't afford their mortgages." All the repos and independents hear is, "I'll take taxes." The dems walk right into the buzz saw. Dumb.
Try keeping pointing out who got us into the mess and HOW. Propose solutions based on addressing the problems in more creative ways. For example, dem candidates are talking about finally removing tax benefits to shipping jobs overseas. Makes sense for everyone living and working here. If the repos want corporate taxes cut, how about agreeing to cutting taxes on profits made domestically, but maybe even raising them on profits earned in China. Why? Because we are being expected to pay for regulating these products because China isn't. So, it's consistent with repo philosophy that they should pay their own way.
The mortgage mess was, unfortunately, probably mostly legal. Lobbyists got regulation removed that would have prevented it. The industry needs to be re-regulated before they do it again. To the degree that it was predatory - it needs to be aggressively investigated and people sent to jail for it. It's as if corporate America is simply above the law.
The revolving door between government and industry has got to be stopped. The latest and worst example is Greenspan going to work for a guy that made billions off the mortgage FRAUD that Greenspan presided over. There needs to be a clear line between public service and private profit. Civil service needs to be a respected profession again.
The health care problem can't be fixed without acknowledging the profit line it represents. Even if universal care cannot be immediately realized, its benefit ought to be acknowledged. In the meantime, the monopolies in health care and the insurance industry profits could be put on the infamous table.
In other words, don't let the repos frame democratic solutions as being tax-based only. There are "competitive" moves that could be made on excessive corporate profits. For instance, the price of oil. I've never heard anyone suggest regulating the market even though speculation is currently estimated to be adding $20/barrel. It's a case of letting the foxes guard the hen house. Why not manipulate the market that allows you to sell your product for more?
Don't move to the middle. Tell the middle that it's time for them to realize that the free market pipe dream they bought needs a rethink. We were told to compete with the Chinese. Some Chinese are living in slave conditions. They sleep in company barracks and buy at company stores. Do we really want to compete with that?
Here's another example: "monitorships." This isn't capitalism; it's cronyism, and its destroying our country. The repos want to go back to demanding cuts in social programs, but this aspect remains unaddressed.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3139914
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