Let's find BIG Progressive Dem themes for 2013-2014

[Ken Burch]

These won't be enacted by the incoming Congress...but they can help us FLIP the House and shore up the Senate in '14...by building MASS popular mobilization for the 2014 elections:

1)Balance The Budget by Cutting the War Budget("War Cost Too Much" could be the slogan).

2)Full-Employment by ANY Means Necessary(including big public works programs).

3)Reduce Welfare By Increasing Education Access(including low tuition or FREE tuition for all).

This means getting the whole party to push hard, for the first time since 1980, for the idea that government isn't actually evil...but it's a fight we can win.

Add your ideas below.

[Skittles]

1. put less money into prisons

and more money into programs that deal with troubled juveniles - help stop our young folk from BECOMING criminals

[Ken Burch]

2. Money for EDUCATION, not Prisons...that's a good one.

Jesse Jackson used to make the point about how much less it would cost to send people to college than to prison...at the time, nobody listened...but damn it, he was right.

[Fumesucker]

4. That's an excellent idea, however

Even here on DU there is a sizable "lock em up and throw away the key" contingent.

Sometimes from posters I wouldn't expect it from too.

[Skittles]

7. yup

just part of the large number of DUers who DO.NOT.FUCKING.GET.IT.

[Freddie]

3. "Government that works for people who work"

Refute the idea that the only people who want active government are lazy moochers.

[Ken Burch]

5. Especially if we tie it into a push for "Jobs for ALL"

And the idea that "Those Without Work WANT To Work".

We need to challenge the idea that the bulk of the jobless are jobless by choice, and to insist that jobs be as easy to obtain as possible.

[LisaLynne]

6. Repair/Update the infrastructure.

Business needs it. Workers need it. The country needs it.

This could be done in conjunction with a public works program and it would be awesome! And maybe we could even (gasp) start talking about more green public transit? Dare I mention RAIL?

[PETRUS]

8. Full employment

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

9. Takeoff on number two.

Penalize (tax) US corporations that outsource jobs held by Americans to other countries.

[JDPriestly]

10. Great ideas!