We Americans have a problem. We’re supposed to be a democracy responsive to the people. But polls show that policies favored by heavy majorities of Americans don’t get legislated by either or both parties in Congress. Instead, bills are passed that a majority of people either don’t care about, or view as a betrayal of […]
Entries from September 2010
A Global View of the Interactive Voter Choice System
September 30th, 2010 · Comments Off on A Global View of the Interactive Voter Choice System
Tags: Politics
We Need A Tax and Spend Party Again
September 27th, 2010 · Comments Off on We Need A Tax and Spend Party Again
It’s been nearly 35 years since we’ve had a “tax and spend” political party. During the 1970s, the Democrats gave up fighting the Republicans about the “tax and spend” label, and the Carter Administration tried to escape from that charge by making very serious attempts to balance the budget. During the 1980s, more and more […]
Tags: Politics
The Tenth Thing to Do – Not!!!
September 20th, 2010 · Comments Off on The Tenth Thing to Do – Not!!!
Earlier this month, Thomas Geoghegan wrote a piece for The Nation telling the Democrats the ten things they could do to really get the base excited, and at the same time do good things for the country. Here’s his list. 1. Raise Social Security to 50 percent of working income. 2. Let’s extend Medicare to […]
Tags: Politics
Loose Talk and Numbskull Notions At the Podesta/Holtz-Eakin Debate: Part Two
September 18th, 2010 · Comments Off on Loose Talk and Numbskull Notions At the Podesta/Holtz-Eakin Debate: Part Two
This is Part Two of a critical review of The National Journal’s Debate on “Our Fiscal Future” between John Podesta and Douglas Holtz-Eakin with Jim Tankersley moderating, at The George Washington University’s Jack Morton Auditorium. This part provides more observations and evaluation on some of the propositions offered by Holtz-Eakin and Podesta. H-E: Eliminating tax […]
Tags: Politics
Et Tu Bernie?
September 17th, 2010 · Comments Off on Et Tu Bernie?
Bernie Sanders appeared on Dylan Ratigan’s show yesterday talking about Elizabeth Warren’s appointment. Towards the end of his interview, he said a few words about his opposition to extending the Bush Tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. His proposal was to end the tax breaks the high income people, take the $700 Billion freed up, […]
Tags: Politics
2012: How U.S. Voters Can Wrest Control of Congress from Special Interests — Part V. How Voting Blocs Can Expand Their Electoral Bases by Increasing Their Membership and Building Electoral Coalitions with Existing Parties, New Parties, Labor Unions and Other Membership-Based Groups
September 17th, 2010 · Comments Off on 2012: How U.S. Voters Can Wrest Control of Congress from Special Interests — Part V. How Voting Blocs Can Expand Their Electoral Bases by Increasing Their Membership and Building Electoral Coalitions with Existing Parties, New Parties, Labor Unions and Other Membership-Based Groups
[Ed. note: This series has been re-posted by Joe Firestone (a.k.a. letsgetitdone) on behalf of author Nancy Bordier with her express permission.] By Nancy Bordier See the series introduction here. Voting blocs can attain the electoral strength they need to win Congressional elections even when their candidates face strong opponents with seductive messaging machines that […]
Tags: Politics
Loose Talk and Numbskull Notions At the Podesta/Holtz-Eakin Debate: Part One
September 16th, 2010 · Comments Off on Loose Talk and Numbskull Notions At the Podesta/Holtz-Eakin Debate: Part One
Tuesday night, I thought I’d attend The National Journal’s Debate on “Our Fiscal Future” between John Podesta and Douglas Holtz-Eakin with Jim Tankersley moderating at The George Washington University’s Marvin Center. I was interested because Podesta is often thought to be on the left-wing of “mainstream” opinion, and also it is said that he is […]
Tags: Politics
2012: How U.S. Voters Can Wrest Control of Congress from Special Interests — Part IV. How Voters Can Build Transpartisan Voting Blocs and Use Legislative Mandates to Get Control of Electoral and Legislative Processes
September 16th, 2010 · Comments Off on 2012: How U.S. Voters Can Wrest Control of Congress from Special Interests — Part IV. How Voters Can Build Transpartisan Voting Blocs and Use Legislative Mandates to Get Control of Electoral and Legislative Processes
[Ed. note: This series has been re-posted by Joe Firestone (a.k.a. letsgetitdone) on behalf of author Nancy Bordier with her express permission.] By Nancy Bordier See the series introduction here. This part discusses how individual voters can use the web-based tools and services provided by the Interactive Voter Choice System to set their policy agendas […]
Tags: Politics
2012: How U.S. Voters Can Wrest Control of Congress from Special Interests — Part III. Why and How Congressional Elections Can Be Won By Transpartisan Voting Blocs in 2012
September 15th, 2010 · Comments Off on 2012: How U.S. Voters Can Wrest Control of Congress from Special Interests — Part III. Why and How Congressional Elections Can Be Won By Transpartisan Voting Blocs in 2012
[Ed. note: This series has been re-posted by Joe Firestone (a.k.a. letsgetitdone) on behalf of author Nancy Bordier with her express permission.] By Nancy Bordier See the series introduction here. All U.S. House of Representatives seats and one third of Senate seats in Congress will be up for re-election in 2012. The U.S. House of […]
Tags: Politics
Unless You Want Another Recession, Don’t Pine For the Clinton Surpluses
September 14th, 2010 · Comments Off on Unless You Want Another Recession, Don’t Pine For the Clinton Surpluses
The other day, in one of their e-mails, Democracy For America (DFA) posed the choice for me in the 2010 elections this way: This election, the choice is clear: Republicans like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell want to retain the Bush-Cheney reckless tax cuts for the wealthy that created out of control budget deficits […]
Tags: Politics