Can Democrats Landslide Republicans?

Can Democrats Landslide Republicans?

I often ask Congressional Democrats these days: "If you agree
that your Republican counterparts in Congress are the most craven,
corporatist, fact-denying, falsifying, anti-99 percent, militaristic
Republicans in the party's history, then why are you not landsliding
them?" Their responses are largely in the form of knowing smiles and
furrowed brows.

There are answers that are more specific to account for the large
election losses in 2010, the loss of the House of Representatives to
John Boehner and Eric Cantor, and the prospect of losing the House and
the Senate this November. Chief among them is that the two parties are
vigorously dialing for the same commercial dollars to finance their
campaigns. The resultant inhibitions and self-censorships bring the
parties' real agendas closer together, erasing the bright lines that
make elections clearer choices for voters.

Here are eight initiatives that could landslide the Republicans in
November's Congressional contests. It starts with a ringing declaration
that recalls the legendary labor rally challenge: "Whose side are you
on?" With the two parties often seen as Republicrats or DemReps, due to
the lack of credible, distinct differences on military, foreign policy,
trade, agribusiness, energy and corporate crime/welfare subjects, among
others, such a proclamation of "we the people" helps frame the details
of this fresh approach, as follows.

First, resurrect the old Democratic Party's historic safeguarding of
federal minimum wage and labor laws from Republican dissolution. It is
astonishing that, since the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy, there have
been so few high-profile champions in Congress for restoring the minimum
wage - now $7.25 per hour - to its inflation-adjusted level of 1968
which today would be $10.00 per hour. That long overdue move would pour
tens of billions of dollars into job-producing consumer demand during
this recession. It would end a decades-long windfall for employers who
have been increasing their prices and salaries while receiving many tax
breaks during that period. To objections from the curled-lip House
Republican Eric Cantor, the reply is: "You don't believe workers in your
district should make as much as workers made 44 years ago when their
productivity was half what it is today, Eric?"

The scholar who showed that keeping minimum wages current doesn't
cost jobs is Alan Krueger, now President Obama's chief economic advisor.
In 2008, Mr. Obama himself pledged to push for a $9.50 minimum wage by
2011.

Second, announce the filing
of legislation that declares immediate drafting of all able-bodied and
age-qualified children and grandchildren of all members of Congress any
time that branch or the president plunge us into another war. Besides
forcing Congress to pay attention to its Constitutional responsibilities
to declare or not declare war, this legislation would ring with the
authenticity of responsible humble servants becoming part of the risk
presently hoisted on a few million, mostly low income, families.

Third, cut the huge, bloated, wasteful military budget, really end
the wars, and switch the expected savings into repairing and renovating
America through a public works program all over the country with
good-paying, non-exportable jobs.

Fourth, shift much of the tax burdens to activities we do not like,
such as pollution, huge Wall Street speculation, corporate crime waves
and profits from systemic product waste. Even Exxon/Mobil supports the
idea of a carbon tax, which would help the environment. The motto: tax
what you burn before you tax what you earn.

Fifth, announce a national energy conversion campaign based on
efficiency and renewables. The only true energy independence comes from
the sun in its many manifestations. This will create more local
employment and small businesses down to the community-neighborhood
levels. Goodbye to the toxic fossil fuel and atomic energy cartels.

Sixth, crack down on corporate and governmental violations of our
Constitution and laws. No more no-fault government and no-more no-fault
big business. If the law is to be observed in the streets, then it must
be observed in the suites. People are being pushed around, disrespected,
defrauded, injured, and given the runaround from arrogant corporate
bureaucrats using nameless, robotic and tyrannical "fine print"
barricades. There have to be accountabilities that the abused citizens
can invoke.

Seventh is a proposal to establish a national complaint-handling
system using the internet to help consumers, taxpayers and workers, for a
change. You got a beef with your insurance company, bank, energy
company, pension fund, cable company, hospital,
telephone/gas/water/electric utility, or some government agency you
can't get through to file your complaint.

A complaint-handling system will save billions of hours wasted on
just trying to get through, much less getting your complaint heard. It
will also be a good way to aggregate complaints to detect patterns for
policy-making and enforcement corrections. Patterns lead to deterrence,
fewer complaints, and fewer dollar losses. What a way to show
sensitivity to the daily irritations and frustrations of the American
people!

Eighth, create a democracy movement based on simple facilities for
people who choose to band together in various roles. In return for what
you the taxpayers have had to spend to bail out and otherwise privilege
these large companies, the Democratic party can press for inserts in
their billing systems and other corporate carriers inviting you to
voluntarily join and contribute dues to a nonprofit staffed with
full-time champions of your causes as consumers, patients, workers and
taxpayers (inserts could also be sent in the communications from tax
collecting agencies) directly accountable to you. No results, then no
dues next time, and no taxpayer subsidies. These facilities would shift
some power from the haves to the have-nots.

Imagine the public discussion, excitement and participation these
eight proposals would provoke. Previous non-voters along with regular
voters would see they have a stake in these elections and that one of
the major parties at least wants to be on their side, and strive to earn
their trust by empowering them directly.