Progressive Democrat Issue 97: THOUGHTS

This issue is dedicated to one more round of celebration over our big win this month, discussing some of the ideas and goals of the Democratic Party nationally and in various states. Anytime you hear someone say the Democrats have no ideas, remember the ideas and goals outlined here. I also have my usual discussion of America's creation myth, the myth of Thanksgiving.

Hope everyone is having a nice rest and has enjoyed a solid gloating about the election. For those who want some extra gloating, I recommend reading about a major Arab conference giving the elder Bush grief about his less-than appreciated son.

Table of Contents:

THANKSGIVING

A DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR AMERICA

A DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR NEW YORK STATE

A DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR BROOKLYN

A DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR IOWA

A DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR WISCONSIN

Progressive Democrat Issue 97: THANKSGIVING

Every year I write a special note regarding Thanksgiving. I think it is always good to examine our national myths as well as our national realities. And, as I indicated during my recent comments on Columbus Day, my thoughts regarding America's foundation myths have been recently affected both by my realization that my own family never would have survived had America not existed as a haven, and by the realization, reading about King Leopold II of Belgium's genocidal regime in the Congo, that the effects of colonialism on the natives of a nation for centuries after that colonial regime ends. But this year I have more hopeful thoughts at Thanksgiving, after the election, than I did at Columbus Day, before the election. The hope of the election reminds me of the real intention behind Thanksgiving, separate from its myth and its reality.

First off, one thing that Americans seldom consider is that Thanksgiving is an ambiguous holiday when viewed objectively. I, like most of us, love Thanksgiving because it is essentially our main feasting holiday, the day we all get together with friends and eat as much good food as we can stuff into our bloated bellies. But Thanksgiving, like Columbus Day, has two basic messages beyond the excuse to eat lots of food. The first, and most commonly recognized, meaning is a celebration of key events that led to our nation’s founding. We celebrate those who made our life today possible. Many of us have a particular reason to celebrate these holidays because without the founding of the United States, our families would not exist. I come from a family whose roots go back to Jewish communities in Germany and Lativia. We came to the United States early in the 1900’s, escaping one of many waves of anti-Jewish attacks in Europe. We came to the US and succeeded. Those of my family who remained in Germany or Latvia would almost certainly not have survived World War II. German and Latvian Jews were largely exterminated in the Holocaust. So in a very real way, I owe my life to the events celebrated (in almost mythical form) on Columbus Day and Thanksgiving. Without these events, the United States may never have been founded and my family may have had no place to go and we would have been exterminated. These holidays represent the opportunity given many of our families to find better, safer lives apart from the Old World prejudices.

But there is another side to the events celebrated on Columbus Day and Thanksgiving. For those descended from slaves or from Native Americans, these days represent the beginning and continuation of some of the most horrible series of events in World History. The spread and elaboration of slavery and the decimation of the Native American populations were also outcomes of the events celebrated on Columbus Day and Thanksgiving. These holidays represent BOTH the opportunities offered many of our families to survive and better our conditions, AND the horrors of slavery and genocide. We cannot deny either side of these holidays. Both sides are factual and are important.

But there is really a third side of Thanksgiving and that third side is the genuine intended meaning of the holiday. The holiday may commemorate vaguely real events from the 1600's, but it really dates from 1863 when Abraham Lincoln initiated a holiday in an attempt to reunify and reinspire Americans in the midst of a Civil War. Today, after the Democrats have soundly defeated the currently corrupt and anti-Constitution Republicans, this message or reunification and reinspiration is particularly important. The Republicans under Bush have been frightening and dividing us for years. Even before Bush, they were doing the same thing under the leadership of the now disgraced Newt Gingrich.

The Democrats, uniting progressives and moderates, represent renewed hope for a united and inspired America. One cannot find genuine inspiration in fear and divisiveness and greed. That is what Bush represents. We need to represent something different: unity, new ideas, progress, equality. This Thanksgiving I am contemplating the genuinely inspiring new ideas from Democrats that I have been highlighting since before the election.

It is right and proper for any nation to celebrate its foundation myths, and it is particularly appropriate to celebrate the opportunities offered to us by America at its best. And more than ever I want to celebrate the BEST side of America as represented by this year's alliance of progressives and moderates that defeated the right wing extremist Republicans. But I also want to acknowledge what was lost when our American culture was founded and spread. In this light I simply want to point people’s attention to a few ways to help the surviving Native Americans should you find that this makes your Thanksgiving even more special.

I will first mention the American Indian College Fund, which provides scholarships to American Indian students and helps Tribal Colleges. Education is part of the secret of my family’s success. Can we give the same kind of opportunity to those whose homes and rights were lost when this nation was founded? If you think we can, please donate to the American Indian College Fund.

I want to also mention the Native Energy Wind Farm project, which addresses alternative energy and Native American economies at the same time. They help build wind power generation projects in areas ideal for wind power and in many cases these projects are Native American-owned and operated. This project is a way to energy independence for America, to create new jobs right here in America (rather than in Saudi Arabia) and to create a solid economy in the Native American nations that co-exist within the borders of the United States. They also have a neat way that you can offset your personal carbon dioxide load by helping build alternative, clean energy for America.

Finally, I want to emphasize political rights for Native Americans. Education, economy and political power are what Native Americans need to survive. I cover education and economy above (as I did a year ago). For political power I want to remind you of a relatively new project started to help Native Americans who run for office as Democrats. This project is the Indigenous Democratic Network. From their website:

The Indigenous Democratic Network is the only grassroots political organization devoted to recruiting and electing Native American candidates and mobilizing the Indian Vote throughout America on behalf of those candidates. We are dedicated to making a unified Indian voice heard at the local, state and national levels by helping Indians build and run effective campaign organizations and to win elected offices across America.

In order to do so, we will be supporting a select group of Indian candidates for state and local offices across this land in 2006. This will be the first step in training a new generation of Indian leaders at the national level. The Indigenous Democratic Network identifies Democratic Indian candidates running for state and local office and recommends them to our members. INDN’s List will also keep members informed of political events and news headlines via, newsletters, e-mail alerts, direct mail, and our website.

In addition, as a member you will receive invitations to meet with other members, candidates and office-holders across the country. Your membership is what you make it. See “How to Help.”

Helping the Indigenous Democratic Network helps both the political power of Native Americans, AND helps the Democratic Party. Here is their website.

So if you want to celebrate our founding myths AND want to show your appreciation for the cultures we replaced/absorbed, donations to these groups may be a good addition to your Thanksgiving traditions, particularly in the context of the original intention of Thankgsgiving as a unifying holiday to bring all Americans together. I urge you to give a little bit to one of these groups this year and every year. That way your Thanksgiving celebration can celebrate BOTH the founding of the nation that has given most of us new opportunities AND the cultures that were hurt most by that process.

Click here to go back to THOUGHTS section and Table of Contents for this issue.

Progressive Democrat Issue 97: A NATIONAL PLAN

Here are my suggestions for a Democratic Agenda in Congress. I am choosing plans that make sense for the nation and that can either attract bipartisan support, or would show up Republican hypocricy if they don't go along with it. There are many other ideas I would have for where Democrats should lead us, but with a hostile media and a threatened Bush veto and recalcitrant Republicans in Congress preventing an override of Bush's veto, we have to accomplish what we can and I think the following are where we should start (in no particular order).

1. Help Working Americans, Raise the Minimum wage: The minimum wage has been stuck at $5.15 an hour since 1997, but corporate profits are at the highest level since 1929. It is time for a minimum wage increase. It isn't even keeping up with inflation, let alone with the increases in CEO profits.

2. Restore Fiscal Responsibility, Balance the budget: we did it before, year after year under Clinton. Let's do it again. Congress should challenge Bush to accomplish what Clinton was able to accomplish every year. If we can't do it now, let's work towards it rather than continue year after year the irresponsibility of Republican overspending.

3. Boost the Economy through Energy Independence means American Jobs: invest in alternative, clean, AMERICAN energy. Wind power costs the same as clean coal...and it is far cleaner. With 1995 technology the Great Plains states could have been energy exporters with wind power alone. That was more than 10 years ago. In Iowa, farmers make more money by allowing wind generation on their land than they do selling their farm products. Farmers are increasingly adding wind generation on their farms to supplement their income. Investment in wind and biofuels will help reduce our trade deficit, create American jobs, help our farmers and clean up our air. Other technologies (geothermal, solar) should be encouraged where appropriate. We should have done it 10 or 20 years ago. Let's not wait any longer. It's good for the economy and it's good for the environment.

4. Accountability in Iraq: Demand the Bush Administration makes a clear and detailed exit strategy for Iraq before any more money is allocated to fighting in Iraq. Also demand that veterans benefits be restored and combat pay increased and demand oversight of the contracts to rebuild Iraq before any more money is allocated or a new Secretary of Defense is approved. Halliburton and Exxon should not be making record profits over the deaths of our soldiers. Demand Accountability!

5. Clean Up Washington, Campaign Finance Reform: end the culture of corruption that has been thriving in Washington over the last 6 years.

6. No More Katrina Disasters, Restore America's Wetlands and Infrastructure: Wetlands protect settled areas and save lives. Restoration of America's infrastructure creates jobs and benefits our roads and cities. Restore levees, roads, bridges, etc. No one loses.

7. Fair Taxes: end the tax relief for the very wealthy and help the poor and middle class. Bush's tax cuts benefitted the top 1% the most. Make the richest pay their fair share. Make big corporations, whose profits are reaching record highs, pay their fair share of taxes.

8. Stop the Terrorists: the number one suggestion for stopping terrorists is NOT wiretapping American citizens, but is cutting off their funding. Clinton tried implementing this by closing loopholes in international financing, but Bush stopped it. Let's cut off the funds that terrorists depend on. Demand more from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in stopping al-Qaeda funding and training. Partner with Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan and other nations with al-Qaeda problems to end those problems. The war in Iraq and saber rattling against Iran does NOTHING to stop those who attacked us. In fact they have made us LESS SAFE and al-Qaeda MORE POPULAR in the Muslim world. It is time to refocus our efforts back to fighting al-Qaeda.

9. Restore the Fairness Doctrine: The news media should not be a propoganda machine for either party. The Fairness Doctrine requires both sides get to be heard. Let's go back to fairness.

Click here to go back to THOUGHTS section and Table of Contents for this issue.

Progressive Democrat Issue 97: A PLAN FOR NY STATE

NY State government has been ranked as among the most disfunctional in the nation. Corruption is rife. Inefficiency is endemic. Often, nothing of any substance gets done. I hear frequently from Joan Millman (Assemby) and Marty Connor (State Senate) about how frustrating it is trying to actually accomplish anything in the dysfunctional, Pataki era of Albany. Things may be about to change.

Here in New York State we may not have taken the State Senate (more on THAT in a later issue) but we now have a strong Democratic Governor coming in coupled with a continuing Democratic majority in the Assembly. Reform is in the air as long as the Republican State Senate can be embarassed into doing the right thing. For my suggested plan for reform in Albany, I will defer to Michael Bouldin, my fellow contributing editor at Daily Gotham. Here is his diary on what should be done in Albany:

Since we're now entering an era of reform – "Day One, everything changes" – here are some things I'd like to see in Albany:

Reform now: Implement the full Brennan Center reforms. Three men in a room doesn't work and is an embarrassment to our state and our legislature. We're paying the price every day, via low citizen interest in the legislature, opaque legislative processes, wasteful pork-barrel spending, neutered legislators and an ongoing decline of vast reaches of the state. End it.

Non-partisan redistricting: Nationwide, the DLCC reports electing 275 new Democratic state legislators. In New York, we managed two, or maybe one and a half, depending on whether Spano manages to suppress enough votes to fend of Andrea Stewart-Cousins again. That would leave Janele Hyer-Spencer standing alone on the state's stage.

The gerrymandering and incumbency protection racket practiced by both Houses of the legislature is a disgrace to citizens. Republicans concerned about their senate majority might consider that redistricting could bring them gains as well as losses in the future. It's so simple that it's almost embarrassing to mention, but legislators worried about their re-election tend to be more responsive to the concerns of voters. The model to follow is Iowa's, which lets an independent, non-partisan commission draw districts. What we should not be doing is allowing legislators to select the people who will be voting for them by drawing their own districts; that turns the dynamic of them serving us on its head, quite literally.

Transparency: New York has about 800 or so public authorities, monstrous hybrid creatures equipped with the sovereign power of the state and the protections and autonomy afforded to private businesses. The public should be able to see simple and basic things like a real profit-and-loss statement for the MTA. We own them, and they need to be accountable to we the people.

Campaign finance reform: The donation limit for state races is an absurd $50,100. In New York, corporations can give money to candidates and committees. This system, together with the other manifold protections afforded incumbents, gives us a re-elect rate of close to 100%, and serves as an entirely legal enticement to bribery. The City's campaign finance model – matching small-dollar donations with public funds – works, and should be applied statewide; and as far as self-funding candidates are concerned, that loophole needs to be closed, too.

The upstate economy: one model that has vitalized moribund regions is the infrastructure fund of the European Union, which pumps Euros into struggling regions of Europe, and has created economic miracles in places as diverse as Ireland and Spain. What's needed today is a smarter and more contemporary version of the Erie Canal. Just to give one example, it makes little sense to give Goldman-Sachs a billion-dollar incentive to build in downtown (rather than midtown) while entire regions of the state wither.

Ground Zero: five years later, the pit is still there. Can we start taking this seriously for a change, instead of abusing the site for republican propaganda like the 2004 laying of a cornerstone for the Freedom Tower?

There's so much more to do after twelve years of do-nothing Pataki-ism. But it needs to be done.

Click here to go back to THOUGHTS section and Table of Contents for this issue.

Progressive Democrat Issue 97: A PROGRESSIVE PLAN FOR BROOKLYN

Some of you were there, but for those who weren't, Chris Owens, son of Congressman Major Owens, has outlined his vision for the Brooklyn progressive grassroots in a recent meeting in Prospect Heights.

I am both a big fan and a big critic of the progressive grassroots. I think at their best, it is the progressive grassroots that can bring out the best in American government. And this recent election showed the worth of such grassroots movements like Act Blue, Progressive Majority and MoveOn.org. But one of my main criticisms of the progressive grassroots is their lack of unity and ability to stick it out for the long haul. Even going from the primary to the general election, sometimes the grassroots loses momentum.

Chris Owens, a favorite grassroots progressive in Brooklyn, is doing his best to make the grassroots in Brooklyn both more unified and more effective with a new initiative called New Brooklyn Leadership. He announced this new initiative at a recent party he threw for some of his supporters in Brooklyn.

At its root, this is an attempt to keep together the very active, very dedicated grassroots coalition that rallied around Chris Owens' recent candidacy for Congress and to hone that coalition into a more effective and lasting tool. And it was a good start. Members of two rival local reform Democratic clubs were there. Members of the Green Party were there, including former Brooklyn BP candidate Gloria Mattera. Daily Gotham's own anti-Green enthusiast Michael Bouldin was there. Members of Develop, Don't Destroy Brooklyn were there. Bigwigs from New Democratic Majority were there. It was, in short, a pretty good cross section of the recent Norm Seigel (2005) and Chris Owens (2006) campaigns and probably the most active participants in Brooklyn's sometimes thin grassroots. There were over 100 people in the room at one time, and people were coming and going, indicating that many more were probably there at some time or another.

Chris Owens, Bill Batson and Eric Adams were the three recent Democratic candidates I saw there. I was quite happy to see these three together because, although they are not always on the same page on all issues, these are the three 2006 candidates I highlighted as examples of what I call a "community candidate," a candidate who has already shown true dedication to the community, establishing a relationship of service to the community before asking the community to support his or her candidacy for office. It was great to see these three excellent and highly dedicated community activists together, and it was great to once again congratulate Eric Adams in his election to the State Senate. Many at Chris Owens' event spoke of having high hopes for Eric Adams in the State Senate despite the Republican domination of that branch of our State government.

New Brooklyn Leadership will hopefully be the ongoing result of last night's enthusiasm. Here are the Principles of New Brooklyn Leadership as announced by Chris [with my comments in brackets]:

1. New Brooklyn Leadership supports public policies that promote and establish peaceful relationships between people and nations, recognizing that all people are equal. [This approach to foreign policy has precedents in efforts by Woodrow Wilson through Jimmy Carter. As a principle it is a good place to start considering foreign policy, even though I feel Theodore Roosevelt was also right in saying it helps to have a big stick to back up peaceful policies].

2. New Brooklyn Leadership supports public policies that protect the lives of United States residents through strong security measures and maximized civil rights and liberties. [Amen! This is what I am talking about when I say we should focus on al-Qaeda, not Iraq, and when I say that Bush has helped the terrorists defeat us by throwing out our Constitution in his failed fight to "bring Democracy to Iraq." I also think this is where Steve Harrison was coming from when he faulted Bush lap dog Vito Fossella for his support of the unPatriot Act and his failure to call for screening of all cargo coming into our ports. Protect American citizens and liberties together!]

3. New Brooklyn Leadership supports public policies that promote and establish equitable social, economic and political outcomes for all Americans, including quality public education, affordable and accessible health care, and quality and affordable housing. [Sounds like a good summary of the Democratic Party platform from FDR on.]

4. New Brooklyn Leadership supports public policies that recognizes that a diverse collection of strategies and methodologies must be employed to ensure successful, positive outcomes for constituencies. [I take this to mean both Democrats and Greens are welcome and respected...]

New Brooklyn Leadership's Vision: An electorate in Brooklyn that is motivated and mobilized to vote in every election for candidates who represent the best interests of the borough and of each individual jurisdiction. [Excellent idea! I have been pushing the grassroots to focus on elections like judicial elections, county committee, district leader, Brooklyn DA, etc. Hopefully this new movement will help to focus grassroots attention on more than just infighting and bring out a better effort for people like Paul Wooten, whose run for Brooklyn DA sadly fell below the radar of most progressive activists.]

Mission: To maximize voter registration and voter turnout within Brooklyn regardless of an individual voter's profile through the development of appropriate outreach methodologies and the development of quality candidates for public and party offices.

Goals:

1. To prepare voter-related resources that are current, thorough and user-friendly.

2. To increase overall voter turnout by increasing the number and percentage of younger voters who cast votes to a level that parallels turnout within other age cohorts.

3. To utilize various strategies and methodologies to create the infrastructure needed to support the vision and mission of New Brooklyn Leadership, including the use of not-for-profit and for-profit business entities as well as political organizations.

Let's see where this goes.

Click here to go back to THOUGHTS section and Table of Contents for this issue.

Progressive Democrat Issue 97: NYC DEMOCRATIC FORUM: What our big win means for NY and for the nation

The local Brooklyn Club, Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND) is hosting a celebration of this year's massive Democratic win on November 30th at 7 PM at Kane Street Synagogue, 236 Kane St. between Court and Clinton Streets. They are opening this event up to other Democratic organizations (hence the larger than usual venue) and I have offered to spread the word. So, you all are invited and are invited to invite others!

Special guests will be:

Hank Sheinkopf: political consultant and NY-1 Political Roundtable panelist.

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez: incoming Chairwoman or the House Small Business Committee.

A DCCC Field Strategist from Washington, D.C. (as yet unnamed?)

Congressman Charles Rangel: incoming Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Speakers will discuss the election and what it means, and will take
Questions and Answers.

Hope to see you all there!

Progressive Democrat Issue 97: DEMOCRATIC VISION: IOWA'S NEW GOVERNOR

Continuing my celebration of the Democratic victory of 2006, and starting to look to the future and what Democrats want to accomplish, I present to you the words of Governor-elect of Iowa, Chet Culver:

As your next Governor, I pledge to be true to our Iowa values, and to meet our many challenges by applying a little Iowa common sense every day.

I have said throughout the course of this campaign that Iowa is at a crossroads. Tonight, Iowans have spoken loudly and clearly!

They want to continue on the path of progress set by Governor Vilsack and Lt. Governor Pederson.

Iowans believe as I do, this is no time to slow down, to stop or retreat.

It is time to build on our strengths in education, agriculture and manufacturing to create jobs in every part of the state.

It’s time to make Iowa the national leader in all forms of renewable energy and alternative fuels.

We can literally help fuel the world.

Throughout this campaign I have been inspired by the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, who said “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

Well, I believe, as former Governor Harold Hughes did, that Iowa’s future is unlimited.

I believe we can give 250,000 hard working Iowans the raise they haven’t had in 15 years by raising the minimum wage.

I believe we can raise teacher pay to at least the national average and begin to pay our teachers across this state what they are worth.

I believe we can lift the ban on stem cell research and give hope and potentially lifesaving cures to countless Iowans who are suffering today.

And finally, I believe we can fight for our seniors and veterans and allow them to retire with the respect and dignity they deserve by finding a way to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.

One of my political heroes, President John F. Kennedy, often quoted the Irish writer George Bernard Shaw, who said, “some people see things as they are, and say, ‘why?’ I dream of things that never were and say – ‘why not?’”

Well, I agree.

Why can’t we create the Silicon Valley of the Midwest and bring the jobs of the future here to Iowa?

Why can’t we become the first state in the nation to declare our independence from foreign oil?

Why can’t we find a way to provide health care coverage to the 58,000 kids and and nearly 250,000 Iowans who don’t have it tonight?

Why can’t we help our young people achieve their God-given potential here in Iowa? Let’s reduce the cost of college and give every high-school senior in our state the opportunity to earn a year of college credit before they graduate from high school?

Iowa’s future and our dreams belong to all of us. We are all in this together.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a Democrat, Republican or independent.

It doesn’t matter whether you live in rural Iowa or urban Iowa.

It doesn’t matter whether you live in the eastern, central or western part of the state.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a senior citizen or the youngest person in the state.

And it doesn’t matter what you do for a living.

What does matter, however, is that we work together to build One Iowa.

That’s why tonight I am inviting all Iowans, young and old, Democrats, Republicans and independents, to help us tap our state’s unlimited potential.

It is important to remember, if we hope to accomplish our collective dreams and fulfill Iowa’s potential, we must lock arms, come together as one, and begin the work of leading this state we all love forward!

I know that together we will put our Iowa values and Iowa common sense to work and achieve the greatness we all know is possible in Iowa.

Thank you very much!

And let me remind you that the Iowa Democratic Party actively encourages you to express your opinions in the media. Become a member of the Iowa Democratic Party Alert the Media Team! ALL state parties should have this kind of system.

Click here to go back to THOUGHTS section and Table of Contents for this issue.

Progressive Democrat Issue 97: DEMOCRATIC VISION: WISCONSIN'S STATE SENATE

From the Press Release of State Senator Robson regarding the new direction for the Wisconsin State Senate:

Democrats to Focus on Health Care, Education, Good Jobs

Senate Democrats are ready to get to work for Wisconsin families, Senate Democratic Leader Judy Robson said after Democrats picked up four seats to take control of the State Senate.
“The election results sent a clear message that people across Wisconsin want a legislature that represents and fights for their interests along with those of their families, neighbors, and friends,” Robson said.

“A Democratic majority in the State Senate means the people of this state will see a meaningful debate on the best ways to lower health care costs, create more family supporting jobs, and strengthen our schools.

“At every door we knocked on and at every restaurant we walked through in places like Eau Claire, Racine, and Wauwatosa, we heard the message loud and clear that people want a legislature that works for them,” Robson said.

Robson noted that Senate Democrats look forward to working with Governor Doyle on his affordability agenda for Wisconsin families.

“Senate Democrats stand united and ready to work with Governor Doyle on fighting for what Wisconsin residents truly value: health care that’s more affordable and accessible, strong public schools, and vibrant communities,” Robson said.

“By placing their trust in Senate Democrats, the voters of this state have presented us with a tremendous opportunity to keep Wisconsin moving forward.”

“I appreciate the graciousness shown by Senator Dale Schultz and his staff in this transition. It has been my tremendous pleasure to work with Senator Schultz. Together we have set an example for how to maintain respect, civility and decorum in politics.”

For more on the vision the Wisconsin Democratic Party has for Wisconsin and the nation, please go here and click on the various issues listed on the right.

And the Wisconsin Democratic Party urges you to express your opinion to the Wisconsin media. Please go here for more information.

Click here to go back to THOUGHTS section and Table of Contents for this issue.