David Brooks criticizes the "conservative mess" in today's NYTimes
...and perhaps Democrats could look there for some policy suggestions...
For example, what has to be done for Democrats to attract key rural and suburban working class "marrieds?" It's really not that hard to do...
More emphasis should be placed on the economic issues; and less on the social issues...
Secondly, to get around the "raising taxes" bugaboo...Democrats should starting talking about how well the rich have done over the last 20 years; compared to the working classes in America.
In other works, TAXING THE RICH...has to become politically acceptable again...
But it should all be phrased in an ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE MESSAGE...a FAIR DEAL so to speak.
If Democrats can only get over trying to be Republican-Lite--they may be able to attract these exurban marrieds that are so key to winning elections.
Instead of being "weak on defense" and "pro-tax" Democrats should start fashioning a "FAIR DEAL" message for the coming election cycles...in 2006 and 2008.
And that should not be hard to do...consider the health care mess...the pension mess...the asset bubbles...the jobs to Asia problem...the environmental issues in the US and in China, etal.
The conservative Big Lie that the Democrats have "nothing to say" is simply not true
...but the Democrats have to embrace economic fairness...and sustainable economic policies...
And NO just advocating printing more money to have even more asset bubbles is not sustainable...! The Greenspan era is over!
A "FAIR DEAL" MESSAGE IS THERE...IF ONLY...THE DEMOCRATS WILL SEIZE THE DAY...
CARPE DIEM...!
