How About Some Ideas for the Democrats?
As they seem to be dry...
by Alan Benesi
Democrats should run with the idea that they are the party of people who have to work for a living, not the party of the rich and greedy. Democrats believe in a fair deal and a level playing field for everyone. Here are some ideas that live up to these ideals:
1.
Save Social Security and Medicare by eliminating the cap on income ($87000) that is taxed for those programs. The rich have benefited the most (materially) from the laws and protections of our country. They can afford to pay back a bit.
2.
Tax capital gains for what they are: income. Apply payroll taxes to them as well (i.e. social security and medicare taxes). Why should a rich guy sitting on his yacht in the Caribbean pay less tax than a working person punching the time clock 8-5 every day? Republicans will scream that this will inhibit investment, but that is a bogus argument because the capital gains tax doesn’t kick in unless the person sells the investment for a profit and puts the money in his/her bank account!!! Income is income, and should be taxed in the same way whether or not you have to work for it.
3.
Eliminate corporate taxes. This should increase jobs, and will be more than made up for by the previous two ideas. Republicans will be flabbergasted.
4.
Eliminate tax loopholes and simplify the tax code (but keep it progressive). Reinstate the Estate tax for inheritances greater than several million dollars. The inherited estate is income for Junior (who never paid taxes on it), and should be taxed as such.
5.
Legalize marijuana and sell it in state-run stores. Use the proceeds to set up drug treatment centers across the nation. Find a better marijuana test (that doesn’t give a positive test 6 hours after use) so that cops can bust drivers “under the influence” without unduly harassing someone who smoked yesterday.
6.
Use funds from ideas 2 and 4 (and possibly 5) to pay for a national health insurance plan. When the Republican morons start screaming about socialism, point out that their favorite thing in the whole wide world (the U. S. armed forces) is a socialistic government program. Watch with glee as they say “Duhhh….”
7.
Preserve all pristine wilderness areas on Federal lands by making them part of the national park system or new wilderness areas. Why should we destroy the last of our virgin wilderness? Greece cut down their forests and created a desert. Britain cut down the forests of Robin Hood. There are presently no large tracts of forest in either nation. Do we learn from their mistakes or do we listen to idiots like G.W. Bush?
8.
Emphasize that we are the true Christian party because we help the poor and downtrodden, and we don’t force our beliefs on others. We don’t make war on others unless they make war on us.
9.
Get some tough, witty and eloquent pundits on AM talk radio to counterbalance the lying idiots who are there now. We have to reach out to all the people who have been brainwashed by listening to right wing lies day in and day out.
10.
Get to the root of the terrorist problem by helping Islamic countries set up an education system that does not spread hatred. Quit mollycoddling Israel and make them give some of their land back for a Palestinian state.
