Democratic Party Reform: A Just Cause

I have been persuaded by a colleague that I deeply respect, trust, and admire, to get on board the Democratic Party reform bandwagon.  I must say at the outset that my gut instinct, in the wake of my experience in Denver this past August, was to do what I could to destroy the Democratic Party.  It is a cancer that has spawned a fascist tumor called Obama.  The graft and corruption of many of its politicians on Capitol Hill is playing a very prominent roll in the economic crisis we are currently facing, which is why it is a complete joke that Chuck Schumer, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid have anything to do with any "solution" regarding this mess.  It's deconstructing of its own democratic machinations, and its overt approval of voter fraud, voter suppression, violation of First Amendment rights, and voter intimidation is frightening, and should scare the hell out of every American.

When it comes to these situations I fall in line with John Adams who said that once a political institution assails liberty it cannot be redeemed: 

Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. 

I also fall in line with Jefferson who believed that no matter the intentions and spirit of a government, eventually it would be corrupted:

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.

We are at the nexus of those congruent thoughts.  

I must admit that I am cynical regarding the prospect of wresting the Democratic Party from the cesspoolers who have laid waste to its values.  I will name the most prominent players again: Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Barack Obama, Alexis Herman, Don Fowler, Carol Fowler, Alice Germond, Leah Daughtry.  I am an idealist.  If you say you stand for something I expect you to mean it, which is why I never at any time supported, or entertained supporting Obama, as he has never stood for any of the things he claims to represent; least of all hope and change...at least not the change I want or believe in. But I must put my cynicism regarding reform aside (not an easy task I can assure you) because the need of the nation absolutely requires that something be done.  To leave the Democratic Party to fester on the fascist, anti-constitutional bender it has been on since 2004, to allow it to continue to operate on the American political stage in its current state is, at best, irresponsible.

What do I want the Democratic Party to stand for?

1. Passage of the ERA
2. Equal Protections for ALL under the Constitution, including LGBTs (civil rights is not a black struggle: it's a human thing).
3. One Person One Vote
4. Universal Healthcare
5. An affordable and accessible college education
6. No caucuses
7. Winner take all primaries
8. A constitutional government that represents the will of the people, not political expediency, while safeguarding the rights of the minority.
9. Fiscal responsibility represented by balanced federal budgets.
10. Energy independence gained through renewable sources that do not pollute the planet; a truly green economy.
11. Government that does not impede entrepreneurial spirit, but also does not reward economic inequity.
12. Government that protects the freedom of expression of the people's will.
13. Government that aggressively pursues peace, is vigilant against those that would do us harm, and goes to war to defend the defenseless in just cause.
14. Reproductive freedom; which means protecting the choice a woman makes whether it be terminating her pregnancy, or carrying it to term.  This plank also includes supporting planned parenthood, adoption advocacy, birth control education, and civic support for women, particularly teenagers who chose to have their child.
15. Protection of the social safety net.
16. Advocacy for young children including early childhood education and environmental defense.
17. The right of privacy and habeas corpus.
18. A staunch and unyielding defense of FDR's four freedoms.

This is just the beginning.  What would you like to see a real Democratic Party represent?  Add to the list.

cross-posted at FDR