I hope I am not informing you for the first time, Mr. Dean, that NAFTA is a free trade agreement, not a fair trade agreeement. And all other subsequent agreements passed which have been supported by the Democratic Party were free not fair also. In fact, currently, Democrats are expected to approve of a Peru Free Trade Agreement and following that a Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Mr. Dean, there is no fair trade agenda here. You are using the wrong word and misleading Americans who support fair trade.
As far as education goes, the party wishes “to provide every child with a strong foundation of education.” If that does not involve repealing the No Child Left Behind Act, and it most certainly doesn’t or else it would be stated here, than what do the Democrats plan on doing? Are they going to begin to teach children the importance of citizen and leadership skills in America? Or are they going to continue to use flawed education that pumps out drones unprepared to think and instead ready to participate in low-paying service jobs? Are we going to seriously work towards educating Americans so they can pursue this “American dream” we pound children with while they are growing up?
5. Affordable Health Care: The Democratic agenda states that Democrats “will join 36 other industrialized nations in making sure everyone has access to affordable health care, starting by fixing the prescription drug program and investing in stem cell and other medical research.” How about joining the 28 industrialized nations that have single-payer health care, Mr. Dean? How about ending this perpetuated myth that corporate health care, or our current health care system in America, is “democratic, represents freedom, and is the most efficient system for delivering health care?
6. Secure Retirement: Plans in this agenda would allow Americans the right to “retirement with dignity”, which is “the right and expectation of every single American, starting with pension reform, expanding saving incentives and preventing the privatization of social security.” This plan fails to mention the Elder Justice Act or fighting to end abuse of our elderly in nursing homes. If fighting nursing home abuse is too daunting, let me know. The American people will help you find replacements from other parties, etc. to stand up for our elderly. After all that they’ve done for our nation, they deserve respect in the last stage of their life.
7. Environment: Placing an emphasis on environment and our nation’s natural resources, this portion of the agenda states that Democrats “reject the false choice between a healthy economy and a healthy environment. Farming, fishing, tourism, and other industries require a healthy environment. New technologies that protect the environment will create new high-paying jobs. A cleaner environment means a stronger economy.” The next paragraph says, “far too many Americans live with unhealthy air or water quality. Democrats will fight to strengthen the laws that ensure we have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. And Democrats will make sure these laws are enforced.” In that, I find many of the same flaws that I did in the Energy Independence portion.
Again, how do I know, Mr. Dean, that all will be done for the American worker and not the American CEO? And how do I know you will take action to make sure the air I breathe is clean? Do Democrats plan on protecting Americans from Clear Skies initiatives or acts that aren't truly for "clear skies"?
8. Civil Rights & Justice: Here the Democatic agenda proclaims that, “on every civil rights issue, Democrats have led the fight.” The agenda adds that Democrats, “support vigorous enforcement of existing laws, and remain committed to protecting fundamental civil rights in America.” This is misleading and half-true.
Mr. Dean, this agenda is once again comparing the party to Republicans, who have no policy or who have been rolling back civil rights reforms since Bush took office. Anything you do, Mr. Dean, would be better and warrant our support.
If Democrats truly cared about civil rights & justice, the party would be pursuing impeachment vigorously. If Democrats truly cared about civil rights & justice, the party would be properly addressing the issue of wiretapping in America. And if Democrats truly cared about civil rights & justice, a bill for legalizing same-sex marriage would be passed. There is much more but these are all actions that if taken would prove the party really cared.
9. Election Reform: For election reform, the agenda states that, “a fundamental tenet of our democracy is the right to vote and have that vote counted. We must be vigilant in protecting this right and ensuring that our voting system is fair for every American.” Right, because if that is not done, Democrats won’t be able to run lousy and weak candidates that play off the “anybody but a Republican” mentality that countless Americans have accepted when voting for members of the Democratic Party. This reform would ensure that Americans did not worry too much about the policies Democrats are campaigning on.
The agenda continues on but what is said thereafter is not important. Mr. Dean, Americans need Election Day to be a federal holiday. Make that a reform. America needs a multi-party system. Make that a reform. Reform the system so that third parties, fourth parties, and fifth parties can have access to the ballot. I refuse to vote Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum until I keel over and die from my inability to pay all the money corporations demand me to pay or my inability to finance hegemonic escapades in the Middle East.
Please understand that your party and the Republican Party are not the answer. If you were, the last two to three decades would not have led us to where America is at right now.
So, Mr. Dean, now that I am done going through the Democratic agenda I find that it is lacking. The agenda is heavy rhetorical blather that Americans have heard time and time again. Occasionally, a corporate solution springs up that all Americans can look forward to being put in place sometime soon. But, what America needs is not included in the agenda at all.
America needs the Democratic Party to embrace reality. America needs policies that will benefit the lower and middle class who have suffered while politicians give and give and give to the wealthy in America. America needs politicians who are genuinely ready to take on the tough tasks that lie ahead of them and who are not going to just do what K Street tells them to do.
And because your party’s agenda fails to meet America’s needs, I will not be donating my milk or lunch money to you. Nor will I be giving you the money I was planning on donating instead of buying a computer or video game. Your party’s inept agenda has driven me to seek solace and comfort in a world of virtual reality and who knows how long it will be before I return.
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