Contract With America

by Dan Jacoby

If John Kerry and Terry McAuliffe want a Democratic victory this fall, they should tell America what they want to do.

In 1994, the Republicans energized their voters and took control of Congress with something they called a "Contract With America." This "contract" promised to accomplish -- exactly nothing. It stated only that the Republicans in the House of Representatives would vote on ten very fuzzy things.

By creating a new Contract With America that actually promises to move forward on important issues, the Democrats can define their goals, energize the voters and win back both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

I humbly propose the following:

1.

Repeal the Republican tax cuts for the rich, and restore fiscal responsibility.

2.

Form a true international coalition to bring peace and freedom to Iraq and allow America to exit honorably and successfully.

3.

Strengthen forces in Afghanistan to stop the resurgent Taliban and capture Al Qaeda leaders, and increase funding to rebuild the country.

4.

Repeal the unconstitutional portions of the fraudulently named "U.S.A. Patriot Act" and release prisoners held without trial and without access to lawyers in violation of the Bill of Rights.

5.

Set new mileage standards for cars and light trucks, based on existing technology, that will lower our dependence on foreign oil.

6.

Provide tax cuts for solar, geothermal, or other energy-saving devices installed in new or existing homes and offices, further reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

7.

Ratify the Kyoto accords to reduce greenhouse gases.

8.

Restore the "polluter-pays" system for EPA Superfund cleanups.

9.

Cut $25 billion in Republican pork-barrel spending.

10.

Replace the "No Child Left Behind" act with a plan that actually strengthens the American education system rather than relying on tests that don't cover most subjects.

There are many other issues that could be included:

George W. Bush has ripped up the "Powell Doctrine" for going to war; it needs to be restored.

He has gutted environmental laws; they need to be strengthened.

The Medicare drug bill needs to be repealed and replaced with something that helps the elderly and not just drug and insurance companies.

Social Security and Medicare need to be fixed without raising taxes or cutting benefits (I have a solution available).

We need to make health care available to the 45 million Americans who have none, and stop the rampant inflation in health care costs.

There are dozens of empty seats on the Federal bench; judges who don't have a radical right-wing agenda need to be nominated and approved.

I could go on, but the point is clear; the Bush administration has done a lousy job. There are many, many areas in which we could -- and need to -- do better. And it's obvious that the Republicans just aren't going to do it.

A recent CNN/Time poll asked Americans whether they would vote for a Democrat or a Republican for Congress this fall. Democrats have an almost unheard of 13% lead. But as everyone in the media has been saying, it's still very early. A clear, strong agenda to strengthen America at home and abroad will turn that early lead into victory.

It's time for a new Contract with America.

 

Copyright 2004, Dan Jacoby

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