As Barack Obama continues to reach out to the Republican party only to be rejected time after time, it may be a good moment to reconsider the whole notion of bipartisanship. If Obama and other Democrats simply stuck to their guns and clearly articulated a progressive agenda, they would not be accused by their base and the general public of not standing for anything. Instead, the current administration is constantly making compromises on all of their major initiatives because they are afraid of being voted down in both houses. However, a better strategy might be to let the Republicans in the House and the Senate go on the record rejecting policies that most Americans support.
It is evident that a majority of Americans endorse the idea of reining in the banks and imposing tighter regulations on the financial instruments that caused the global financial meltdown. Yet, due to their fear of the corporate lobby and the Right-wing attack machine, the Obama administration has not pushed for any tough regulations and has not insisted on the need to separate traditional banks that loan money from investment banks that make high-risk gambles. Obama would win over many independents and strengthen his base if he would show that he is going after these risky actors with their huge compensation packages.
The Democrats would also gain ground if they presented a clear and simplified health care package that stressed reducing costs and regulating the insurance companies. What most Americans do not understand is that the best health care system in the world is in France, and this system is not a national or socialist plan. Instead, France regulates the private non-profit insurers and reduces costs by capping fees and regulating compensation. The United States could easily move to this type of system, but the Democrats are afraid of being called socialists by the Right-wing media and conservative politicians. Once again, the Democrats should simply ignore the Right and fight for what the majority of Americans want, which is affordable, high quality medical care that allows for personal choice.
Bob Samuels: Why the Left Should Ignore the Right
Why the Left Should Ignore the Right
As Barack Obama continues to reach out to the Republican party only to be rejected time after time, it may be a good moment to reconsider the whole notion of bipartisanship. If Obama and other Democrats simply stuck to their guns and clearly articulated a progressive agenda, they would not be accused by their base and the general public of not standing for anything. Instead, the current administration is constantly making compromises on all of their major initiatives because they are afraid of being voted down in both houses. However, a better strategy might be to let the Republicans in the House and the Senate go on the record rejecting policies that most Americans support.
It is evident that a majority of Americans endorse the idea of reining in the banks and imposing tighter regulations on the financial instruments that caused the global financial meltdown. Yet, due to their fear of the corporate lobby and the Right-wing attack machine, the Obama administration has not pushed for any tough regulations and has not insisted on the need to separate traditional banks that loan money from investment banks that make high-risk gambles. Obama would win over many independents and strengthen his base if he would show that he is going after these risky actors with their huge compensation packages.
The Democrats would also gain ground if they presented a clear and simplified health care package that stressed reducing costs and regulating the insurance companies. What most Americans do not understand is that the best health care system in the world is in France, and this system is not a national or socialist plan. Instead, France regulates the private non-profit insurers and reduces costs by capping fees and regulating compensation. The United States could easily move to this type of system, but the Democrats are afraid of being called socialists by the Right-wing media and conservative politicians. Once again, the Democrats should simply ignore the Right and fight for what the majority of Americans want, which is affordable, high quality medical care that allows for personal choice.
via Bob Samuels: Obama’s Coffee Party: Why the Left Should Ignore the Right.
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