Political Notes #13

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Truth is Everything

WINNING IN 2004:

FIVE BIG PROMISES

In previous letters, I discussed the Candidate and Strategy the Left needs in 2004. This letter presents the Issues.

I ended my December 24, 2003 rant by listing the policies I believe progressives should advocate to win the 2004 elections. I need to restate some of these points, just to clarify them, not change their intent.

Please note that in advocating these policies, I also realize not everyone will vote my way. There's at least a third of the population that is unable to vote Democrat or Green, even if God endorses progressives and conservatives run Satan. There are always devil worshippers and people who won't betray their class and caste.

In the 2004 election, progressives need to address the "middle," the apolitical. Those folks won't be happy with a lot of my views and programs, but, properly explained, they will find themselves really unhappy with George W Bush and his cronies. Keep in mind, the middle often votes "the lesser of two evils," not realizing that strategy almost always guarantees you will not get what you want. So, cynically, I propose the Left become at least the lesser of two evils in this election. Of course, I firmly believe progressives are a force for good, and that people will benefit enormously, just for once, if they vote my way.

Finally, I consider my headings as merely suggestive; they are an outline. They are intended to be expanded and explained in the process of the election campaign. They are also intended to be the basis of a showing that the ultra-conservative Bush Administration is bad for you and yours.

The Promises

PEACE. American foreign policy should be multi-lateral, not unilateral and not isolationist. The United States should return to the United Nations as one nation among many. American foreign adventurism must end. The Conquest of Iraq must end. If we do those things, we will be reconciled with our old allies and friends.

PROSPERITY. We must re-affirm America's promise to workers of job opportunities, fair wages, and a middle class life. The destruction of America's Middle Class must stop, and things put right. As many as 14 million jobs are about to be exported; not just low-end jobs, but so-called "good jobs" as well. That disaster must be prevented. Americans are entitled to living wages for all, not just spare change begged from the wealthy few.

RESPONSIBILITY. We must re-affirm America's promise of support for children, Senior Citizens, the disabled and the unfortunate. Social Security and Medicare must be guaranteed as they were intended, not privatized. The 2003 Republican Medicare legislation needs extensive amendment to provide real benefits and competitive pricing for all those covered. We must provide for the rapidly growing numbers of homeless, unemployed, and under-nourished people, and the even larger number who have no access to medical care. Sadly, poverty is once again a major problem requiring immediate, Federal and State action. Children are the most affected by poverty, crowded schools, and lack of medical care.

FULFILLMENT. Americans must be guaranteed equal opportunity to fulfill their dreams in America. Ending discrimination and acts of hatred is long overdue. Each person is entitled to the means of self-fulfillment in a social context, not just the empty words 'go get it.' We encourage communities and environments in which people develop with their neighbors, not by exploiting them. We support public schools and universities where people can learn, grow and prosper. Our strength is gathering people together into strong communities.

DEMOCRACY. The Federal government must exercise budgetary discipline based on reasonable economic ideas. The government should not make some people rich at the expense of others. Taxes should not be spoils to be plundered. The influence of the rich, the powerful and their lobbyists in Washington must be reduced, so that, as Lincoln said, "... government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth."

PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION

My main purpose is come up with an easily remembered scheme that unites people on the Left. What is the Left all about in 2004?

Maybe I haven't proposed the correct KEYWORDS; maybe others would be better. Or, the categories and issues may not be sliced and diced as you would have them. All of that is debatable and fungible. The end result should be to put across the central notions of the Left, in ways they will stay in people's minds. This should also give campaign workers a handy way to relate one thing to another thing. It should help in building logical arguments in discussions about specifics, rather than being all at sea when an objection is offered.

Every one of these points can be expanded into multiple sub-items and plots.

For example, "Democracy" covers not only the Federal budget, but how it is used. Who pays taxes, and who doesn't? Who benefits, and who doesn't? How does lobbying, log rolling and pork barreling affect the government we have.

I think we need to stick to the terms we come up with. The Right has co-opted the language of the Left. Famously, the "Middle Class" has become people earning well over $65,000 - 75,000 annually. "Working people" refers to business owners, managers and others usually earning well over $100,000. Republicans don't have a word for people who actually work on the production line, or checkout counter, except, maybe, "employee" or "wage slave." Likewise, the conservative language has no word for the poor, disenfranchised or disabled except "anonymous."

Progressives need to have words, phrases and entire sentences for the people and things we care about. We need to take care of that language, to make sure it is not stolen, misused or abused.

Beyond the Candidate, Strategy and Issues, there is commitment. No one can give it to you, or enforce it on you. Commitment is one thing entirely up to you, and you alone. If you have it, we will win.

THE LETTER

WALTER L BATTAGLIA

5010 Glide Drive, #2 • Davis, CA 95616-4444

(530) 756-6384 • e-mail: WalterB

TO: Democratic Presidential Candidates December 31, 2003

RE: FIVE MAJOR THEMES FOR 2004

I am writing to obtain your Campaign’s opinion of the following page, "FIVE BIG PROMISES."

I am sending this inquiry to each of the 9 Democratic Presidential campaigns, having first consulted with my acquaintances and website readers as to the proposed language.

The objective of "FIVE BIG PROMISES" is to focus 2004 election issues on a few, easily remembered topics. Most people are not political activists; they do not follow the details of campaigns closely. What most people want to know is "what’s it all about?" and they want that reduced to simple terms. This is by no means an easy task.

My formulation is scarcely the last word or the most concise in the effort to discover what the 2004 election means. Despite that, I am submitting it to you to see what you make of it. I am greatly interested in whether or not you agree with these points, whether you have a different insight on the main issues, and what priority you place on the them. I would also like to know whether there are too many big promises, or too few, or a different set altogether.

I am expecting, in reply, your 1-2 page, thoughtful letter. Campaign literature (fliers, slogans etc) and standard "we received your inquiry ..." form letters will not be considered proper replies. There is a short time deadline on this request, as I intend to determine whether your campaign can respond reasonably quickly to rank-and-file Democrats (of which I am one).

This letter will be published on my website, http:www.walterbattaglia.com/calxsoft/cesjournal/ and also on that popular progressive website, http://www.DailyKos.com December 31, 2003. All of your answers, or the lack of them, will be similarly posted on January 18, 2004.

May I have your reply not later than January 17, 2004?

Thanks very much for your prompt attention to this request,

Yours truly,

Walter L. Battaglia

cc:

enc:

FIVE BIG PROMISES

PEACE. American foreign policy should be multi-lateral, not unilateral and not isolationist. The United States should return to the United Nations as one nation among many. American foreign adventurism must end. The Conquest of Iraq must end. If we do those things, we will be reconciled with our old allies and friends.

PROSPERITY. We must re-affirm America's promise to workers of job opportunities, fair wages, and a middle class life. The destruction of America's Middle Class must stop, and things put right. As many as 14 million jobs are about to be exported; not just low-end jobs, but so-called "good jobs" as well. That disaster must be prevented. Americans are entitled to living wages for all, not just spare change begged from the wealthy few.

RESPONSIBILITY. We must re-affirm America's promise of support for children, Senior Citizens, the disabled and the unfortunate. Social Security and Medicare must be guaranteed as they were intended, not privatized. The 2003 Republican Medicare legislation needs extensive amendment to provide real benefits and competitive pricing for all those covered. We must provide for the rapidly growing numbers of homeless, unemployed, and under-nourished people, and the even larger number who have no access to medical care. Sadly, poverty is once again a major problem requiring immediate, Federal and State action. Children are the most affected by poverty, crowded schools, and lack of medical care.

FULFILLMENT. Americans must be guaranteed equal opportunity to fulfill their dreams in America. Ending discrimination and acts of hatred is long overdue. Each person is entitled to the means of self-fulfillment in a social context, not just the empty words 'go get it.' We encourage communities and environments in which people develop with their neighbors, not by exploiting them. We support public schools and universities where people can learn, grow and prosper. Our strength is gathering people together into strong communities.

DEMOCRACY. The Federal government must exercise budgetary discipline based on reasonable economic ideas. The government should not make some people rich at the expense of others. Taxes should not be spoils to be plundered. The influence of the rich, the powerful and their lobbyists in Washington must be reduced, so that, as Lincoln said, "... government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth."

THE CANDIDATES

Gen Wesley K Clark Clark for President PO Box 2959 Little Rock, AR	Rep Dennis Kucinich Kucinich for President 11808 Lorain Ave. 1st floor. Cleveland, OH 44111
Dr Howard Dean Dean For America P.O. Box 1228 Burlington, Vermont 05402	Sen Joseph Lieberman Joe Lieberman for President P.O. Box 967 Arlington, VA 22216
Sen John Edwards Edwards for President PO Box 300034 Raleigh, NC 27622	Hon Carol Moseley-Braun Carol for Presiden P.O. Box 16560 Chicago, Illinois 60616-0560
Rep Richard Gephardt Gephardt for President P.O. Box 34607 Washington, DC 20043	Rev Alan Sharpton Sharpton 2004 1001 6th Ave, Ste 1211 New York, NY 10018
Sen John Kerry John Kerry for President, Inc. 519 C Street, NE Washington, DC 20002	Being biased, I did not send a letter to George W Bush or Mr Larouche.

December 27, 2003

Last update: 11/13/2007