By TJ TAUB
Los Alamos

Signs, some incredibly clever, crisply accurate, funny – are fine.

But another critical message is: Democrats – What Is Your Platform? “We’re Not Them” is NOT a platform!

Our politics have degenerated and warped into two views.

• • • • • “Republican” bottom line is ‘Dems are evil, we’re here to save you’.
        • “Democrat” bottom line is ‘We’re not them, send money’.

Dem communications must change from five words to describing how policies/practices got us here, and fundamental actions required to survive this nightmare and rebuild our democracy.

If you fail to see how Dems ignored long-term political implications of Republican actions, you’re drinking the Kool-Aid. Neither party is what they used to be. Republican messaging and direction over four-plus decades has been focused and consistent. But Dem messaging has continually failed to cite history and facts to challenge distortions/lies. Dem ‘leadership’ messaging is scattershot, lacking focus and consistency, its impact effective as gusts of dust vs. educating, connecting and energizing voters to support distinct goals via specific objectives with desired outcomes. The Party isn’t asking you to support a platform, just money to buy a reaction.

The Dem platform MUST contain two things: (1) Goals that describe a fundamental direction – such as protecting/respecting our planet and the biodiversity that sustains us; (2) Objectives – specific steps required to reach that Goal, which MUST include descriptions of issues/practices to be addressed, then essential actions critical for progress towards that Goal.

Objectives, missing their reasons for inclusion, relegate decision-making to emotion – what got us here today, and why Dems are winning elections due significantly to swing and frequently apathetic voters. Emotions, not facts or a framework of plans.

Reasons for each Objective are also necessary to illustrate how many current policies/practices benefit a preferred few while devaluing the people who make our lives work every day – teachers, food and related workers, farmers and agricultural workers, nurses, technicians, police and fire personnel, construction and transportation workers, manufacturing and retail workers, forest service and parks workers, child minders, electricians, plumbers, automotive related workers, and so very many more.

Examples: Goal – protecting consumers. Objectives addressing dangers of monopolies (fewer options/higher prices/excessive power); protection and support for small business to rebuild their economic contribution and options in choices/price competition/true customer service; the need/benefits of consumer advocacy in retail, health, finance, etc.; for particular industries such as health-related, limit size/power/profit margins to leave medical treatment decisions with medical personnel vs. accountants; protect small farms/related services from the factory farms that put them out of business, subject millions of animals in single locations to obscenely cruel treatment, difficulty spotting/treating problems resulting in mass animal deaths, unhealthy products, unintended consequences (e.g. antibiotics passed to consumers); resist privatization of government revenue streams (e.g. post office, social security). Objectives designed to prioritize diverse consumer needs/safety over corporate profit priorities. A balance is absolutely doable.

Goal – teaching about governments and how our government is supposed to work. A thriving democracy is based on knowledge, citizen participation, and cooperation/compromise to serve the people, not The Company or a select wealthy few. Objectives would prioritize government/civics/history in our education system, illustrate how compromise is not capitulation; restore voting rights threatened by alleged massive voter fraud despite decades of studies showing miniscule numbers of offences; rebuild trust by teaching how to evaluate info sources and distinguish fact from opinion.

Goal – Protecting our air/water/land/plants/animals/habitats from companies that, without regulation, freely prioritize profit over people/planet. Objectives to curb negligent dumping tons of pollution, ravaging millions of acres of land and water, plants/animals and their habitats, unchecked drive for development; planned obsolescence, e.g. major appliances and Kindles both with one-year manufacturer’s warranties; use of finite resources as though they’re infinite vs. building affordably repairable, reusable products.

Part of the human condition is greed, by some people and institutions, for power/money. That greed will never, ever disappear. We must always be vigilant in protecting the fundamental principles of our democracy, accepting the changes in our knowledge, thinking and understandings from 250 years ago, if we are to regain and sustain our democracy.

Trump isn’t a brilliant man – he’s an unconstrained little boy, playing games where he’s the sole and ultimate architect and decider.

Corporations are not people, but Republicans gave us Citizens United and corporate influence in politics exploded exponentially.

Dems wanted money too, so ignored CU’s danger. Years of failing to highlight, protect and support achievements protecting people and our planet – and even today, the Dem Party still remains silent. While Dems ignored small steps, Republicans built the foundation, McConnell set the stage, Trump opened the door to people who knew how to use him as a tool towards their own ends – from Putin and Netanyahu, to OMB Director and key architect/writer of Plan 2025 Russell Vought, to this country’s uber wealthy.