An open letter to the incoming Congress
Dear newly elected Congress,
I'll start off by saying that I was quite pleased with the majority of the results on election day, and overall I think the country is better off for it. However, I issue a word of caution and a history lesson.
There are all kinds of pet issues that can be resolved with this Congress that are frankly unimportant and decisive. Issues like D.C. statehood, sweeping gun control, censorship laws to protect children, etc. We should abandon them all in favor of pushing through the most salient problems with America. Health Care, Energy, Economics, Education. Go big on these issues. Streamline and digitize the bureaucracy. Because if you don't, recall the election in 2004.
For four years prior to the election, the Republicans passed a sweeping agenda that included things like wiretapping US citizens without a warrant, a hard line immigration stance, and deregulation of emissions and finance. They ignored the big issues in lieu of pushing social wedges and adhering to their ideology. Pet Republican issues were being pushed through at an alarming rate. And in 2004, they won again.
After that election, Karl Rove had declared that the Republicans had created a "permanent majority" that would last a generation. We know now that isn't the case, but why it isn't is important. Two things led to the Republican collapse. Hubris and an unwavering, non-negotiable agenda.
There are two paths you can go down in the next two years. You can go the way of the Republicans, forcing a divisive agenda that doesn't address the huge problems we face, benefiting your special interest golf buddies. Or, you can do the smart thing. You can find consensus on these issues, compromise with the minority, and truly change things.
The Democratic brand the last few years has emphasized, at least nominally, the idea that we are a United States of America and that partisanship is a negative force in our politics. It's time for you to prove it.
I'll start off by saying that I was quite pleased with the majority of the results on election day, and overall I think the country is better off for it. However, I issue a word of caution and a history lesson.
There are all kinds of pet issues that can be resolved with this Congress that are frankly unimportant and decisive. Issues like D.C. statehood, sweeping gun control, censorship laws to protect children, etc. We should abandon them all in favor of pushing through the most salient problems with America. Health Care, Energy, Economics, Education. Go big on these issues. Streamline and digitize the bureaucracy. Because if you don't, recall the election in 2004.
For four years prior to the election, the Republicans passed a sweeping agenda that included things like wiretapping US citizens without a warrant, a hard line immigration stance, and deregulation of emissions and finance. They ignored the big issues in lieu of pushing social wedges and adhering to their ideology. Pet Republican issues were being pushed through at an alarming rate. And in 2004, they won again.
After that election, Karl Rove had declared that the Republicans had created a "permanent majority" that would last a generation. We know now that isn't the case, but why it isn't is important. Two things led to the Republican collapse. Hubris and an unwavering, non-negotiable agenda.
There are two paths you can go down in the next two years. You can go the way of the Republicans, forcing a divisive agenda that doesn't address the huge problems we face, benefiting your special interest golf buddies. Or, you can do the smart thing. You can find consensus on these issues, compromise with the minority, and truly change things.
The Democratic brand the last few years has emphasized, at least nominally, the idea that we are a United States of America and that partisanship is a negative force in our politics. It's time for you to prove it.