David Kaye: watching british election returns the question struck me: what would democrats do with a landslide? what’s the wish list? beyond saving democracy of course.

watching british election returns the question struck me: what would democrats do with a landslide? what’s the wish list? beyond saving democracy of course.

i just think we’re so focused on getting over the line. losing the thread a bit?

of course, rights, climate, etc. but specifically. where’s the dynamic offense? this is what we’re missing with the past week’s nightmare but even before then.

DC/PR statehood

Court reform. Once you get court reform you get everything. This *gestures broadly* is what America looks like with fifty years of a right wing Supreme Court majority

larger and permanent expanded ctc, industrial policy, post office banking, possibly Medicare for all, equality act, abortion enshrined in law, second round of new green energy $$, some immigration reform mix of good and bad, e-bike tax credit. Student debt, generous first time home buyer program

Let's not forget democrats winning means the FTC, DOJ, and NLRB don't get totally fucked and can continue their various regulatory fights on antitrust and labor, where the Biden admin has arguably been the strongest

If we’re talking wishlist I’d also like to see a couple of new agencies spun up and headquartered in like north dakota or Montana as a medium term strategy to flipping them

I really would like a full FLRA (with a 2-1 Democratic majority) with a general counsel

I want the FTC to just go ham on shit like phone scamming, MLMs, the shitty little fees in air travel, ending this “oh I won’t pay a full 70% out of network on what your provider charges”

If not mfa, Medicare buy in at 55

honest to god I'd really expect major SSDI reform if there's a second term w/ both House+Senate D

in terms of what I am referring to, I am primarily meaning in terms of the asset cap that exists (for people who aren't aware of it)

Oh yeah and ending disability means testing is a big thing at various state levels

so uhh I think our next move on healthcare policy should be Universal Medicaid for children and pregnant folks

Yes to all of this

Elect presidents by popular vote. Abolish the Senate. (At the *very* least, abolish the filibuster & make DC and PR states and force N & S Dakota to recombine). Abolish the electoral college. Institute automatic universal voter registration. That would be a good start.

End that act that keeps the house at 435. I’d double the House at least

You are so right in this. We need to paint a picture of the better world we could have.

i’m concerned that the last week has made this harder to do. frustrating.

The fight against fascism has been so grim. It's necessary, but we need to show people that a better world is possible.

🎯

IRA 2. Medicaid for all paid at Medicare levels to providers. Enthusiastically going after MLMs and the little scams ruining American life. Expanding the house, passing the ERA, convicting the Jan 6 folx, free pre-k and school lunches

And a hugely progressive income tax starting at 90% for any income over $1 million. Ban private planes, tax cars based on engine size, phase out SUVs and large EVs. $ for public transit...

It's been presented but it scared the people referred to as moderates (or centrists or corporate Dems).

That's the trouble with the Democratic Party, isn't it? Naomi Klein wrote The Shock Doctrine in 2007, and in all this time, I don't think a single Democratic official has read it. Heaven forbid the people we're counting on to save us from fascism should ever be prepared for a foreseeable situation.

Judicial reform. Some kind of medical insurance reform (Medicare for all or at least everyone over 55). Washington statehood, and PR if they want it. Bring back the child tax credit.

Jamie Raskin published one. Eliminate electoral college for popular vote, eliminate filibuster, reform Supreme Court….

Add DC and maybe Puerto Rico as states?

Well good news, PR is having another referendum on their ballot about this this year

What are the options? Is it still all three options of statehood, independence or status quo so no clear winner again?

abcnews.go.com/Internationa...

Puerto Rico will include status plebiscite in November's general electionsabcnews.go.com Puerto Rico’s territorial status will be on the ballot in the U.S. territory’s general elections this November, marking the first time that the island’s current status as a U.S. territory will not be ...

We should add every single effing territory we have taken and are holding: DC, PR, Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, etc.

DC and Puerto Rico statehood

I think you've seen a lot of the wishlist actually come out of the Biden administration (banning noncompetes!) but then get blocked by Trump's courts

Here's a related question that's dogged me since 2020: Why does American democracy seem like it's no longer even capable of producing landslides?

indeed. the voters of the uk are responding to disastrous policies. why aren’t we?

Charitably (to us), perhaps it's because nothing Trump did was so universally disastrous as Brexit

That's charitable towards Trump too ...

Yeah, but I think it's right. Trump was all about picking winners (whites) and losers. Brexit mostly only made losers.

Also Farage's bigots are peeling off seats from the Tories.

This is a good question

With multiple viable parties and first past the post, it kind of lends itself more towards landslides.

No one in the US votes on policies. It's vibes all the way down.

This is true. Non competes, capping insulin and life saving drugs, esp insulin and other freely given discoveries, student debt relief, the recent gay military pardons, tax policy & soc sec uncap advocacy. If I sat with a paper there's tons more I could come up with but I liked a lot of what he did.

There are no Trump courts or Biden courts, Athul. Just umpire courts.

Be pretty situationally dependent, but I think the major bills and proposals that got filibustered/Manchinema'd in the first half of Biden's term would be the heart of it. VRA and democracy reform, PRO Act, restoring Roe, child tax credit, free community College and child care support, etc

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