Imagine…
Tags: Unity, Biden, Democratic Party

… if democrats pulled together.

Imagine a big blue tent.

A tent that is politically ‘home’ to 58% of all Americans. Black, white, gay, straight, rich, not rich, and poor. Working class, knowledge class, professors, plumbers, in blue states and in red states. Far left radicals, sensible liberals, moderate democrats, and yes, moderate republicans who deserted the Trump tent. The values of the big blue tent are diverse, but at its core, the democratic party holds an indivisible and unbreakable set of beliefs and values, keeping us all united and firm in our resolve to make the world better.

Imagine the far left folks in the tent, while dissatisfied with the party positions on a host of issues, deciding to get on board because what we’ve accomplished in defeating Trump is so much more valuable, more important and historically more significant than the gripes they hold. Imagine the left bringing a host of great ideas, remaining willing to get some but not all of them agreed and built into our platform, while other ideas are tabled for later, and some for, never (eg: defunding the police). Imagine no tantrums, just cooperation and collaboration.

Imagine the moderates, instead of acting like fossilized statues of wise people, actually making some inclusion decisions that mean passing bills that actually benefit Americans. Like medicare for all, student loan reform, and immigration reform. Imagine the moderates having difficult conversations with special interest donors, informing them the party has decided to fix healthcare even though this will inflict heavy damage to the health insurance industry. Surry guys, fasten seatbelts, put on your crash helmets, this is happening.

Imagine student debt being reformed to eradicate future debt and to use government funds to soften — and forgive — much of the existing debt.

Imagine a single bill being passed to rewrite US immigration such that a fair, functioning and efficient process allows millions of legal applicants to seek H1B and other permits. Imagine too, that progressives finally see that immigration must be legal and that borders must be controlled.

Imagine a tax reform bill that closes all the tricky loopholes and raises taxes only on the wealthiest, and only by a reasonable amount. Imagine tax reform that generates enough new federal revenue to fund significant elements of the green new deal, without damaging existing wealth.

Imagine the blue wave progressives stepping up to help America understand what the green new deal is and why it’s the right direction for us all, without vitriol and without hatred of the alleged oppressor class.

It’s hard to imagine any of this this from my seat today. I read and hear pure anger and vitriol from the left, and terrifying status-quo-ism from the moderates. Neither is the right answer.

Liberals need to see their psychiatrist, take a chill pill, go to hot yoga, smoke some dope and take a nap. Their untamed hatred of everyone who doesn’t agree with them is hurting their brand, they come across as toddlers who don’t like mom’s bedtime announcement. They hate white people, men, police, rich people, entrepreneurs, landlords, small business owners, and almost all forms of business and profit. Good grief. There’s nobody left.

Moderate democrats sound too watered down, too often dismissing ideas as implausible or impossible to pass in the current climate. They need a taser shot in their ass to realize that if most American people want something, then it’s the government’s duty to deliver it. Most people want healthcare that doesn’t cost a fortune. Most people want immigration that works and not millions of undocumented workers as neighbors. Most people want safe streets but not police brutality on black people. Most people want equal access to education. Most people want jobs and wages that are livable.

The big blue tent is our chance to reset America to a healthier, more sane and civilized nation. This would be a terrible time to break it with schism between left and center-left.