Today marks the start of the Christmas buying season. I wanted to write about how this has changed over the years and how a reliance on consumption is simply not going to boost our economy into a Recovery. However, someone beat me to the punch more than two years ago in a somewhat obscure blog. The lesson instead is that the truth is out there in hundreds of blogs contributing to the collective wisdom of our nation and its economic future.
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The Future of the Democratic Party
Left or Center? After a “shellacking” at the polls, it’s what Democrats always wind up debating. Do we focus on the core values that make us a potent political force or do we re-tool ourselves to meet the swing voters who get us over the top? I’ve had this conversation with many people lately, and I’ve reached the conclusion that we’re almost certainly asking the wrong question.
I don’t think it’s a matter of politics for Democrats. To be the party of the people we have to do a lot more show, don’t tell. Are we standing up for people and their personal issues or are we just playing a game? If that means we wind up being more to the left than we’ve been, so be it. But I don’t think it’s where we need to start.
I’d like to know your opinion. Which way should we go?
Lead the Way?
Here it is. The day after the election that changed everything. So what does this new world of Wednesday morning look like?
If you take the long view, as I do, it looks about the same as Tuesday. Just as surely as everyone pronounced the Republican Party dead two years ago, the conventional wisdom has turned to call the Democrats and President Obama powerless. These events must all mean something, yes?
No, not really.
Events are one thing, people are another. Without leadership none of this will matter.
Spooky Season
It’s scary season! The doorbell rings, and it’s another zombie or pumpkinhead or witch begging for something sweet. No, I’m not talking about Halloween, I’m talking about the scary thing that comes after it – the election.
If you ever doubted our Founding Fathers had a sense of humor, keep in mind how that Election Day is right after Samhain, the Celtic festival when the land of the dead comes the closest to our mortal plain. Is it possible that they wouldn’t mind votes coming from graveyards?
Like Halloween, an election is nothing if you can’t make fun of it. Don’t be scared, join in the fun! There are many ways to do it.
Work Creates Wealth
As Democrats contemplate holding the minority position in Congress yet again, there are many ways we can handle it. We could all sit in the back and throw stuff, much as the Republicans did for the last few years. We could turn on each other and rip our own guts out in a festival of shame and blame. Or, if we’re intent on really standing up to our principles, we can use this time away from being the responsible ones and understand what it is that we, as a party really stand for.
We have a lot to offer if we can only get it together for once. But I, for one, think it’s going to take a much deeper understanding of our core values and what is really happening around us before we can make it happen.
Barataria - The work of Erik Hare 