Yesterday afternoon I received a 2010 PRESIDENTIAL SURVEY in the mail from the Democratic Party (I’m not now and have never been a Democrat, but somehow I’ve been added to their mailing list). You’ve probably seen something similar; the Republicans send them out too. Part one of the “SURVEY” is always a list of questions about you to enrich the party’s data profile, and part three is a solicitation for contributions to enrich the party’s coffers.
Part two is the “survey,” a list of questions appearing to solicit your opinion on matters of national policy. Of course, the Democratic Party isn’t going to read this “survey” — it only wants to make you feel included enough to get you to whip out your checkbook. Rather than reading the document as a literal survey, we should read it as the Democratic Party’s depiction of itself to its target audience. And so the part of the survey entitled NATIONAL PRIORITIES was particularly interesting to me. It asked respondents to “rank the following 14 national issues by their level of priority.”
America’s Economic Situation
Regulation of Financial Institutions and Markets
Lowering Unemployment
Dealing with Iran
Health Insurance Reform
Fighting Terrorism
Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Improving Race Relations
Nuclear Proliferation
Improving Education
Energy Independence
America’s Image in the World Community
Dealing with North Korea
6 out of the 14 “priorities” listed by the Democratic Party have to do with foreign policy and forms of fighting. 3 of the 14 listed “priorities” had to do with the economy, and 2 others regarded social provision. The Democratic Party appears to be prioritizing bread-and-butter issues, the military and foreign affairs in its presentation of policy.
Policy issues completely missing from this list of “priorities” compiled by the Democratic Party:
1st Amendment rights to assembly and speech
Access to abortion and contraception
Due process and habeas corpus rights
Drug sentencing and legalization
Equal rights for same-sex couples
Firearm regulation or deregulation
Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment
Separation of Church and State
Surveillance and Searches of Americans without warrants
In the Democratic Party’s consideration of “priorities,” these issues are apparently off the table.
Also missing: Environmental commitments. “Energy Independence” is a catch phrase for increased drilling for fossil fuels here in the United States, regardless of the environmental consequences.
Yeah, as if we needed even more proof that the two-party system is dead. “Our” government is so out of touch with reality and ordinary citizens that it may as well not exist for us. There are some ominous signs out there that all of these internal policy changes are for a purpose:
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/government-your-legal-right-redeem-your-money-market-account-has-been-denied
http://jessescrossroadscafe.blogspot.com/2010/01/is-us-goverment-preparing-lifeboats-for.html
It’s not lookin’ real good from where i’m sittin’. And in case there was any more doubt about Obama being the third term for Bush jr.:
http://www.aclu.org/national-security/obama-administration-seeks-keep-torture-victims-having-day-court
just how many issues can be of top priority? which issue is at the top of the top priorities list? everything can not be a priority. all the listed issues need addressing, but, is anyone willing to list them in order of priority? ranking them seems to be a daily shuffle. airport security seems to be at the top of the list this week. next week, when the media needs a new story, the top priority will change. maybe preventing the next ballon-boy will take the top spot, maybe gate crashers and party security gets the nod. we are so easily led by our noses that anything some jughead at FOX news tells us becomes the next national priority.
drug laws, warrantless searches, gay rights and church/state issues will only become a priority when the media decides to focus it’s attention on them. can we have 23 issues that are all priorities? can we? yes we can! but,let’s take one at a time. making a list of top priorities is only worthwhile if you actually prioritize them (arrange them in order of priority). one, two, three…. then act on them accordingly. because it does no good to have a priority if it just gets put on a to-do list.