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Thursday, July 17th, 2003
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11:35a - Why I'm changing my affiliation to Democrat
All right, I admit, after 2000 I registered independent because I was ashamed of the Dems.
The Democratic party in the US has become a sea of robot-clones, yes-things to the Repugnantcans. For the vast majority I want nothing to do with them.
Furthermore the political situation in the US disgusts me. The PATRIOT and Son of PATRIOT fill me with fear and rage, as well they should (and if you don't believe me, research it for yourself). It has been easier to declare my withdrawal from all things having to do with the rampant flag-waving jingoism practiced here than to fight against it, and I've been lazy.
But former Vermont Governor Howard Dean could change that.
He has necessary experience. His experience includes a track record anyone could be proud of: Not only was he the successful governor of Vermont for a decade, before that he served in the Vermont house and was Lietenant-Governor. His policies as Governor of Vermont have shown him to be a common-sense moderate (!) with a sound understanding of the importance of a balanced budget and a healthy economy. This means he has managed to not only eliminate the $70 million state deficit he inherited from his predecessor, he has helped create 41,000 new jobs, helped raise the minimum wage twice, provided new businesses with incentives, AND twice cut the state income tax, proving that a balanced budget and social reform does not have to be a burden on taxpayers.
As an MD, Howard Dean is concerned with the state of health care in the US, particularly for elders and children. He strengthened programs to provide health insurance to all children in Vermont under the age of 18, as well as programs providing low-cost prescriptions to seniors. He has also toughened up consumer protection legislation on the managed care industry.
The Vermont Governor has had a consistently sensible environmental policy. He's safely closed 76 of Vermont's leaking landfills. He's pushed to clean up mercury pollution and power plants. He's created bikeways and pushed for commuter rail service.
He's tough on violent crime, but his sensible position on gun laws appeals to many moderates-- While in favor of keeping existing controls, he feels states should decide on any further gun legislation. This makes sense because some states are primarily urban, and have to deal with more gun crimes, while in more rural states some people support their families by hunting.
He vocally opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning. Howard Dean believes our national security is best served by defusing real threats while improving relations with the rest of the world, not acting unilaterally and unpopularly to create new threats and strengthen existing ones. He has a strong plan for security and defense which protects our civil liberties.
Speaking of civil liberties, his equal rights stance is the one everyone knows-- In Vermont he called for equal rights for gays and lesbians. He signed into law the state's civil unions act. He didn't do this because it was popular. He didn't do it because he has some personal stake in the gay community. He did it because he's seen the discrimination gays and lesbians face, and the undesirable results of this discrimination.
He does not favor legislation which uses the wording "gay marriage" for one reason-- marriage is a word associated in many people's minds with religious institutions. Howard Dean does not feel the government has any business telling religious institutions what unions they must recognize. He does feel that the state must recognize all people as equal in the eyes of the law, and that includes allowing gays and lesbians the same rights as straight people to join in a partnership for love and security.
His commitment to equal rights, while outstanding in the matter of sexual orientation, applies equally to his commitment to all races. He showed at the NAACP and acquitted himself well. He showed at La Raza and addressed the Hispanic community bilingually. HE opposes racial profiling as the racial discrimination it is. He supports the rights of women to protection from domestic violence and to reproductive choice. He increased the number of women and minorities in the state departments.
Furthermore, I don't just like his stance on the issues. His campaign strategies are unique and refreshing-- he's vaulted from a near-invisible position to become a democratic front runner, on the base of an unprecedented grassroots movement. He's raised more money in the first three quarters than any other democratic candidate ever-- nearly all from small contributors, which means he has more people donating for the dollar amount than other candidates. He's a strong leader, not a wishy-washy liberal, who knows where he stands on the issues and stays there. He uses language differently from Bush-- Bush fills his speeches with emotional fluff, conveniently avoiding making fact-based statements, while Dean speaks firmly and concisely and sticks to the point. Dems have to distinguish themselves from Reps in order to reclaim the Independents like myself, and Dean has an unprecedented capacity to do that.
In short, he's not only a good candidate, he's a very very electable one, and he's got a great shot at the white house in 2004. His challenge now is waking up the sleeping giant of the media, which is only starting to notice him.
http://www.deanforamerica.com
http://www.blogforamerica.com
http://www.deantalk.com/forums
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