if state/local democrats adopted fighting govt waste/inefficiency, they would win more elections

[GnauzBookOfRhymes]

that's a winning issue. one of the most common (and true) complaints that people have in dem-led localities/states etc is that we're not sufficiently strong on waste/inefficiencies in the public sector. chicago is a perfect case in point. do 5 minutes of research regarding financial/spending/corruption scandals just within the last 10 years and you'll want to vomit lol. the best is how daley sold the interests in our parking meters (99 year contract) for 1.2 billion up front. the consortium that owns the parking lots now will make up their ENTIRE investment BY 2020 .

this kind of shyt paints the party as the one that advocates/tolerates govt waste, even though the GOP are far worse. and it's an issue that cuts across all demographic lines - from poor to rich, black/white etc.

i get it that the unions may be unwilling to consider some necessary reforms, but it's all give/take. not sure how much my view is colored by living in a city as maddeningly corrupt/inefficient as the chi (even though it's still an amazing city).

 

[88m3]

I think the issue is blown of proportion and the public isn't actually invested/interested.


It's an issue that needs to be addressed all the same

 

[DEAD7]

America regardless of what’s said publicly in polls or in media just isn’t rocking with lax immigration.

Rethugs are literally ripping brown families apart and deporting innocent brown children and they are more popular than Dems...

At some point Dems have to move on that issue...

If they don’t that’s fine by me too, I don’t mind seeing dms lose one bit.

 

[DEAD7]

Dems also need to move more center... going more left irks donors and puts them at a huge disadvantage with citizens united gone.

 

[the cac mamba]

i get it that the unions may be unwilling to consider some necessary reforms

but this is the root of the problem

according to the democrats, working for the government means that you cannot be fired, and the public is obligated to pension you out at 80% for the rest of your life. meanwhile, these same public sector unions donate directly to the democrats, in what some might call a conflict of interest

let me know when democrats want to address the fact that pension systems all over the country are bankrupting states and cities, and they can start running on this. until then,

 

[GnauzBookOfRhymes]

but this is the root of the problem

according to the democrats, working for the government means that you cannot be fired, and the public is obligated to pension you out at 80% for the rest of your life. meanwhile, these same public sector unions donate directly to the democrats, in what some might call a conflict of interest

let me know when democrats want to address the fact that pension systems all over the country are bankrupting states and cities, and they can start running on this. until then,

There are many agencies etc that are not unionized and it’s still an issue but you have a valid point.

Now I don’t expect the Dems go to nuclear on unions any more than I would expect GOP politicians to do so against fossil fuel industry or any other major contributor. My point is that it’s not necessary to go that far. Very minor changes would be enough to reap the political benefits. /rant

 

[the cac mamba]

There are many agencies etc that are not unionized and it’s still an issue but you have a valid point.

Now I don’t expect the Dems go to nuclear on unions any more than I would expect GOP politicians to do so against fossil fuel industry or any other major contributor. My point is that it’s not necessary to go that far. Very minor changes would be enough to reap the political benefits. /rant

hey, i totally agree with you

 

[BillBanneker]

that's a winning issue. one of the most common (and true) complaints that people have in dem-led localities/states etc is that we're not sufficiently strong on waste/inefficiencies in the public sector. chicago is a perfect case in point. do 5 minutes of research regarding financial/spending/corruption scandals just within the last 10 years and you'll want to vomit lol. the best is how daley sold the interests in our parking meters (99 year contract) for 1.2 billion up front. the consortium that owns the parking lots now will make up their ENTIRE investment BY 2020 .

this kind of shyt paints the party as the one that advocates/tolerates govt waste, even though the GOP are far worse. and it's an issue that cuts across all demographic lines - from poor to rich, black/white etc.

i get it that the unions may be unwilling to consider some necessary reforms, but it's all give/take. not sure how much my view is colored by living in a city as maddeningly corrupt/inefficient as the chi (even though it's still an amazing city).

I think this will be hard to campaign on, if you also are in favor of government programs. The right has (successfully) framed "government waste/inefficiency" as inherent in any government program. I think it would be better framing it as against government corruption/cronyism.

 

[GnauzBookOfRhymes]

I think this will be hard to campaign on, if you also are in favor of government programs. The right has (successfully) framed "government waste/inefficiency" as inherent in any government program. I think it would be better framing it as against government corruption/cronyism.

I think it's a matter of messaging.

You're not wanting to CUT the services. In fact, if you keep the same level of funding but make the programs more efficient you'd be able to serve more constituents.

An example is here in Chicago where you have a lot of recent immigrants from China who engage in ALL sorts of medicaid/welfare fraud. They're able to buy tons of property all cash, but the minute they're able to bring elderly relatives they put them on various welfare programs. The fact that this is so prevalent is an issue of government inaction/lack of enforcement.

Or how our local housing agencies, which receive billions of dollars from the federal government that is supposed to go to creating additional affordable housing, instead park the money in their bank accounts to accrue interest so they can pad salaries, build fancy offices and contribute to their pensions far above the legally mandated levels. At the same time there is a CRISIS in lack of affordable housing in the City, and the Section 8 enrollment hasn't been opened in YEARS. And even when it does they get hundreds of thousands of applicants for a few thousand vouchers.

 

[the cac mamba]

The right has (successfully) framed "government waste/inefficiency" as inherent in any government program. .

maybe that's because it is

 

[AlainLocke]

Dems also need to move more center... going more left irks donors and puts them at a huge disadvantage with citizens united gone.

The Democratic Party is a center party...

President Obama instituted a Republican healthcare plan...

President Nixon's healthcare plan was far more left...

------------------------


The reason why Democrats don't win elections because they think that if they are just like the Republican Party yet...not racist or homophobic...they can win...which they can't...

People want universal healthcare and free college...

You don't need donor money to win a damn election...just give people what they want...



Democrats take the donor money and lose all the damn time...because nobody wanna hear about what Democrats have to say because for the pass 30 years...that ain't say shyt...besides..."We are not Republicans...at least we like Black people..."