Typical BMG rules of the road apply – we’re hoping to generate civil, substantive discussion about these issues.
For each of these categories, the overall arching questions are: As it pertains to this category, what are our core values as Democrats, and what policies do we think should be included in our 2009 Democratic Platform?
Here is a list of the topics of each of the online forums, as well as the day we’ll put up that post. Today starts with Health Care, which I’ll put up in a separate post later today.
Topics and Schedule
Health Care – 2/13
Elections & Ethics Reform – 2/17
Education – 2/23
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties – 2/26
Economic Growth, Jobs, and Worker’s Rights – 3/3
Economic Justice/Poverty – 3/6
Housing 3/10
Environment 3/13
Public Safety & Criminal Justice 3/18
Misc – What Are We Missing? 3/23
I look forward to hearing your thoughts & ideas!
I’d suggest that the number one value should be emphasis upon continuous improvement in government efficiency, productivity, and accountability.
Look, this idea that there’s ever been a time when people weren’t demanding efficiency and productivity is a little silly. There’s a group of people who always believe that government can be easily made more efficient (without loss of productivity)… they’ll never be satisfied. The fact is that government at all levels has been searching for efficiencies well, for ever.
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p>Now, I agree that it isn’t perfect; no organization of this size ever is. The point, though, is that many common gripes, while relevant, don’t add up to much money. Even the MBTA early retirement program (23 years and full pension) doesn’t add up to very much of the MBTA overall budget. So I’m not arguing that we shouldn’t always be looking to gain efficiencies — we should. I am arguing, however, that we all agree on this and it’s a “no-brainer” for which there’s always pressure, and therefore it’s not on the same level of import in this context as housing, enviro, elections, health, etc. — issues on which the party rank and file have very different ideas on scope, extent, direction, etc.
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p>Accountability — and I’d add transparency — are different. That’s something that we as a society don’t always harp on and something that our legislators do need constant prodding to work on. That’s something I do think the state Dem platform ought to make sure it includes, if only to remind our Speakah that we expect good behavior.
Of course the electorate has very high expectations. Unfortunatly, all too often these expectations aren’t articulated or given much priority by elected representatives, party leadership, management, or unions.
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p>Given these difficult economic circumstances we’re all under, I feel it’s important (and yes largely symbolic) to be very clear that goverernment, like industry must do better.
I would say the problem is we don’t demand it loudly enough!
The way I see it, inefficiency and lack of productivity and accountability are raging issues in government that are ALWAYS put on the back burner to address more important issues. I agree this value should be front and center in the platform. Doing this will bring to our party the people who don’t normally vote, because they don’t believe in or trust our government. It would be a huge tool when out there talking up our party.
Thanks for your interest in public input. Hope to be able to come back for the “everything else” session next month. But meanwhile, I’d like to pitch two issues important to me:
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p>* Creating livable, walkable communities
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p>* Transportation policies that don’t always actively encourage automobile transportation to the exclusion of all other modes of transit
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p>Yes, I understand that most people aren’t going to ditch their autos for mass transportation, especially outside of urban areas. But is it really necessary to design state roadways that are so hostile to pedestrians that people need to take their cars – even when the weather is nice – to travel less than half a mile from, say, their office to a bank or store? (I’m told the Commonwealth is responsible for the pedestrian crossings along Rte. 30).
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p>I’m also intensely concerned at the gross inequity of charging tolls on one roadway to pay for the construction project of a completely different roadway in a city that’s 20 miles away, while most actual users of that new roadway don’t pay tolls. If tolls are supposed to pay for the Big Dig, then charge tolls on that stretch of highway. Hiking tolls for people who drive between Framingham and Newton in order to improve the commutes of people driving free from Quincy to Boston is unacceptable. I’m still unclear why people on the Turnpike are paying tolls long after the Turnpike bonds were retired, while all our other highways (excluding bridges and tunnels) are paid for out of taxes.
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Calculate end of unemployment benefits.
Sell House
Buy farm in NH
Buy a gun
Very simple and uncomplicated.