The Way Forward

incredible. There was so much discussion on what he managed to achieve in his state - progressive ideals that Dems had talked about and were widely popular in the generic (as long as it was only the policy and no D attached to it - majority of Americans were for it). Things like universal school meals in public schools; child tax credit; free college tuition; gender affirming care; paid family leave; paid medical leave; clean energy policy; voting rights for ex-felons; etc. And understand, when I say "free" - I think we all know these are tax payer items - all in for the commons - the bedrock of a civilized society - like we say free libraries and roads, etc.

But then - Walz accomplishments were sidelined. He was ironed out. Processed by consultants. The Harris campaign - for whatever reason (I have my thoughts but that's another discussion) went off in search of the illusive Rep voter who hated Trump enough to vote for a Democrat. We lost our vision. We became the party of "democracy" against the "danger to democracy" and enthusiasm died, people had difficulty knowing just what they would get with a Harris presidency (was it just a continuation of Pres Biden? Or a "compromise" with the Rs to allow for some incremental possible changes without disrupting the overall "my friend on the other side of the aisle" mantra. Fracking was back. Medicare For All was gone. It was the old Chuck Schumer from 2016 platform of "For every blue-collar Democrat we lose in western Pennsylvania, we will pick up two moderate Republicans in the suburbs in Philadelphia, and you can repeat that in Ohio and Illinois and Wisconsin.”

So, for me personally, I know I'm one of those old far left hippies from the 60s . . . but dammit before I die - I'd still love to see a big, bold, exciting, daring, inclusive, thoughtful, peace-centric platform - where the vision of what can be is more important than the nay-sayers. Where young people who have a real stake in this country are listened to. Where getting money out of politics is the future goal - and big donors be damned. I want a politician to say AND mean it as FDR said: