Staying away from the distraction of the hot button social issues would be good too. The Right uses those as wedge issues. Get them to talk about themselves rather than other people.

just as a matter of effectiveness: that if we don't control inequality we're all totally screwed.

another way of looking at it is they can all go hand-in-hand. that would shouldn't have to choose. i think there's a strategic advantage of working on cultural issues like MMJ and gay marriage at the state level for now. and that this can compliment economic work at the federal level.

i'm not focused enough on the numbers to know if this is the case, but anecdotally I like what happens in states that do successful ballot initiatives on cultural issues.

i guess it's something that we all know we believe on one level, but have difficulty applying to politics. when people are really good at building trust/relationships they make it look so easy that we don't even realize that's what they're doing. i think that's part of what made Clinton such a brilliant politician.

We need to lead by example and be visible to gain trust.everything after that comes easy.

They say it doesn't matter who is office, because they don't trust any of them.

'Them' is the ruling class. The elites, the party members, the owners.

Money being the one thing we all understand, the taking away from a meager paycheck of hard earned money, is the only real thing the working people feel in their daily lives.

The only recourse anyone has to overcome the feeling of being stolen from is to become so rich as to not have it effect you. But then those that do become rich are treated with undue respect by 'Them' and making the whole ripoff come full circle.

SS and other such human safety nets are our only bulwark against the ripoff and anyone opposing our safety nets needs to be runoff.

The safety nets are our core. We need to remain focused on those programs. We never fail when we do. That is why I am a Democrat, because Democrats care.

"Don't register to vote, you won't get called for jury duty!"

starting to think there's some sort of conspiracy

liberals were elitist in his rhetoric. it's allowed to punch up, but no one likes to see anyone punch down, which is the usual GOP way.

Is that we need 'cradle to grave' responsibility for manufactured products.

When you talk about manufacturing jobs leaving our shores and selling cheap crap at Walmart. That's the solution to both of those problems. Landfills are a government subsidized operation and if someone is manufacturing stuff that is land filled quickly - they need to pay a higher tax.

Additionally, there used to be repair jobs. Every product should have a guaranteed life span and every product should have repair part availability. Manufacturers should be required to prepare a cost breakdown based on a products statistical reliability. If you buy a microwave for $50, and it is only expected to last 6 months based on that product's history, you have a right to know before you buy. IMHO

That's how we stop the manufacture of cheap consumer goods. That's the role the government should take in the interest of conserving resources and reducing transportation.

That and raise taxes on corporations and high earners. Free trade agreements aren't the problem, the unfair tax system is the problem.

And never underestimate the toxic consequences of doing the wrong thing, even if it seems to be the most expedient thing to do at the moment.

From experience, I am not sure that it will work. I know more conservatives than liberals IRL. Most of them have Fox News views. We are friends and I know that there is a trusting relationship, at least on all matters that are not politics. But no matter what I say regarding political issues, they will have no part of it. They refuse to listen, they say it is all lies even when I have the facts and sources and they don't. Maybe this technique will work with people who are not political thinkers, but it does no good with the involved conservatives. Or maybe I am just not very good at my arguments.

we actually talked about this -- willful ignorance isn't on us. there's folks we'll never bring over to our side, but we don't need every last person. we only need those who are coming into our circle of trust.

even in red districts near me elections are won by single percentage points. you only have to mobilize enough people to change that dynamic. maybe that's getting a low-propensity voter to the polls. maybe that's changing the mind of a swing voter. it's certainly not going straight for hardcore FOX newsians. You'll lose your mind!

Protect Social Security
Raise the Minimum Wage
Make Sick Days Mandatory for wage earners
Raise Corporate Taxes and End Tax Loopholes

I would add: through tax policy and changes in our trade policy, BRING THE JOBS HOME.

I recall walking door to door in Boehner's district in 2004. One elderly woman who considered herself to be wavering said to me, "I'm trying to choose between my retirement and the babies."

Social Security -- her pension -- or abortion. That was how she saw her choices.

That is why Democrats are fools to weaken on Social Security.

Will it be easy to provide for the growing number of seniors who are being forced out and have been forced out of the workforce by our horrendous trade agreements and automation?

No. But we have to do. And the best way is to end the trade agreements that inevitably result in fewer, many fewer jobs for Americans and many more jobs overseas. Bring the jobs home. That is the key to every political problem we have. It is the one thing that will silence the Republican Party. It is the one thing that will bring the country together and end the growing regional competition, distrust even hatred that could result in something very, very bad for the US.

Bring the jobs home.

Bring the jobs home and young people will be able to repay their loans and contribute to a greater nation. Bring the jobs home and employers will value older employees and keep them working longer, thus ending fears about Social Security's financial stability. Bring the jobs home and Detroit will be revitalized. States will compete less for jobs. Technology will flourish. Creativity will flourish.

We have a well educated populace. Lots of technical know-how. Bring the jobs home here where they belong.

and the fight has already started. i love that Harry Reid is saying that there's no way in hell he's putting it on the table. But we need more -- we need the jobs back. We can't have an exclusively FIRE economy. Big corps need to pay their fair share AND play by a rulebook that provides jobs here at home.

I-phones and I-pads are not necessities. They should be taxed so as to equalize the tax and labor cost advantages Apple receives by producing them in foreign countries. Any nonessential item should be subject to taxes that equalize the tax and labor costs between domestic and foreign production.

But how do we bring the jobs home? Corporate America is hopelessly addicted to cheap foreign labor.