2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumAfter Hillary Wins
It's January 9th, 2017, you get to write the first five things Hillary will tackle
I'd like to see
1) First and foremost we need to get a very Progressive SCOTUS Justice in place. Hopefully Justices Kennedy, Ginsburg, and Breyer retire during her first term so that she can make the appointments.
2) Second Issue we need to have the courage to tackle is gun control. I know it's a tough fight but we can't constantly shy away from a fight every time the Republicans and the NRA start screaming. I think after the beating their going to get when Trump drags their Party down their spirits will be low and we'll be able to keep the momentum of the election going and finally accomplish some meaningful gun control measures. While we should move to an eventual outright ban on all guns we can't do it overnight so I'd be very happy with a ban on assault weapons, ban on high capacity clips, universal background check, registration, licensing (with intense mental health screening and safety training) and stiff penalties for violating these laws. This will be a great start to joining the rest of the civilized world and make our streets much safer for everyone.
3) Universal Healthcare, if we can win the gun control battle this one will be easy. People are already getting fed up with their health insurance companies so I think the time will be right to finally set this in stone. While a lot of very smart people point to how much time it takes to
4) Tackling minimum wage, after the gun control and universal healthcare fights are won this one should be next. Every American has a right to a living wage, especially the poorest Americans. This issue reaches everyone and will be something that will make a huge difference in their lives; and they'll thank us for it in 2020.
5) Immigration, we need to create a path to citizenship for these families that are already here and the ones that are coming. Personally I like the idea of settling them in the South to start making States like Texas Purple but of course they can live wherever they like. These people will help balance out the white majorities that are entrenched and obliterate any remaining white minority rule.
With these 5 changes I think Hillary would be a shoe in for 2020 and would firmly build upon the foundations Obama has laid.
It will be a very exciting four years.
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,479 posts)1) Sounds good. A court friendly to Blue positions is a good idea.
2) Good luck. When you're done with that maybe consider repealing the 19th Amendment and re-instituting slavery.
3) Universal healthcare? No, we need complete government coverage for every non-elective treatment and surgery for every American. For profit health insurance companies get 1 year to reform as non-profit. The government takes over; the private sector has failed. within 10 years government pays for all non-elective treatments and surgeries; private health insurance will cover only electives.
4) Minimum wage needs to be improved. Absolutely. Along with that some principle drains on personal security need to end. Many colleges and post secondary schools are doing nothing for our citizens nor our economy but bankrupting the middle class and lining the pockets of bankers. Over 10% of all personal debt in the US is student loans. Solving the healthcare cost issue will help as well.
5) Path to citizenship is a huge priority. This protectionist attitude just doesn't work. OTOH, trying to settle people in specific places is a real loser. Freedom is freedom.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)without disrupting it for the most vulnerable. Even if it was politically possible - and we couldn't even get a public OPTION with a Dem house, senate and oval office.
Sticking with the manifesto of "single payer or you're a corporate shill" will not do anyone any good, and isn't grounded in real research by non-partisan, self-funded think tanks devoted to public health policy.
Jason1961
(413 posts)Why is a ban on assault weapons, ban on high capacity clips, universal background check, registration, licensing (with intense mental health screening and safety training) and harsh punishments for violating these laws so unattainable?
I'm not asking that Hillary somehow gets guns banned outright. An outright ban probably isn't possible, especially in her first term, but these measures certainly are.
I think most people would be fine with these measures
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)Yes, one could say that the president has the bully pulpit on this, but I think that it's important to remember than any time that the ammo centric public even thinks that there will be talk of a regulation, they go on buying sprees.
It's got far more moving parts than we usually think of.
The down ballot has more power to change this.
Demsrule86
(68,582 posts)If we get the Senate, we can fix SCOTUS...the rest won't get through a GOP House...maybe we can get the House...hope so.
Jason1961
(413 posts)Trump is ruining the Republican Brand, while he's losing this election he's also acting as a ball and chain for every other person running with an R behind their name.