I believe there’s a good chance for a blue wave in the next election. People are fed up with inaction by Congress and the Senate to address issues that are affecting them. They have seen enough and the majority want a change.
They are affected every day at the grocery store, gas pump, daycare, housing and healthcare. Right now, I believe they are looking for major changes and not just a move toward the center. They want action now, and if it doesn’t happen in two years, they will be looking for new leadership.
Republicans aren’t apologizing for pushing to the far right. They started when President Ronald Reagan went into office in 1981. The Heritage Foundation gave his administration a playbook. The published version of these recommendations, the 1,100-page “Mandate for Leadership,” was described by United Press International back then as “a blueprint for grabbing the government by its frayed New Deal lapels and shaking out 48 years of liberal policy.” Regan and Reganomics were only able to implement part of the plan because Congress held him in check.
Then in 1994, Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey introduced the “Contract with America” detailing what legislation they would introduce in the first 100 days of taking the majority. More power was given to government officials, eliminating safeguards that were put in place to protect the public.
In 2023, the Heritage Foundation updated and published Project 2025’s 922-page “ Mandate for Leadership: the Conservative Promise.” Written with the promise to dismantle many government agencies and put more power into the hands of the president. During the election the president elect said he knew nothing about it. Much of this has been implemented and court orders ignored with a push is for white supremacy, the Christion Nationalist’s agenda, voter suppression and pay for access.
For 45 years, Republicans have been working on this plan with a steady beat of illegal aliens, welfare fraud and government overreach.
Democrats, what’s the plan?
Looking at history, this isn’t the first time bold action was necessary and came from the far
left.
Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 proposed the “New Deal” which according to the robber barons would ruin the country. In fact, it brought the country out of the recession with stabilized banking, created jobs, protected agriculture, expanded workers rights, social safety nets, labor rights and the middle class. Lyndon Johnson in 1964 launched the “Great Society.” Again conservatives warned it would be the downfall of our democracy. It provided civil rights, voting rights, Medicare, Medicaid, equal opportunity, funding for public schools and established HUD. Every American benefited from these programs.
Today we’re looking at the destruction of many of those programs and feeling like there is nothing that can be done. Voters were promised something better. They didn’t receive it and were sold a bill of goods. I for one want bold action not an attempt to go back to what we had. We need national plans with immediate actions.
- Universal healthcare
- Livable wages
- Childcare
- Affordable housing
The legislation needs to be ready on day one. The plans must look at what’s best for the entire country. It can’t be one plan for New York and then another in Colorado and still another in California. Americans want changes and they want them to benefit everyone, not just a few at the top. The majority find themselves going backwards and want change that benefits them.
Change is never easy but now more than ever is necessary.
Again I ask, Democrats what the plan?
Thomas Kolling lives in Concord.