( – promoted by odum)
This is my first attempt at a diary, so forgive me if I commit some blogging faux pas…
On Thursday night, I attended an ‘Affordability Agenda’ meeting with Gov. Douglas here in Essex. The meeting was interesting not so much for what the governor had to say (almost nothing of substance), but how he positions himself vis a vis the Democratic legislature. To hear Douglas tell it, he is the last bulwark preventing the Democrats from taxing/regulating everything to death.
Now Essex is pretty conservative by VT standards, but it was striking to me how people really buy into the Douglas narrative. Douglas offers no new idea, but rather positions himself as the voice of reason. It is extremely effective – because it appeals to that ‘in the ballot’ booth moment of truth when voters get nervous about their pocketbooks.
Scudder Parker was blown out of the water largely due to this narrative and we will get our hats handed to us again if we don’t come up with an antidote.
I think the antidote should be comprised of three components:
1) The Dem platform should make reform of education financing its #1 agenda item with the stated goal of reducing spending and adopting a progressive (read not property taxes) strategy to finance the bulk of education needs.
2) Adopt some sort of economic development strategy. Hell, anything would be better that what is on the table now. The Next Generation Commission report is a disaster. Douglas’ half-assed Green Valley initiative is a joke. The state needs to get serious about building new industries that create high value jobs. Those high value jobs can provide the base to support local agriculture and other sectors we consider vital to the Vermont way of life. The renewables industry train has pretty much left the station (Oregon and Washington state are CRUSHING us), but we might be able to catch up if we get serious.
3) Recruit candidates for the governorship from outside the legislature, who can speak to the above points (along with other Dem priorities on environment, health care etc) with credibility.
I realize the above points may not be terribly popular in this forum, but I raise them now because I think we should think carefully about how to position the party in 08.
I am going out of town this weekend, but will do my best to reply from the road….