What compromise would you make?

I want to see us move forward in the next four years on a broad front of social issues that are important to me. For example: health care and social security; tax equity; civil liberties; peace; climate responsibility; education; care for our injured military veterans.

We need to cut military spending and eliminate the budget deficit. We need to tax cars that get less than 40 miles per gallon, and spend the proceeds on mass transit. We need to decide whether we want 14 million illegal immigrants to stay or go home, and if they are staying we need to treat them a whole lot better. We need to restore workplace safety and food safety inspections. We need to address the abuses in corporate governance and stop the needless off-shoring of America's middle class jobs. Bring back competence and integrity to the Justice Department, EPA, and other Federal offices.

There's a lot of things I want my government to do - and I am hoping President Obama will get the job done. But I know that he will need to pull Republicans and balky Democrats into this project. Nothing will get done without some moderation of goals and some well-chosen deals and compromises. Given the tired and anemic state of our economy - you could call it "bushed, I suppose - some priorities will have to be set.

Even if we win the House and take a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, we will have some tough questions to answer.

What should be prioritized? What cannot be sacrificed or compromised? Harder question: what compromises should we be prepared to make?

What are your thoughts?

Technorati Tags: Social Agenda, Political Priorities

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