This is a copy of an email I sent to some folks in our small UU fellowship in response to some members claiming we need to reach out to Trump voters, and consider pardoning Trump. I hope you find it worth reading.
“This [discussion] certainly opened a nest of murder hornets! Democrats and liberals, even in our group, are already forming the circular firing squad that has defeated our core values time and again.
I do not accept the idea that holding government officials and leaders responsible for their crimes, to the extent that such exist, is tantamount to "Trump Bashing". That framing is adopting the right wing characterization of Democrats as being deranged haters while they pretend to be defending principles of the Constitution.
I also do not accept the idea that the Dem party must reach out apologetically to the GOP, or that we must compete on their terms. Trying to appease the senate GOP didn't work out well for Obama, and damaged the Affordable Care Act almost beyond repair by putting the interests of big pharma and big healthco ahead of care for people.
No single group can lay claim to putting Biden over the top, but disaffected Trump voters were the least of them, and they underscored their contempt for dems by voting for GOP down the ticket, and acquiescing to Trump's seditious claims of voter fraud.
I think we need to support the rightful claims of disenfranchised groups, not abandon them to seek favor with the right wing. If Dems don't stand up for Justice, we won't win another election. There are things that Biden/Harris could do without the senate, and could do quickly,
Here is my list of things that I think can be done without Senate approval.
1 Campaign nationwide for the National Popular Vote compact. Call on states to ratify it and effectively neuter the electoral college.
2. Require banks to offer free accounts to all, which would include cost free deposits and electronic banking, but would not allow overdrafts or overdraft charges.
3. Take Cannabis off the list of Schedule One drugs and encourage states to follow suit. (I would legalize all so called recreational drugs.) Excessive drug use is a health problem. Criminalizing it only serves to enrich gangs and fund gang violence. Medicalizing it only serves to enrich big pharma.
4. Issue full pardons to everyone convicted of simple possession or low volume drug dealing. Restore their voting rights and rights.
5. Offer refinancing of student loans at the same rate paid by banks to the fed (nearly zero percent)
6. Show strong public support for Ranked Choice Voting and eliminate the risks of spoiler candidates tipping the election.
7 Take money from the overfunded military budget and spend it to fund a National Health Service on the basis of national defense, as Trump did for his wall
8 Push for the inclusion of the oath of office at the opening of public meetings. Remind the GOP why they are pledging allegiance to the flag.
9 Make the federal school lunch program free for all students, without qualification. Stop shaming hungry kids.
10 Order the IRS to set up online, free tax filing services. People should not have to pay a tax preparer to file simple taxes. It's nothing more than a subsidy for Intuit.
