The Democratic Party is talking about a “New Direction” and quite frankly that’s music to my ears. We’ve been heading down a steep, slippery slope for too damn long now and it’s high time American’s woke up to the fact that the Republican Party ain’t cutting it for the average American.

The Bush administration has worn people down to the bone. There’s not a lot of hope floating around these days and I hear this echoed more and more daily.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi previewed the “New Direction for America” on Tuesday in an interview with USA TODAY. The platform was “hammered out by Democratic members of Congress, mayors and governors.”

“The American people need to know, if you win, what are your priorities,” she said. Reid said the party is standing “with the people we have always stood with: seniors, students and the hardworking families of America. We intend to tackle the issues that matter most.”

In his column Wednesday E.J. Dionne asked the question, “How Will the Good Jobs Of the Future Be Created?” The future looks bleak says Dionne, “The old capitalist job-production machine is not working the way it used to.”

The venerable promise that new (progressive) leadership will create masses of well-paying jobs is harder to make and even harder to keep.

In principle this is a larger problem for conservatives, whose main economic program involves reinforcing the status quo by giving tax cuts to rich people so they have more money to invest. Conservatives simply ignore the fact that fewer jobs are being created, particularly at home, for each dollar invested.

It seems that if Democrats are going to take back the Congress, the “New Direction” had better well include “a better economic bargain,” says Dionne. I hear that. To Dionne, “the words “New Deal” never sounded more up to date — though if the marketing specialists insist, A New and Improved Deal would do just fine.”

I’ve been reading Jonathan Alter’s biography of FDR “The Defining Moment,” when I get a spare moment or two late at night. There’s a lot to be learned in Alter’s look back at FDR’s Hundred Days. Some lessons in my opinion, that smart Dems in political office will pick up on. Average American’s are struggling and suffering and I’ll keep hammering on that point, because I speak as one of those struggling and suffering average American’s.

I reject the notion that the economy is fine. I reject the notion that American’s who work hard each day should go with out health insurance. The Bush administration and the current GOP reign, has left the American people high and dry without a lifeline.

Speaking of a “New Direction,” from TomPaine.com, was this this notation about John Kerry’s set of principles that he said progressives should stand for yesterday, in his speech at the Take Back America conference in D.C. (see earlier post):

• Tell the truth to the American people.

• “Fire the incompetents” and hold government accountable.

• Make America secure by making America energy independent.

• “Value work, not wealth.”

• Export products, not jobs.

• Provide affordable health care for all Americans.

• Address global warming and the pollution of our air and water.

Talk about an excellent use of bullet points… I like the Dem’s new plan, their “New Direction,” but John Kerry’s principles for progressives have a better ring to them in my book. Let’s get started with the first two points ASAP: “Tell the truth to the American people” and ‘“Fire the incompetents” and hold government accountable.’

Truth be told, if American’s want to start climbing back up that steep, slippery slope that the GOP has been pushing us down for so long now, we’ve got work to do. Let’s get our priorities in order and get to it!

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