Happy Holidays! Love, the Democrats

Posted on December 23, 2010

for My927Charlotte.com

This holiday season should demonstrate once and for all that conservatives do not have a monopoly on faith and family values. As a matter of fact, if the holidays are about generosity to those in need and a celebration of hope, joy and peace, then this year Santa and his Elves were played by President Obama and the Democrats, and the Grinches who almost stole Christmas were casted with Republican actors. Though there were some elves that tried to go on strike, the President has marshalled enough support from his party to extend federal unemployment benefits for about one million people. But, Obama has to give the Republicans in Congress something that they care about much more than the jobless people who didn't fund their campaigns. In order to make sure our fellow Americans receive the help they need, the President has to also extend the tax cuts, that were passed under former President George W. Bush, for the most affluent members of our society.

Now, Republicans have argued since the Reagan era that any tax increase for wealthy Americans (in this case, the 2% of households making over $250,000 per year) would have a negative impact on the economy. This theory has been referred to as "Trickle Down Economics". The idea is that if you provide the best tax benefits for the richest individuals and corporations, along with government subsidies, the financial standing of the average person will gradually improve.

Democrats, on the other hand, tend to believe that those who have reaped the most rewards from our financial system should pay substantially higher taxes. In turn we get better social, health and educational programs - at least in theory - that improve the quality of life for most Americans and close the economic divide. When our economy is doing relatively well, these philosophical arguments seem rather abstract. But, when one party is willing to obstruct or filibuster any unemployment extension legislation that doesn't keep the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% income earners, than the political differences become very concrete.

Our Congress, Democrats and forward-thinking Republicans, delivered another gift to our country with the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I remember watching the documentary Ask Not, a couple years ago and learning how discriminatory DADT was against gay and lesbian military personnel, and how it compromised our national security prior to 9-11. While the end of DADT marks a huge victory in the on-going struggle for civil rights and equality, a progressive opportunity was lost because most Republicans and a handful of Democrats (including both Senators from my state of North Carolina) refused to pass the Dream Act. The Dream Act would provide a pathway to citizenship for over 65,000 undocumented students who were brought to this country as children, if they complete a college degree or serve in the the military for at least two years.

There is a certain religious figure who looms large this time of year. We like to tell cute stories about his birth, but we really tend to avoid his convicting message. As an adult, he had a lot to say about the corrupting nature of money, and how our spiritual health as individuals and a society, can be measured by how we treat the most unfortunate and unpopular among us. He loved people from all walks of life, but recognized that those with the greatest challenges and struggles needed the most support. Watching the debates over unemployment benefits, tax cuts and civil rights, has reminded me of what this spiritual leader once said about his followers and how they will be known. He said that his constituents can be identified by their love for one another. Regardless of what religion we belong to, or even if we don't subscribe to any, everyone can agree that we need more love, no matter what the season.