Re-Establishing an Example of a Democratic Republic in the USA

The Democrats in the US Congress are trying to advance the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) while Republicans in states like Georgia and Texas are trying hard to stem loses by restricting access to voting...

We are not the model of Democracy we once strived to be.  We have only one party at all interested in promoting said Democracy; democratic republic.  

Democrats need to eliminate obstacles like the filibuster and deliver legislation, like the JLVRAA, for President Biden to sign into law.  We might also consider ratifying the treaty that established the International Criminal Court, so that crimes against humanity (like the international incident on the border twixt the USA and the United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos)) might be pursued on the world stage.

Set an international example by allowing the Federal Communications Commission to, once again, treat broadband services (the Internet) as a utility; as a Title II, common-carrier service.  Free up the means to communicate when some  are seeking to hide potential crimes, including crimes against humanity, by suppressing the means and methods of modern telecommunications; enhances the communicating of other things (e.g., video conferencing for business, government, education, entertainment, etc...).

We need to re-establish, perhaps enhance, leading by example.  The, "do like I do, not like I say," example of Democracy; a democratic republic.

Simple Economics

When more people are able to purchase things, more than just food and shelter, the economy grows. 1986, 2008 and now are glaring examples of the failure of, “supply side,” economics.

In order to kick-start economic growth we need a $15 an hour minimum wage now. Student debt forgiven asap. The, “tipped, minimal, wage,” needs to end in favor of $15 an hour; tips can be shared, if they're still given, once formerly tipped employees are earning a living wage.

The naysayers argue that jobs will disappear, and some will, but they are the second and third jobs working folks need to live indoors and eat these days.

Regions of the USA, where wages have risen well above the current minimum, have experienced overarching economic growth.

By 2025 the minimum wage should grow to $25 an hour to support even greater economic participation and growth. The wage can be linked to productivity growth or inflation, which ever is greatest, afterward.

The ability of employers to use, “contract,” labor, to avoid the costs associated with employees, should be limited by a well enforced, regulatory environment.

If a business can not afford living wages and benefits for employees they should not have employees. The business that wants the growth associated with more customers, without the cost of employees, are destined to, and ultimately will, fail.

Consequences When Republicans - Who Don't Like Government - Are Our Elected Leaders

 Laissez-faire is everywhere! (Pun - from an old cartoon character - is attempted).

Texas Republicans' policy is not to regulate anything until someone does things our Texas Republicans don't like (e.g., Austin does it, Houston (and Harris county) elect multiple women of color to be judges, etc...).

The hands off approach killed dozens of Texans during this winter's polar vortex visit. That global climate change triggered event caused a week of constant subfreezing temperatures across the vast majority of the state of Texas.

This while Gov. Abbott, former Gov. Perry, and other current and former Republican leaders, flail round and round to find others to blame.

The investigation was done after a similar freeze in 2011 and the recommendations from the report, published in August of 2011, were discarded without any of said recommended, preventative measures being instituted.

Doing a similar investigation will only reveal the fatal lack of leadership a state gets when we keep electing Republican leaders, that don't like government, to lead the state's government.