Here's another priority I forgot :


Making school board elections partisan so we get to vote in primaries without having to possibly pay to join a Democratic Committee. In Fairfax County non eligible voters in general elections could pay or get a subsidy. person could be here for a few months, non-citizen, or just visiting family- vote!

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With Dems now taking full control of VA, what do you think should be the very first thing (or #1 priority) to get done?

My answer: gun control. In fact I will be pissed if they focus on anything else off the bat and squander this opportunity.

Redistricting at VA and Fed level. Enfranchisement. Got to make sure it doesn't tip back.

“By reenacting the constitutional amendment, Democrats could seize the high ground and preempt GOP accusations that they harbor a radical agenda. Redistricting reform is that rare commodity: good governance that doubles as smart politics.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/virginia-democrats-finally-have-the-opportunity-to-strike-down-gerrymandering/2019/11/09/895ba120-01b7-11ea-8bab-0fc209e065a8_story.html

LOL good governance.

Non-partisan redistricting by an independent commission IS good governance.

And It won't "preempt GOP accusations" and wont be "smart politics." But democrats will likely fall for this middling liberal crap.

Agree it won’t pre-empt GOP challenges but disagree it isn’t good politics. Why do you say that?

Look if you want to win political power... redistrict so you get the power. Don't think that people are going to vote for you more (and you'll get more political power) because you *didn't* redistrict.

Your comment is to the one just above it? If so, it does not make sense. Why wouuld having an independent commission not be good governance?

Anonymous wrote:You are basing your overall assessment of issue movement on one issue. And forgetting how Reagan and the Bushes were not anti-immigrant.

And seriously with the Tran stuff? You do realize that euthanizing a healthy infant post birth is murder, right? No one is advocating for this. Explain why 3 damn doctors have to sign off when the fetus has issues incompatible with life and/or the mother’s life is in danger? That’s absolutely unnecessary. It just extends the process and causes more trauma for everyone involved.

Excuse me but where are CA and TX on a map? Shared border and long term history of cross border living with Mexico. https://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-migrants-todossantos-20190711-story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/01/30/in-1986-congress-tried-to-solve-immigration-why-didnt-it-work/

See the term plausible deniability for employers . Simpson and Mazzoli were the bill sponsors and it didn't work …
Visa overstays?

Yes I'm serious with the Tran stuff. Read the failed bill. The gestational mother determines if she will do labor/childbirth or have an abortion.

You are basing your overall assessment of issue movement on one issue. And forgetting how Reagan and the Bushes were not anti-immigrant.

And seriously with the Tran stuff? You do realize that euthanizing a healthy infant post birth is murder, right? No one is advocating for this. Explain why 3 damn doctors have to sign off when the fetus has issues incompatible with life and/or the mother’s life is in danger? That’s absolutely unnecessary. It just extends the process and causes more trauma for everyone involved.

Anonymous wrote:the modern republican party is a disaster. They have swung incredibly far to the right AND can not claim in any way to be fiscal conservatives with their reckless tax cuts. I do not know many people who were Rs when I met them who still are. The party left the middle a while ago, but socially AND fiscally. An actual center-right party would bring a lot of those people back. But you have GOT to cut the racism and extreme positions on social issues, PLUS get back to a place where you actually care about deficits and debt and MEAN it.

Republicans have not changed as much as Democrats. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/07/the-democrats-immigration-mistake/528678/

This article is a good summary of the position change on illegal immigration. "In 2008, the Democratic platform called undocumented immigrants “our neighbors.” But it also warned, “We cannot continue to allow people to enter the United States undetected, undocumented, and unchecked,” adding that “those who enter our country’s borders illegally, and those who employ them, disrespect the rule of the law.” By 2016, such language was gone."

In 2019 there were 2 pieces of legislation that failed that I expect will now be resurrected and passed:
1. drivers licenses for those illegally present. How will this interact with real ID which will be required for flights and access to various govt buildings?
2. Tran abortion- VA has had a 3 doctor sign off etc and Trans changed it to 1 doctor in the third trimester. Language of her bill enabled a healthy gestational mother to deem a healthy fetus a product not a baby even in the 40th week.

Other:
3. No redistricting-success of D in 2019 elections- why bother changing precincts and boundaries?
4. Northam's pre school initiative- Fairfax County has a broader plan than the state or any other jurisdiction in the DMV region. Expect a shift in population of below 300% poverty to Fairfax from Loudoun, Arlington, MOCO, PG, PW. The reality is localities in VA with greater pre K get more in LCI which does not consider poverty head count nor ESOL.
5. Prek - local migration for benefit with cost estimated based only on current potential recipients. Exactly who would rent in Sterling if you can move less than 1 mile and get childcare for free from birth to K extended day and year round?
6. No compliance with e verify except federal minimum- expect any federal e verify to be dropped
7. Increased refundable and non-refundable credits for state taxes
8. Fairfax County- unprecedented tax increase to pay for pre K alone. No change in VA funding since more for Fairfax County and FCPS means less for others
9. VA changing the income tax rate structure to something like MD and FX adding an income tax. State and local income taxes:
MFJ earned income= $125,000 , state and local income tax MOCO MD=$5885, FX VA=$6930 + car tax.
10. No change in LCI for school funding. Virginia should tie permanent capacity utilization thresholds with % like Maryland. That would force FCPS to use buildings at least to 90%.

^ and invest in renewable power sources

- gun control
- education funding
- election protection/gerrymandering
- require full financial disclosure for presidential ballot
- anti-corruption/dark money
- ERA

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With Dems now taking full control of VA, what do you think should be the very first thing (or #1 priority) to get done?

My answer: gun control. In fact I will be pissed if they focus on anything else off the bat and squander this opportunity.

Redistricting at VA and Fed level. Enfranchisement. Got to make sure it doesn't tip back.

“By reenacting the constitutional amendment, Democrats could seize the high ground and preempt GOP accusations that they harbor a radical agenda. Redistricting reform is that rare commodity: good governance that doubles as smart politics.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/virginia-democrats-finally-have-the-opportunity-to-strike-down-gerrymandering/2019/11/09/895ba120-01b7-11ea-8bab-0fc209e065a8_story.html

LOL good governance.

Non-partisan redistricting by an independent commission IS good governance.

And It won't "preempt GOP accusations" and wont be "smart politics." But democrats will likely fall for this middling liberal crap.

Agree it won’t pre-empt GOP challenges but disagree it isn’t good politics. Why do you say that?

Look if you want to win political power... redistrict so you get the power. Don't think that people are going to vote for you more (and you'll get more political power) because you *didn't* redistrict.

Change has to start somewhere. After 2016, I threw myself into campaigning for local candidates (I always voted, but I give more time, energy and money now). I think a lot of people woke up and realized local elections matter. Local politicians go on to become national politicians. Gotta build the bench

Anonymous wrote:Virginia is not as "blue" as some people think or hope.

If 2019 taught us anything, it taught us that national politics are influencing state politics more strongly than in the past. That's favoring Dems today, but what happens in the future if a highly unpopular Dem President drags down his or her own party? There are enough Republicans and independent moderates in the Commonwealth to shift the balance of power back.

It is true that VA is not a total blue state. Northern VA is what makes VA blue. In every election, VA is red until the Northern VA regions' numbers start trickling in. Southern VA is VERY red and conservative, except for the Richmond region.

I live in Loudoun and even our county is very split. It is red due to the Western localities until the Leesburg and Ashburn numbers start rolling in, which flips it to blue. Western Loudoun is mostly conservative and still made up of more rural communities and residents who loathe what has become of their growing, liberal county. I don't think Western Loudoun will be red for too much longer. More and more liberals are moving west as it is getting more developed. The older farms are being sold to developers once the owners pass and turned into housing.

IA, national politics are influencing state politics, and IMO, for the better. I have friends and family members who are taking voting much more seriously now. They're educating themselves on the topics and candidates much more than in the past and excited to get out and vote in this local elections.

Anonymous wrote:the modern republican party is a disaster. They have swung incredibly far to the right AND can not claim in any way to be fiscal conservatives with their reckless tax cuts. I do not know many people who were Rs when I met them who still are. The party left the middle a while ago, but socially AND fiscally. An actual center-right party would bring a lot of those people back. But you have GOT to cut the racism and extreme positions on social issues, PLUS get back to a place where you actually care about deficits and debt and MEAN it.

I agree, though the extremism is affecting Democrats as well.

I think its possible to see a legitimate third "moderate" party form with disaffected Rs and Ds.

Anonymous wrote:Virginia is not as "blue" as some people think or hope.

If 2019 taught us anything, it taught us that national politics are influencing state politics more strongly than in the past. That's favoring Dems today, but what happens in the future if a highly unpopular Dem President drags down his or her own party? There are enough Republicans and independent moderates in the Commonwealth to shift the balance of power back.

+1

First priority: passing the equal rights amendment.

the modern republican party is a disaster. They have swung incredibly far to the right AND can not claim in any way to be fiscal conservatives with their reckless tax cuts. I do not know many people who were Rs when I met them who still are. The party left the middle a while ago, but socially AND fiscally. An actual center-right party would bring a lot of those people back. But you have GOT to cut the racism and extreme positions on social issues, PLUS get back to a place where you actually care about deficits and debt and MEAN it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With Dems now taking full control of VA, what do you think should be the very first thing (or #1 priority) to get done?

My answer: gun control. In fact I will be pissed if they focus on anything else off the bat and squander this opportunity.

Redistricting at VA and Fed level. Enfranchisement. Got to make sure it doesn't tip back.

“By reenacting the constitutional amendment, Democrats could seize the high ground and preempt GOP accusations that they harbor a radical agenda. Redistricting reform is that rare commodity: good governance that doubles as smart politics.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/virginia-democrats-finally-have-the-opportunity-to-strike-down-gerrymandering/2019/11/09/895ba120-01b7-11ea-8bab-0fc209e065a8_story.html

LOL good governance.

Non-partisan redistricting by an independent commission IS good governance.

And It won't "preempt GOP accusations" and wont be "smart politics." But democrats will likely fall for this middling liberal crap.

Agree it won’t pre-empt GOP challenges but disagree it isn’t good politics. Why do you say that?