A 'Top Ten' List of Bold Ideas

The polls suggest we are nearing the end of the Bush era. But conservative scandal and failure won't lead to a serious progressive resurgence as long as Democrats remain stuck in short-term tactical thinking. Republicans and the tame-dog media tell us, ad nauseam, that Democrats have no new ideas. Enough! Tough, bold, important ideas are plentiful--and it's time to start talking about them, to stake out serious positions and to demand action. No, they can't all be achieved right away. But the sooner progressives start saying what we really want, the sooner the debate will be about our issues, not theirs.

Here's a "top ten" list to get the ball rolling--and to plant the flag for positive, aggressive post-Bush (and post-New Democrat) near- and long-term change:

1. Real National Security. The United States is protected by two oceanic moats; the only truly serious security threat we face is the possibility that terrorists will acquire nuclear weapons. We should shift half of the roughly $500 billion we now spend on a cold war-style defense posture and counterproductive interventionism to a fully funded antiproliferation strategy, to homeland protection and to the elimination of energy dependence on the Middle East. The first priority should be an all-out effort to reduce nuclear arms and nuclear materials. And we should begin a massive campaign to reduce proliferation pressures in Iran and North Korea, including the use of economic incentives, and work to ease the Pakistan-India nuclear rivalry.

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