Dems - going for the opposite - Part Deux

Background: my background is in theatre and one piece of advice given to actors at auditions is to go for the "opposite".  Meaning, instead of making the obvious choice presented by the text of the script - go for the "opposite."   If it reads angry and loud, play it quiet and calm and vice versa.  It startles directors who have seen the "obvious" and makes them sit up and take notice.

That's what Dems need to do now - not this "go left" or "go center" or "find Jesus" stuff.   That's the obvious.    They need to surprise, not just Republicans, but Americans in general.  The subtitle would be: "What People Think But Don't Say." (Henceforth to be known as the "WPTBDS Rule".)

My first suggestion (regarding the abortion debate) can be found at
http://www.dailykos.com/user/eileen%20from%20OH

#2 Suggestion is regarding Education and States' Rights.   I think we need to take the power of the Federal government and inject it with a recognition of states' rights and a very healthy dollop of libertarian philosophy.   No, I'm not advocating deserting the need for the federal government to provide things, but for too long the Dems have been behind creating/contributing  federal bureaucracies that sound like they solve problems - but really don't. The "feelgood" stuff.   C'mon - we have done this - and we have got to stop.  

The Department of Education begat No Child Left,  whose principal flaw, according to the Dems, is that it's underfunded.  The WPTBDS is this - even if it WERE fully funded, it's an abomination.    It's entire premise is that bad schools are the result of rotten teachers and rotten administrators and if we can just test the shit out of them and IDENTIFY them, everything will be cool.   Rotten parents who do nothing to support the schools or the teachers are off the hook completely - as are rotten students.   For those strict Daddy types who believe that whuppin' kids is the first and only way to discipline, is this not a tad "soft"?  As far as I can tell, there is  little accountability placed on parents' or kids, but a shitload-full is dumped on teachers, administrators, school boards, and, yes, states.  

But let's REALLY go for the opposite and admit that we were totally snowed by NCLb and the problem ain't just with the bill - it's bigger than that.  It's an entire Department, with its layers and layers of bureacracy, that strangles local school boards and keeps us from attacking the REAL problems of inadequate education in the U.S.  

Thue unspoken WPTBDS is this: "let us run our schools."   The only funding/purpose of a federal Department of Education oughtta be helping  with infrastructure and building/maintenance needs - help us with the "hardware" and let us handle the
"software".  

So, isn't it time to say what people are thinking but don't want to say?

eileen from OH