Some local or state Democratic party official from a New England state was on TV last week, talking about the fact that Russia is dropping bombs in Syria now, trying to obliterate the group or entity or idea called ISIS. He suddenly veered off the topic-– which had been whether he, as an elected legislator, believed that U.S. troops ought to be prepared to go to Syria to fight ISIS – and started talking about the “official Democratic Party four-point position on ISIS.”

“NOOOOOOOO!!!! ,” I said to no one in particular in the room. “ARRRGGGHHH!!!”

Please, please, please.

If people want political parties to become relevant again, they need to make it simple.

A Hollywood producer once said: “If you can’t write your idea on the back of my business card, you don’t have a clear idea.” Same is true of what the definition of a political party is.

As a public service, what follows is a simple three-rule definition of what it means – or ought to – to be a Democrat in the U.S. in 2016:

FOREIGN POLICY, TO BOMB OR NOT TO BOMB?

The Democratic Party ought to have the following mantra as their foreign policy guideline – in case an l8-year-old registering to vote asks what their party stands for:

“Only act in matters involving other countries if it is in the interest of the United States to do so.” Should also add another sentence: “Attention should be given, first, to whether there are adequate funds and resources to take care of existing needs of U.S. citizens already.” No bombs in Syria as long as you are telling me we just do not have enough funds in the national budget to provide breakfast to school children K-5 who need it;

DOMESTIC POLICY, “WE NEED TO SET UP ANOTHER AGENCY FOR THAT…”

When I used to be involved in day-to-day politics at the state level, I remember seeing once a “Democratic Party Platform,” just prior to a state convention, that was about 400 pages deep. Gasp!

Seventy pages was devoted to hydro-electric power, and how government should be involved.

The only theme the Democratic Party ought to be seeking people to sign on to when dealing with any state issue is: “The Democratic Party believes government can play a positive role in people’s lives. “

Simple. Straightforward. Efficient.

Next topic.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED, SAFETY NET

This is where the Democratic Party shines, or ought to.

The Party should not try to legislate results. It should not try to make sure citizens end up each day even with everybody else in their demographic level. That said, when horrible things happen to a large groups of people, e.g., hurricane or other natural disasters, the governor should announce that government will help victims because “we are here to cushion the blow to people when bad things happen suddenly.”

CONCLUSION

Three rules is what defines the party, nothing more.

Only take action in foreign policy when it will make our country stronger;

On programs, government can play a role in people’s lives;

In the case of bad things that happen on a large scale, government exists to cushion the blow for people.

Short and sweet. End of story.

Dan Warren is a Scarborough trial lawyer who can be reached by private Facebook message at Jones & Warren Attorneys at Law page, or by email at [email protected].