My Christmas Wish List

Santa isn't a Democrat, and the Grinch isn't a Republican, but I could be wrong.

Here's a list of what I'd love to see if it were possible:

• Expansion of Social Security, including Social Security Disability.
• Expansion of Medicare to cover everyone.
• Add price negotiation to Medicare Part D.
• The realization -- by the mainstream media and the political class -- that economic stimulus is a must in a recession and throughout the recovery until the country reaches both full employment and potential GDP.
• An equal realization -- by the same mainstream media and political class -- that austerity doesn't grow the economy, it stifles it.
• A movement over time towards more progressive income tax schedules, like we had before Ronald Reagan.
• An awareness that sales taxes are regressive and harmful for the poor and lower classes, and that "raising fees" instead of marginal rates is also regressive.
• Real gun control, including background checks, a ban on all assault weapons and large clips, across-the-board registration processes for everyone wishing to own a gun, training requirements for anyone wishing to possess a gun, limits on the lethality of ammunition, a broad curtailment of open-carry, concealed carry, stand-your-ground or castle laws, plus a general understanding that loose gun laws lead directly to death and injury to all classes and ages of people.
• Raising the minimum wage until it's a living wage -- $15 is a start.

 Merry Christmas.