I believe that individuals have a responsibility to make the most of their own lives, and that government has a responsibility to make sure people have the opportunity, the security, and the tools to do so.
No, I didn't say that, Rahm Emmanuel did. It's from
The Plan, a well-articulated social contract between Americans and their government. Last night appopt wrote a snarky diary comparing
The Plan to the
Contract with America. Having read his diary, I figured
The Plan was just another copy of that 6 for '06 stuff Democrats were talking about a couple weeks ago. Still, I decided to click on the link he provided for the Chicago Sun-Times article previewing
The Plan. Was it another 6 for '06?
Find Out Below the Fold!
By the way, the answer is... not exactly.
The Plan is based on three urgent challenges that we must face head on as a nation:
America faces three great, urgent challenges. We need a new social contract for economic growth that enables Americans to get ahead again. We need a new strategy to make America safe again. And we need a new sense of patriotism and responsibility that unites us in common purpose again.
Months ago I read somewhere that George Lakoff was working with House Democrats this year to help them hone their message. Looks like its working. "Get Ahead," "America safe again," "Patriotism," "Responsibility," "Common Purpose," it sounds so Rovian, I love it! This is much better than "Culture of Corruption" and "Together we can do better." Even better, it's based on the values Democrats hold dear... equality, opportunity, nurturance and responsibility. This framing also allows us to reclaim the word patriotism.
Later on they lay out the policy proposals. This is where it gets 6 for '06-ish, but bear with me because I think they've framed these points nicely.
1. A new social contract -- universal citizen service, universal college access, universal retirement savings, and universal children's health care -- that makes clear what you can do for your country and what your country can do for you.
2. A return to fiscal responsibility and an end to corporate welfare as we know it.
3. Tax reform to help those who aren't wealthy build wealth.
4. A new strategy to use all America's strengths to win the war on terror.
5. A Hybrid Economy that cuts America's gasoline consumption in half over the next decade.
So far, so vague, but definitely, there are a few gems in here. Universal is great. I love that word because it implies equality and I happen to really love equality. Plus, college, retirement and health care costs are big issues. I'll get to Universal Citizen Service in a minute. Tying fiscal irresponsibility to corporate welfare rather than social spending is key and "build wealth" obviously means a tax cut for the middle and working class. It's hard to argue with relieving some of the tax burden on regular Americans. And of course "Using all America's Strengths" and "Hybrid Economy" each have a really nice ring to them.
These bullet points don't explain much but they do a nice job of yanking the American psyche out of the conservative frame we've been stuck in for the past years. Later on in the article, the bullet points are spelled out a bit more thoroughly. Let's take a look at my favorite two:
We need a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all of us by establishing for the first time an ethic of universal citizen service. All Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 should be asked to serve their country by going through three months of basic civil defense training and community service. This is not a draft, nor is it military. Young people will be trained not as soldiers, but simply as citizens who understand their responsibilities in the event of a natural disaster, an epidemic or a terrorist attack. Universal citizen service will bring Americans of every background together to make America safer and more united in common purpose.
Imagine replacing the fear of terrorism with the purpose of defeating it by giving American citizens responsibility! Turns out we don't have to duct-tape ourselves in the basement bathroom and hope the nuke doesn't get dropped directly on our neighborhood while we watch the Rainbow of Terror go back and forth between yellow and orange on Fox News! I have to admit I got one of those feelings in my gut when I read this one. The image of regular Americans cooperating to keep each other safe in the event of an emergency presses my patriotism button in just the right spot. And it's smart. Here's the other one:
We need to use all the tools of American power to make our country safe. America must lead the world's fight against the spread of evil and totalitarianism, but we must stop trying to win that battle on our own. We should reform and strengthen multilateral institutions for the twenty-first century, not walk away from them. We need to fortify the military's "thin green line" around the world by adding to the U.S. Special Forces and the Marines, and expanding the U.S. Army by 100,000 more troops. We should give all our troops a new GI Bill to come home to. Finally, we must protect the homeland and our civil liberties by creating a new domestic counterterrorism force like Britain's MI5.
What's the Democrat's foreign policy, you ask? Strengthening multilateral institutions to enhance diplomacy and expanding the U.S. Military for National Security. That seems like a foreign policy that would appeal to liberals and conservatives. I don't know much about MI5, but after the last terrorist thwarting, I think I trust their intelligence more than ours. This can be the new face of anti-war; keeping ourselves protected and cooperating with other nations in a respectful manner. As far as a new GI Bill, I think it's a fantastic idea considering the hardships our troops face when they come home.
Now, allow me to pre-empt the naysayers. I already know what you're thinking... "More DLC spew. This isn't good enough and Democrats won't win by trying to appeal to the Republican's base." Now I want you to pause for a moment and clear your mind. Think of how each one of these proposals could have a positive affect on our nation. Think of the damage these proposals could deter. Now think about two more years of one-party rule by the Bush Republicans. Furthermore, these proposals are flexible; meaning candidates from the left to moderate can run on them and still energize their base.
Listen, I'm all about moving the conventional wisdom back to the left (or at least the middle). I'm as ultra-liberal as it gets. Still, The Plan appeals to me because it offers a clear alternative.
The Plan frames our party's vision as a partnership between the government and the citizens where each is bringing responsibility to the table. It doesn't loathe government; it respects government's ability to help people. It redefines patriotism, not as blindly following a failed president who is weak on terror, but rather as being part of the solution to terrorism. It reeks of FDR and Kennedy and Clinton and I think it can appeal to the American public.
Democrats will help Americans get ahead, make America Safe Again, Unite America behind a common purpose. I'll leave with some closing words from Rahm...
We're the sole superpower and biggest target in a world where the capacity for evil is more decentralized than ever before. For years, we have worked to remake the world in our image by spreading the gospel of democracy, freedom and capitalism. Doing so has been and continues to be in our national interest. But we should not forget: The more the world copies our strengths, the harder we must work to hone those strengths ourselves.