Progressive values

[MaryBear]

And fiscal responsibility.

Yes!

Now to agree on definition of terms.

[Renew Deal]

1. Fiscal responsibility

is a progressive value. We hate deficits. I haven't met a single lib that likes them.

[MaryBear]

2. Most conservatives

would accuse liberals of being "tax and spend" folks!

In addition to defining ourselves, we need to communicate who we are and what we truly stand for. We cannot afford to let others define us!

[Renew Deal]

3. How about fiscally sane.

Which implies that they are insane. It's harsh but true.

[Philostopher]

5. Some have proposed that we make a point

of pointing out how they're borrowing from the future, instead of taxing to pay for it in the present, but it's the same thing. Spending money that isn't in the pot right now, that is to say. Fiscal grasshoppers.

[drfemoe]

14. lessee

more better to spend and NOT tax (the rich)?

Ah, yes. Deficits. Breakfast of champions, thieves and dummies.

[NashVegas]

4. "The Radical Center"

Is a term I recently came across in the Utne reader. In more than a few ways, it may very well apply.

[Cheswick2.0]

10. Or militant moderate................. a term I used to use

But the support of certain issues such as gay unions, separation of Church and state, no unjust war, ditching NCLB and supporting choice makes us RAGING LIBERALS I guess.

[LSdemocrat]

6. I like this quote from Andrew Sullivan:

"The difference between Republicans and Democrats right now is not between big and small government. It's between the Democrats' Big, Solvent Government and the Republicans' Big Insolvent Government."
http://www.andrewsullivan.com/index.php?dish_inc=archives/2003_08_03_dish_archive.html
(at bottom of the page)

[Cheswick2.0]

11. let's hear it for big solvent government!!!

I can't believe the change in Sully.

[regnaD kciN]

13. In terms of Andrew ("Bareback") Sullivan...

Realizing that the anti-gay Fundamentalist Hate Brigade now holds the reins of power seems to have, as Dr. Samuel Johnson put it, "wonderfully concentrated his mind."

Seriously, I saw a figure on election night that 25% of the lesbigay vote went for Bush. Now, I realize that there can be conservative gays and lesbians just like anyone else, but I can't help wondering if some of them were seriously wishing they had their votes back in the days after the election, when it became clear that, according to conventional wisdom, Bush owed his win to anti-gay voters, and had better start delivering on the Hate Brigade's demands.

:shrug:

[regnaD kciN]

7. Chris Bowers on MyDD.com pointed out...

...that, in order to "grow" liberalism, we have to reframe anything that might sound good about conservatism.

For example, it's been all-too-common to describe candidates (including Gov. Dean, this past year) as "fiscally conservative and socially liberal." We should jettison this terminology immediately...any case where "conservative" could come across as being a positive should be rephrased to remove that word. "Fiscally responsible" and "fiscally sane" fit the bill well. We should look for any other such instances as they come up.

And, as I've brought up many times in the past (and no doubt will again in the future), although "progressive" is a nice term, we really need to rehabilitate the world "liberal." If we don't start using it often with a positive connotation, it will matter little what we call ourselves, since our opponents will simply label us "liberal, liberal, liberal" with all the negative connotations such a word will have if unrehabilitated -- and, in addition, make us look deceptive by hiding our liberalism.

[NoPasaran]

8. Fiscal Responsibilty & Taxes: A tough nut to crack

This is where Democrats have been getting slaughtered for years. Let's face it, nobody likes paying taxes. Part of the foundation mythology of this country is a rebellion against taxation. On the other hand, most people expect government to provide things like decent schools, good roads, police and fire protection... which taxation pays for.

For years the Repubs whined about "Tax and spend liberal Democrats". I always thought, "Yeah... and the problem with that is?" Afterall, the Preamble to the Constitition states that one of the duties of government is to promote the general welfare, and surely it is the duty of any moral society to help its less fortunate members.

[Cheswick2.0]

12. "without representation" is the key phrase people are missing

I am actually quite happy to pay taxes when I think of the alternative. I always tell people I have been to republican/libertarian heaven where there is little tax base, all private schools, no publically funded social programs and no regulations on the market... it's called Haiti.

[Crunchy Frog]

9. How about

"pay as you go Democrats" vs. "borrow and spend Repubs".

[patricia92243]

15. Very, very good - I'll remember and use this one.

[sonias]

16. Heck they don't even borrow

They outright steal from the treasury. They have no plan for paying down the debt other than cutting off people from social security. This whole tax rebate scheme for the rich has been about killing social programs. They fully intend to bankrupt social security and they don't frankly care because it doesn't impact the rich; they get richer. Only the middle class and poor rely on social security and that's no longer a guarantee.

Sonia

[Comadreja]

17. Or "Borrow and squander" Reptilicans

Then there's "Credit Card Reptilicans."