E.J. Dionne: Creating economic security for Americans

[question everything]

E.J. DIONNE JR. THE WASHINGTON POST
Creating economic security for Americans

May 20, 2005

How do liberals and Democrats move from the Politics of No to the Politics of Yes? Is that even the right question?

One of the great political parlor games pits two arguments against each other. On one side is the view that because Republicans control both Congress and the White House, Democrats have no possibility of passing legislation that would be to their liking. Therefore, any Democrat who seriously negotiates with the Republicans, especially on Social Security, is voluntarily placing his or her head in a guillotine. Nothing good can come of that. Nor, by the way, can anything good come from giving up the right to filibuster right-wing judges.

Moreover, as Robert Borosage of the liberal Campaign for America's Future notes, getting a diverse party to agree on the idea of No is far easier than brokering an agreement on what the party might say Yes to. No is clear. Yes raises the question: but yes to what, exactly? What would the messy details look like?

On the other side is the assertion that Democrats will never regain power unless they offer – the phrase just rolls out of the word-processor – a compelling alternative vision. Where are the new ideas? What do Democrats really stand for? Do they stand for anything? Are they gutless? The problem is that this argument confuses short-term tactical imperatives with long-term strategy.

(snip)


And that is why it is inescapable that for the long term, those who think of themselves as progressive do need to offer that compelling alternative vision. What's required are not some small-bore tweaks to Bushism, but a set of proposals that change the very nature of what is being debated nationally. What question should frame the national debate?

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[ChiciB1]

1. Love E. J. Dionne... And Can Agree

Our problem is getting OUR leaders into the "huddle"! Sorry, ain't it always SPORTS euphemisms??

There are a few of "ours" who stick their neck out, but far too few actually get together to form some substantial stategies. I can't figure it out, I know that we here at DU have our little wars, but at least we're trying.

I think some are listening, but we need the SPARK of John Edwards, the wisdom of Edward Kennedy and the vision of a Paul Wellstone!

HOW, HOW, HOW do we get them to get off their DUFFS and DO something BIG enough TO stick to "the corrupt ones"????

[MissMarple]

2. LTE here called for social liberalism and economic conservatism

I was LOL, it came from a reader in Los Angeles. He said that is the direction progressives are going is with a liberal social policy and a conservative economic policy, and they are going to win. He says the Republicans have nothing but more futility in the Middle East and increased moral legislation at home. He predicts a new Democratic majority and party realignment within 10 years.

It's beginning to echo. :-)

[Name removed]

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