I've blogging in the last few months about what I call an Opportunity Society for the Democratic Party. What the real Liberal-Democrats in the party should be pushing as we respond to the challenges of the 21st Century for America. Not how we build off of the New Deal and Great Society but how we move past it. And try to build a society the country as a whole, not just government but to empower Americans who don't have it. The same freedom and opportunity that most of the country has which is the freedom to live their own lives which is what Liberal-Democracy is about. And not be dependent on the state and not having the state trying to run or control their lives for them. President Obama I don't believe ever used the term Opportunity Society in his second inaugural address but spoke in those terms. Of expanding freedom to more Americans so more Americans have freedom to live their own lives in. America which is how Liberal-Democrats should counter the New Deal, Great Society and the Reagan Revolution from the. Republican Party and now its time for Republicans to create their own opportunity agenda for the 21st Century as well.
The Conservative-Republican message in the past has been that if we just cut taxes and regulations across the board. Especially for the wealthy that somehow all of this new revenue with rules being eliminated would trickle down to the rest of the country. Including for Americans who simply don't have the skills to benefit from good jobs that are created. Because they don't have the skills to work those jobs, which is probably the main reason why the GOP has always been seen as the party of the rich. Because they are seen as people who are only in favor of the wealthy. Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum two Republicans who by in large have embraced Reaganomics. And I would actually add George W. Bush to this as well, three Republicans who I rarely agree with on anything. Including probably the weather in the South Pole right now are Republicans who speak past Reaganomics or supply side economics. And talk in terms of how can we make economic freedom work for the rest of the country. Especially Americans who don't have the skills to enjoy that freedom.
I guess what one of the best things about the 1996 Welfare to Work Law or welfare reform. Is that it was both a Conservative and Liberal policy and law and combine two things that Conservatives and. Liberals speak in favor of at least traditionally. Responsibility and opportunity, that its not the job of government to take care of people at least indefinitely. Who are mentally and physically capable of working but just lack good skills to be able to get a good job. That allows them to be able to take care of themselves and be independent of public assistance. Thats how Republicans can communicate to non traditional Republicans by instead of just speaking in favor of tax and regulation cuts. But how can government empower Americans who need it to be able to take care of themselves. And maybe they could call it the Empowerment and Responsibility Society.
If Republicans were to propose and economic agenda thats about empowerment and responsibility. That government and it doesn't have to be the Federal Government. But that government through the current public assistance system. Could be reformed to empower people who need it but then have them to take that opportunity to empower themselves to make a good life for themselves and their families. Then they would be able to expand their base and reach new Americans they haven't been able to reach. Before or at least in a while.
