An epiphany: the Democratic message

[brooklynite]

I, like many people, was upset in the last election cycle that John Kerry and other Democratics were unable to simply and concisely lay out a message about what they stood for in comparison to Bush and the Republican's. Tonight, listening to the latest blather on RW radio, it suddenly hit me. Something short and simple, and yet all-encompassing to the many specific issues of concern to most voters:

Quality of Life

Our conservative opponents are constantly trumpeting the fact that they're "pro-life", and that a "culture of life" is their all-important goal, and with the convenient exception of the death penalty, its true: their ideal world has no birth-control, no abortion and now apparently, no option for death with any measure of dignity. In between birth and eventual death however, their viewpoint is essentially "you're on your own".

Our message should be simple: The Democratic Party believes that between birth and death, all Americans should enjoy the highest quality of life possible. This includes:

1. quality affordable medical care to live a long and healthy life

2. the right to make personal medical decisions privately, in consultation with one's physician and without government interference, including necessary and appropriate decisions to control reproduction, and the right to make difficult decisions on when to receive and not receive lafie saving measures.

3. access to quality public and affordable private education

4. a healthy economy to work in

5. a healthy environment to live in

6. a safe community, including police anf fire protection, and responsible gun control

7. a secure nation, including responsible steps to protect us from terrorism at home, and strong alliances to protect us when travelling abroad

8. the right to live one's private life, alone, as a couple or as a family, without excessive government intrusion


Thoughts?

[kentuck]

1. Send it to Chairman Dean...

good ideas!

[katsy]

2. Their corporate

sponsors would never allow that to happen.

To enjoy these simple, well stated, points... we need to move to venezuela.

[mcscajun]

5. Why Venezuela?

Seriously.

[katsy]

6. Chavez is a populist.

But I could have inserted almost any 3rd world country also and it would feel familiar.

[lonestarnot]

3. Like this...n/t

[KT2000]

4. these are good

send a copy to Wes Clark!

[Clarkie1]

7. It's all about SECURING our quality of life!

I believe we all need to speak a common language, which is what the Republicans have been doing for a long time. I do appreciate posts like this one.

I believe SECURITY can be a POWERFUL meme for the Democratic Party. We can take the security issue away from the Republicans not just in the area of "national security" in the traditional sense of foreign policy, but other other areas vital to our security as a free people and our quality of life.

A snippet from the e-mail I received from Wes Clark today:

With your help, WesPAC will lead the charge on a wide range of critical national issues -- from winning the war on terrorism and rebuilding alliances around the world to protecting civil liberties, fixing health care, improving education, and helping out the least fortunate among us here at home.

Because America's future doesn't depend solely on national SECURITY, as critical as that is. America's future also relies on economic SECURITY, retirement SECURITY, educational SECURITY, and health SECURITY, as well as the SECURITY and protection of our Constitution. (caps added for emphasis)


I really do believe that if we Democrats start speaking a common language we can frame the Republicans as the party of INSECURITY and RISK to the SECURITY of our democracy and our quality of life.

A meme repeated can be very powerful.

Think SECURITY!

[catzies]

9. You're both right. We're securing the blessings of liberty

to ourselves and our posterity. :)

[thecorster]

11. nice use of the constitution! n/t

[Sparkly]

8. Excellent!!

Great points -- thank you! :D

[ElectroPrincess]

10. What's left for the Almighty Corporations (the politicians' God)?

[Mich Otter]

12. Well said.

The idea is brilliant in its' simplicity. You've found an excellent strategy.

[Hello_Kitty]

13. Healthy economy and right to a private life

What's the problem? Seriously.

[PittLib]

14. That is awesome!

Absolutely brilliant ... yet so perfectly simple.


on edit:
Jinx, Mich Otter - and welcome to DU!

[grannylib]

15. Well put. I would say on #8 that "without unnecessary" might be better

even the thought of something slightly LESS than "excessive" makes my blood run cold! Of course I don't know "legalese" and maybe that's the correct way to put it for legislative purposes or whatever.
I also believe that we must emphasize the freedoms that the current administration seems to want everyone ELSE in the world to have, but is unwilling to allow those who disagree with him to enjoy right here in America.

[More Than A Feeling]

16. That is a powerful message.

Simple, to the point, in touch, covers all the bases under a common theme.

I LOVE IT!

On edit: Bookmarked!

[Dr Fate]

17. I love it- also pledge never to lie about reasons for going to war.

It's quite good- keep hammering each one- they all have a certain appeal.

[Selatius]

18. The message is good, but the execution has been terribly poor

You could have a message that is absolutely right on, but if you fail to follow through, fail to do the footwork on the ground, you will fail no matter the strength of your message. This is the problem of the Democratic leaders, and they have repeatedly failed to address it in my opinion. John Kerry pretty much skipped the South entirely, and do you think that impressed folks around here who were truly on the fence or were open to new ideas and change?

How else can one win over more voters if one does not even bother going out into certain parts of the country to spread the message? If you write off the South, for instance, don't expect to ever win higher numbers down there again. If you don't go out and meet the people, talk to them, and educate them as well as win them over, you can't expect much from them.

There is a disconnect between what is happening out there on the streets, and what is happening in the halls of Congress. There is no bridge, and there hasn't been one since arguably the 1960s. It was burned down by the twin demons of incompetence and corporate influence over the party.

You just can't win if all you've got is a message but no presence out there. It just doesn't work that way.

[Dr Fate]

19. Perhaps Dean will not write off the South.

"We're not going to concede the South," the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee told an overflow crowd of more than 900 people in a dining room that was set up for 800 in the Clarion hotel near downtown Jackson.

"The South will rise again, and when it does, it will have a D after its name," Dean said to applause from the diverse crowd of blacks and whites.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/030305L.shtml

[Selatius]

22. But Dean is a minority, unfortunately

A good number in the leadership were less than enthusiastic with his ascent to the Chair, and many others were simply ambivalent. Some of them are afraid of change, and he's proposing change. I'll stand by him, but I am not much more an optimist than a realist. This isn't the movies where the good guys always win because they don't, but the fight is worth having even if fate intends we go down in flames.

The struggle is everything. Taking a stand is what's important ultimately. Victory or loss is an afterthought.

[Dr Fate]

24. Last time I checked, Dean was in charge of the DNC.

If there is one man we should have a little faith in, it's the Good DOctor.

[sandnsea]

20. 80's Quality of Life Decade

For those who weren't born or forgot, those were the magic words all through the 80's. Quality Time, jobs moving out of cities for Quality of Life in rural areas.

Otherwise, your 8 points were the Kerry campaign.

[OneBlueSky]

21. excellent! . . . if only because it's a hell of a lot better . . .

than anything the Democrats are currently peddling . . . concise, to the point, and right on target . . . and something that most Americans would agree to! . . .

send it to Howard Dean! . . . ("but clean up the typos first, e.g. lafie saving measures"). . .

nice job . . . :thumbsup:

[auburngrad82]

23. Forwarding to the Frame the Debate forum

Excellent frame and easily adoptable.

[info being]

25. Its so easy. But this goes up against corporate power.

Corporations don't want us to have a high quality of life. They want us to be desperate so we will work for very little and up up with a lot.

If John Kerry actually stood for Quality of Life, he would have had no problem articulating this.

[Gold Metal Flake]

26. Quality of Life for EVERYONE!

Even brown people. Even people who don't have millions in inheritance. Even people who are not the heads of global corporations.

Pollution is about quality of life.

Wages and jobs are about quality of life.

Civil liberties are about quality of life.

Affordable healthcare.

Social Security.

Access to the courts.

Fair, responsible and honest representation.

A free press.



Repugs are for quality of life for only the rich.

This is some good stuff, Brooklynite!

[Discord]

27. excellent post, well formed

right to the point and simple enough to understand and easily applies to many issues of a very diverse and complex party. Which I think everyone can agree that we are. Nominated!

[leftofthedial]

28. Jeebiz hates people with "quality of life"

hell, Jeebiz hates people who even use that phrase.

Only limousine LIEberals care about "quality of life"

how can yo spout "quality of life" while you advocate murdering millions of unborn babies?

We are supposed to suffer here on earth. Jeebiz died! suffering is the least we can do.

Send checks to leftofthedial c/o DU

Call 1-888-CONJOBB, operators are standing by

[Morose]

29. Lets claim a set of words to compliment this

Such as Meaningful, FULL, Enjoyable, Complete, etc.

We are the party that advances all these ideas...we're concerned with the SUBSTANCE of our lives, not just the count or structure.

I do think it's a winning message/position if we had the brains to advance it even half as strong as the pugs push their poison.

[brooklynite]

30. Thanks all for your comments

I'll be a private fundraiser with Pelosi and Emanuel on Tuesday. I'll bounce it off them and see what kind of reaction I get.

[bloom]

31. it's good

:thumbsup:

[drm604]

32. Good post.

Have you seen this recent Ask Auntie Pinko article? She makes a rather bold and simple statement as to what the party should stand for.

The Democratic Party will not rest until any American willing to work forty hours a week can support a family of four in safe and decent living conditions.

You might want to incorporate something like it into your list. It sounds like an unrealistic goal but, as she says in the article, we know it's possible because it was that way at one time.

[marions ghost]

33. kick