Democrats Describe Plans for 'Opportunity Society'

[papau]

Did anyone focus group "opportunity society"-not "special interest" ??

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-politics-democrats.html

Democrats Describe Plans for 'Opportunity Society'
By REUTERS


Filed at 12:01 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats outlined their vision on Saturday for an "opportunity society" stressing economic growth, education, health care and strengthening Social Security, which they said contrasted with Republican policies that serve special interests.
In the party's weekly radio address, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle said Democrats want to build an "Opportunity Society in which every American who wants to work, can; where every child goes to a good school and has the opportunity to go further; where health care is affordable; and a lifetime of work is rewarded with a retirement of dignity."

But Daschle, of South Dakota, said Republicans who control the White House and Congress "unfortunately ... continue to push the priorities of the special interests at the expense of consumers and workers."<snip>

COOMENT: I liked the tag line that Bush rewards "the accumulation of wealth over the dignity of work." - but underfunded education will be met by ed budget did increase and mandates need more than 30 seconds to explain beyond the tax cuts have "starved state governments of needed revenue, forcing them to raise the cost of college - and then the weak 100,000 Americans have lost their health insurance since Bush took office with millions are suffering because they cannot afford prescription drugs is sure to be met with largest expansion in Medicare - you just must wait to 2006. But I did like the Social Security benefits should be a "guarantee, not a gamble".

[rolodomo]

1. I also like how the plan stresses giving everyone a fair chance

I think that appeals to moderates, independents, people with families concerned about their children's future, etc.

Good point about Bush favoring "the accumulation of wealth over the dignity of work." Although Daschle's Dem. SOTU speech was heavily criticized, I really liked this line. People who consider themselves hard workers or value the work ethic are going to like that line. The line will also grab the attention of people who consider excessive greed to be an ethical, moral, and religious problem in our country.

"Opportunity society" and favoring the "dignity of work over the accumulation of wealth." Good work. Dem. candidates please repeat.

[papau]

2. We need to get the mantra established now - and this may be it!

:-)

[SharonAnn]

3. But "accumulation of wealth" still implies that people might have

actually earned it. Lots of stuff the Republicans are doing affect "unearned" wealth that is inherited or otherwise received.

For example: removal of the estate tax, reducing the top marginal rate on dividends, reducing the top marginal rate on capital gains, creating "health savings accounts" that can be passed on via inheritance, etc.

Under their structure, the people who pay the lowest taxes will be those never work for their income. It will be the people who live of the work of others. And as the wealth appreciates tax-free and can be inherited tax-free, it will NEVER be taxed. This is distinct from those of us who work and are double taxed by Social Security and then Income Taxes.

We need to find a way to hammer at this. Republicans supposedly favor individual responsibility and accountability. How does inheriting wealth from someone else fit with individual responsibility and accountability?