The Person-Centered Society

[info being]

Analysis of the Democratic Party's messaging is a tired topic. And yet the problem remains, there is currently no unifying message for the American Progressive movement. Ask any two Progressives what they're even fighting for and you'll probably get ten answers.

I'll boldly suggest that the movement can be summarized with a simple concept:

"The Person-Centered Society."

Everything we are fighting for falls under this umbrella: a better quality of life, individual freedom, justice, individual opportunity, education, health care, and the environment. Even the Green movement will gain momentum when it is tied back to the concept of the Person-Centered Society. Let me explain.

The pitch would go something like this:

"For too long, you've been forced to live in a world that is increasingly unlivable. Jobs are going away, wages are falling, good education is more expensive, and so much of what makes life worth living is being destroyed.

That's because Republicans have created a Corporation-Centered Society...a society where people are not only ruled by corporations in their professional lives, but where the government can only pass legislation that is approved by corporations. The bottom line is that, in a Republican-controlled America, when it is a choice between the bottom line and you...the bottom line wins every time.

It is time for a Person-Centered Society. A society that is designed around the needs of human beings. Where quality of life is more important than productivity. Where your family's safety is more important than a corporation's desire to pollute. Where your children's opportunity to live up to his or her potential is more important than expensive military misadventures. Where freedom of choice and freedom of expression cannot be encroached upon for any reason. In short, its time for a society designed around the idea of creating a world and is everlasting and worth living in."

I'm not talking about a Democratic Party message here...but a vision for all of us to believe in.

[uppityperson]

1. Very good. I agree with this, good succinct writing

Thanks.

[KittyWampus]

2. I'd Personally Go For A Community-Centered Society That Recognizes

the Common Good.

[MissB]

3. Yes. The person-centered society sounds so...um...

selfish. :shrug:

[info being]

4. Common good doesn't seem to resonate in the US

If it did, our movement would be thriving. The thing about the Common Good is that we are all individual members. So we basically have to fool people into supporting the common good by making them think it is self-interest. The way to do that is to make the evil (corporate power) the enemy to self-interest.

[info being]

5. Also, "community-centered" falls under "person-centered"

That's because a strong community is something that is a fundamental human need. Get it: fundamental human need = person-centered.

I also thought about "human-centered" but sounds to...I don't know, "humanist" and it wouldn't resonate.

I'm just talking about what resonates and what's effective, not what's perfect. I'll choose the person-centered society over the ownership society any day...it just sounds better.

Also, it allows Progressives to shape the debate. I can just see in now, * saying, "Well, I believe in a person-centered society too...."

That's how you control the public discourse. Come up with concepts that cannot be effectively disproved or debated...but drill them home and associate them with your movement.

Have you guys been paying attention to what the Repubs have done over the last few years?

[Tamyrlin79]

6. I believe you are on the right track, but...

First, your name may reflect what you are talking about, but presenting it this way will allow the "Christians" to castigate our "person-centered society" as "PC for a selfish society". I know you don't mean it this way, but the names are important in our media-driven society.... Good ideas, but can you think of a better titular frame for it?