A New Social Contract (Barf)

Washington Post ^ | 22 June 2008 | By Michael Kazin and Julian E. Zelizer

[shrinkermd]

For the first time since 1964, Democrats have a good chance not just to win the White House and a majority in Congress but to enact a sweeping new liberal agenda. Conservative ideas are widely discredited, as is the Republican Party that the right has controlled since Ronald Reagan was elected. The war in Iraq has undermined the conservative case for unilateral military intervention and U.S. omnipotence. Economic insecurity has led Americans to question the rhetoric about "big" government, while President Bush's embrace of new federal programs has undermined GOP promises to cut spending.

... Obama speaks of strengthening families by putting "the rungs back on that ladder to the middle class," giving "every family the chance that so many of our parents and grandparents had." He calls for a tax credit to offset the Social Security tax and expanding the earned-income tax credit and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Obama also favors two big programs that no Democrat before him could realize: a national health plan that would cut costs and cover every citizen; and a sizable tuition grant to college students who sign up for national service.

The long Democratic primary battle masks the fact that the party faithful agree on the basic outlines of a new social contract. It fits a post-industrial society that was barely visible when Lyndon B. Johnson was ramming a series of landmark measures through Congress

[ronnie raygun]

Vote your pocket! vote to keep the Bush tax cuts

[Savage Beast]

Sirchtruth, as I was writing rant post #39, I kept stopping to think and then rewriting as I kept thinking, "Wait a minute. That's not the truth. It's not what I think," and then rewriting again. My wife wondered what I was spending so much time on.

Truth is hard enough to grasp when we're struggling for it, and it's the best we can do, no matter what it is--especially in dangerous times such as these.

There's a lot going on, and much is cause for worry. I am very concerned.

I appreciate your sharing your thoughts and wisdom with me--and by public posting, with everyone.

I have seen quotes from FR (including at least one of mine) in the national "newsmedia" (sometimes the hostile "newsmedia"). Our arguments and observations do not go unnoticed.

And I have been continually impressed with the intelligence and level of discussion here. ~S