He's assuming there is not a popular majority for the ownership society agenda and that its "radicalism" will turn off the sensible center. That is, in fact, what the dems continue to hope, but I think they're wrong.
Bush's "ownership society" is simply the newest, focus-grouped slogan for a cluster of initiatives that have been germinating on the right for the last 30-40 years. They are now reaching maturity. There is nothing new or particularly radical about fully funding retirement benefits, school choice, or shifting health care to a consumer sovereigty model. IMO, these things already are the sensible center. The lefties are desperately defending a series of failing collectivist models, and they do so mainly by refusing to face up to the problems on the horizon and by lying about what the reformers actually propose. People are starting to catch on.
Robert Nozick used the very apt term eastberlins to describe arrangements which were defended by ruling elites as terrific but which, in fact, were detested by rank and file citizens. Social Security and many urban public school systems are already eastberlins. Open the door just a crack, and the public will stampede for the exits. Create private SS accounts and virtually everyone under 45 and brighter than a cabbage will be gone tomorrow. Voucher the schools and the same thing will happen just as fast as new private schools can be created. The 'rats know this. It is why they are so shrill, but a loud liar is still a liar.
"Open the door just a crack, and the public will stampede for the exits. Create private SS accounts and virtually everyone under 45 and brighter than a cabbage will be gone tomorrow. Voucher the schools and the same thing will happen just as fast as new private schools can be created. The 'rats know this. It is why they are so shrill, but a loud liar is still a liar."
Bingo! We have a winner!