Connect these dots:
- Why did the Reps want to destroy Social Security? Why was their second plan to just remove it from the middle class?
- What's one of the biggest concerns in the mind of the public?
Remember a few weeks ago, when Bush went on national TV for something like Day 75 of his 60 day Social Security road show? He announced a new plan that would save money by cutting benefits to the middle class. Why is it so vital to the Republicans that the middle class lose entitlements? The explanation I heard was that when the middle class notices how much government could be working for them, rather than for their corporate bosses, they vote Democratic. Basically, middle class entitlements create Democrats.
Now obviously Congressional Republicans' attacks on Social Security are going to be a big campaign issue in 2006--everyone already knows that. And while that's good, it is really Yet Another Democratic Reaction To Republican Framing. The Republicans created the SS issue and the Democrats just happened to have benefited from their mistake. Can the Dems do better? Can they maybe take this mistake and turn it around to hammer the Republicans down for the next 100 years?
Yes, they can! It was in the background before, unnoticed until Bush brought it up, but people have discovered they love Social Security. The safety-net framing, the issue groups and everything are already in place to support similar programs. The Democrats need to build on this foundation, don't just protect it. It is hugely popular, so give them more. Like what?
Health Security - The government offers a health insurance plan funded by everyone and used by anyone who wants it. (Naturally nobody would be forced to take it, just like nobody is forced to take SS)
Health insurance is one of the biggest issues in the American psyche right now. Promising to fix it is a winning plank, linking it to Social Security is a winning frame and getting it in place now ensures a permanent liberal cast to the country.
Whoa, permanent liberalism? How can that be? Look at Europe and Canada. Ever since they got state-funded medical systems they have been unshakeably liberal.
Middle class entitlements are a winning issue and the American public is practically begging for health care to be one. Give it to them!
(Almost all the same arguments apply to what I would call "Education Security", extending the free public school system by another 4 years, except that people are begging for this one a little less. But "college costs so much!" are a perennial favorite news item, so the need is there. Also, more highly educated voters = less superstitiously voting voters =
less theocracy.)