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Crosss-posted from Frameshop -JF]
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Elevated from the Diaries - MB]
ALERT
The following phrase has been RECALLED until further notice:
"Ownership Society"
DO NOT USE THIS PHRASE.
If you or someone you know is currently using this phrase, please go immediately to Frameshop for repairs.
WIDELY USED IN CONSERVATIVE PROPOSALS ABOUT THE ECONOMY.
Anyone currently engaged in the following debates should exercise extreme caution: Fiscal Policy, National Debt, Interest Rates, Personal Investing, Welfare, Home Ownership, Estate Planning, Social Security.
All others should immediately make themselves aware of the problem.
BE ADVISED: MAY ENTER THE MEDIA WIDELY DURING THANKSGIVING AND THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
WARNINGS:
Use of this phrase will result in serious damage to political debate and harm to this country.
Repeated use of this phrase will result in the proliferation of a deceptive conservative frame, the further concentration of wealth in the hands of the few, a broadening of the gap between rich and poor, and the destruction of equal opportunity.
EXTREME CAUTION ADVISED.
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Frameshop is open.
Problem with the phrase "Ownership Society"
The phrase "Ownership Society" is an umbrella phrase, the big picture concept behind all social program reforms to be proposed by the Bush administration. The basic premise of an ownership society is that individuals--not "big government"--are responsible for themselves. According to this flawed conservative vision, if the country dismantles all social programs and "returns" both tax money and social responsibility to individuals, the net result will be an general increase in "liberty" and a brighter future for all.
This logic is flawed.
President Bush and the Conservative movement do not want to increase liberty and create a brighter future for all. The goal of the Bush administration is to dismantle the social welfare state because they believe that social programs unfairly burden the wealthy and privilege the poor (viewed as weak by the conservative movement). The real motivation behind the push for an "ownership society" is to eliminate all barriers to unregulated free markets, allowing unlimited concentration of wealth, and the emergence of an American aristocratic permanent ruling class.
The phrase "Ownership Society" is a very powerful metaphor, because it invokes a noble vision of an America where everyone owns their own home. When we imagine ourselves as home owners, we imagine ourselves happy, warm and secure.
The "Ownership Society" concept is a broad strategic initiative designed to convince Americans that government programs to help the poor, the indigent, and the disadvantaged are the real problems preventing them from realize the dream of home ownership and a secure future.
The Cost of the "Ownership Society": Pottersville
In an increasingly unregulated market, first time home ownership would become more and more difficult as fewer and fewer large property owners consolidated wealth and political influence. "Ownership" for the few, would just mean "massive debt" for the majority, the return of pre-War style banker barons ruling over company towns. George Bush's "Opportunity Society" would be Pottersville.
The phrase "Ownership Society" is an umbrella phrase, the big picture concept behind all social program reforms to be proposed by the Bush administration. The basic premise of an ownership society is that individuals--not "big government"--are responsible for themselves. According to this flawed conservative vision, if the country dismantles all social programs and "returns" both tax money and social responsibility to individuals, the net result will be an general increase in "liberty" and a brighter future for all.
This logic is flawed.
President Bush and the Conservative movement do not want to increase liberty and create a brighter future for all. The goal of the Bush administration is to dismantle the social welfare state because they believe that social programs unfairly burden the wealthy and privilege the poor (viewed as weak by the conservative movement). The real motivation behind the push for an "ownership society" is to eliminate all barriers to unregulated free markets, allowing unlimited concentration of wealth, and the emergence of an American aristocratic permanent ruling class.
The phrase "Ownership Society" is a very powerful metaphor, because it invokes a noble vision of an America where everyone owns their own home. When we imagine ourselves as home owners, we imagine ourselves happy, warm and secure.
The "Ownership Society" concept is a broad strategic initiative designed to convince Americans that government programs to help the poor, the indigent, and the disadvantaged are the real problems preventing them from realize the dream of home ownership and a secure future.
But in an increasingly unregulated market, first time home ownership would become more and more difficult as fewer and fewer large property owners consolidated wealth and political influence. "Ownership" for the few, would just mean "massive debt" for the majority, the return of pre-War style banker barons ruling over company towns. George Bush's "Opportunity Society" would be Pottersville.
We already have "ownership societies." We call them country clubs.
The lie in the middle of the "Ownership Society" vision is that everyone is on the same level playing field. All we need to do is put our nose to the grindstone, save our pennies and someday we'll own a home, right?
Wrong. In an ownership society, owners will make money the same way they make money, today: by renting what they own to those who don't own yet. In an unregulated market, the very first thing that owners do is push to limit entry of new owners. These entries will take the form of rent increases, easy access to junk credit, stiff credit penalties, increasingly complex loan products.
If w we move from our charge and run economy to this deregulated "ownership society," with no social programs designed to level the playing field, personal bankruptcy levels will skyrocket.
This Conservative vision is the formula for the emergence of a new American aristocracy, a solidification of the wealthiest segment of the managerial class into a landed ruling class.
Ownership Society? The best example I can think of is Late 18th-Century England, which is exactly the type of society that our Constitution was designed to prevent.
When Americans envision Liberty, we don't look up to those who own the most in society. We look up to a torch in the harbor.
Realigning the Frame: Liberty is about "Opportunity", not Ownership
"OWNERSHIP SOCIETY" IS GOP SPEAK FOR "DEREGULATED MARKETS": Conservatives talk about ownership without bothering to talk about how the under advantage will become owners. This is dangerous. It spreads the false idea that ownership is the pure product of hard work, rather than the result of well managed social and economic opportunity.
AN "OWNERSHIP SOCIETY" WOULD BE RULED BY ARISTOCRATS AND KINGS: Who's the symbol of an ownership society? The King of England, that's who. The framers of our constitution understood that in order for everyone to have opportunity, government must insure equal opportunity for all by limiting the ability of a few wealthy owners to slowly amass the majority of the nations wealth. Conservatives disagree with this vision held by the very founders of this country.
"OWNERSHIP SOCIETY" DOESN'T MEAN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO OWN A HOME: It means that you'll have an increasingly difficult time buying that first home because there will be no regulations in the market. Ownership will be the exclusive domain of those who already have equity--either through inheritance, access to corporate wealth, or through personal gain. To be against Bush's "ownership society" is actually to be FOR the rights of first home buyers.
AMERICA IS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE, NOT A LAND WHERE A FEW WEALTHY PEOPLE OWN EVERYTHING: When Americans think about "Liberty" they don't think about ownership, they think about the Statue of Liberty. Nobody can own liberty because it only result from freedom and opportunity for all, not the amassing of wealth.
New Language to Use instead of "Ownership Society"
A good way to turn the GOP "Ownership Society" frame on it's head is to invoke the "Land of Opportunity" frame symbolized by the Statue of Liberty. To undermine the GOP vision--particularly during the Holiday season--link the "Ownership Society" model to the nightmare sequence in the movie It's a Wonderful Life:
Responses when "Opportunity Society" is used:
- "THAT WOULD PUT US ALL ON THE ROAD TO POTTERSVILLE"
- "WE HAVE A NAME FOR OWNERSHIP SOCIETIES: THEY'RE CALLED COUNTRY CLUBS"
- "DON'T YOU MEAN 'CREDIT CARD DEBT SOCIETY'"
- "THAT THE VERY THING THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION TRIED TO PROTECT US FROM?"
- LONG LIVE GEORGE W. BUSH: KING OF THE OWNERSHIP SOCIETY
I don't have a strategic vision and corresponding phrases, yet, in response to this GOP scheme. I still believe in Johnson's "Great Society" on some level, but I do see the need for dramatic revision.
At this stage, I believe it's important to respond to every mention of "Ownership Society" with a phrase that contains some variety of "Land of Opportunity."
Ideas from the comments will be brought up in the the UPDATES.
Update [2004-11-23 21:32:36 by Jeffrey Feldman]:
Great suggestions from the comments.
One point raised, which is important, is the distinction between battling the frame and setting a new frame. We may not have a new frame, yet (sight). But that should not stop us from really hammering the GOP language.
In fact, the more we hold up these individual phrases, the more possible it seems that we can develop a general set of defenses as a midway point to launching a new Dem frame.
Some phrases from the comments worth remembering:
- "You're On Your Own"-ership Society
- Feudal Society
- Enron-ecomony
and more. Check it out...