I posted a diary last night asking for help in crafting solutions to the problems with Social Security. While Social Security is NOT in a crisis, there are elements of the program that need to be addressed.
On the thread however, many thought the best thing to do was to go after Bush for his bad plan and allow Bush to fail on his own merits. Further, many felt that the Democrats did not need to offer any type of a plan as attacking Bush would do the job.
With every part of my being, I disagree with not offering up a postive plan in response to Bush.
More....
And this issue is more than about the Social Security debate, it is how Democrats are framed by their response (or lack of) to these problems.
The right controls the discussion in the media, and getting out our message is increasingly difficult. If all we do is "frame" ourselves as against, anti, and negative, we leave the voting public with the impression that we just don't stand for anything.
"Moral values" is an example, while Bush lies about going to war, folks vote for him because of "moral values." It isn't the issue, it is the overall impression that Bush gets out into the public, and how we respond. Bush offers policies and we are against them, we end up being the party that slows down progress (obstructionist) rather than a party that can stop bad policy and move good policy forward. Bush is seen as someone who has the "courage" to stand up for what he believes in (the debate over exactly what he stands for gets lost in the media, sadly.)
If we are to win in 2006 and 2008, I believe that we MUST offer the voting public something to see us stand FOR. Right now the discussion is about Social Security.
Listening to the news the other day I heard repeatedly that the Democrats have no plans, over and over and over. So yet again the subtle reminder to the public is "hey the GOP may be offering a really bad plan, but at least we are trying! the Democrats have nothing to offer you but negatives!"
This has to be a two front war, on SS and so many issues. We need to stand up and put forth our vision, our plans, and using OUR ideas and ideals, go after Bush for his policies.
I guess the way the discussion went surprised me, and here I am hoping we can discuss whether or not it is important to offer something along with our standing against something.
Even though Bush lied about Iraq and WMD he still won the election. He won for many reasons, one, in my opinion, being that at least in the voters minds, right or wrong, he offers solutions, while the Democratas have been seen as devoid of any proposals to solve problems.
Over and over we have seen that part of the problem with the party right now is that people don't know, or are not sure of WHAT we stand for, how we would lead.
I say we have to change that, and Social Security is the place to start.