Equity is a basic core value and term which must be reclaimed.
None of the re-framing will be magic bullet words that will automatically win the debate, but we have to reframe things back to core principles, which is what equity, along with the other two core principle terms, equality and responsible leadership are, which I outlined in a previous diary and expand upon below the fold.
Equity, or more specifcially economic equity may strike some as a limited or more obscure term than some similar terms like "fairness" but is a crucial term for defining core principles and building on it into the larger framework of values.
Economic equity is a simple distillation of core principles that works on numerous policy fronts. On both the domestic and international relations, as well as within the context of worker and management relations a well as corporate interests and the public good.
Economic equity allows the proper framing of why progressive tax systems are the core liberal values upon which the economic vitality of the middle class and our nations powerhouse economy was founded.
Equity doesn't need long involved explaining as such, but when used in the context of the argument about taxes for instance, equity is the core principle. Framing is crucial and certainly is the latest rage in discussion and debate on the progressive/Democrat side of the electorate, but for it to be effective it must address the WHY questions of the debate. Why is equity is valuable for everyone and the right thing to do?
That is the real question, and why defining the core principle of equity is the springboard for the full debate but in the proper context, and on our terms.
From health care issues to tax code law, properly defining the terms of the debate on economic equity is to the benefit not only to the broadest section of populace but in the long-term makes the most economic sense for all income brackets and classes within the economy. Continued boom and bust cyclical economics is bad for the upper brackets and lower brackets alike, as well as the middle class. This leads directly into basic Keynesian economics as well.
Investment in the society through progressive taxes to build and maintain educational as well as civil infrastructure, as well as sustaining a reliable domestic consumer economy is an economic engine for every level of economic activity. It was how we built the middle class. Trickle-down is a myth because commerce and the economy is bi-directional. Capital must constantly be recirculated down through all levels of the economy to maximize economic activity and vitality. This isn't advocacy of controlled markets, open markets are vital. But as shown in the post-war years, through the GI Bill, public works, and investment in education and growing the middle class, it has lead to the largest most robust economy in history. This was done by embracing and putting into action core liberal principles.
This is where you use this as the core term (equity) and expand on it. "Fairness" when used in economic terms is not the core principle we stand for per se, but an expression of the underlying value of equity. Equity must be argued against the "freedom" theme of smaller government, less regulation, etc. of the GOP framing of the issue(s). "freedom" as it is applied in GOP framing distills down into laissez faire economic social darwinism. No regulation, etc.
This is why equity is the proper foundation to build the context of why liberal/progressive values are not only valid, but are the correct argument for progress.
I have been doing a lot of listening and reading on this, and re-read Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate by George Lakoff the other night, and the hardest part to get past is that it isn't a simple matter of picking catchy words or slogans, but working the core values into succinct words and concepts that are foundational into the language.
We think in language, and much of the terms in which we have to reframe the debate on, are not yet trigger words like tax "relief" and "strong defense" etc. which are already drilled into the public conscience through the GOP defined terminology.
Liberal core values on economic matter for example are based on equity, that there is an equal opportunity and and equitable system of funding the public infrastructure and regulatory systems needed to sustain a robust equitable society.
Progressive taxes for example are not "equal" and are not about "freedom" but are equitable and about everyone having an equitable share and stake in society.
The core values and principles have to be what they are, and directly termed. The framing comes in on how to argue the liberal progressive value and why it has, or should have value to everyone. That is what has to be driven home over and over.
We have to frame the issues on the core principles and argue in the language built from those core values and the discussion (argument) is made as to why those values do have value. Why economic equity matters, because that is what liberal values are when it comes to economics. That is what collective bargaining is about, that is what progressive tax models are about. Equity in being a stake holder in society. We are all "in the same boat" and sink or float together, thus we all have an equitable stake in each others success. We truly are our brothers keeper (to put it in cliché terms).
The other two core issues I have outlined in a previous diary are equality and responsible leadership.
Responsible Leadership (Defense/Foreign policy)
Responsible leadership is a simple distillation of the proper role of foreign policy which has its foundation as the positive bipartisan traditions of our role in the post WWII World. It is vital that the framing of foreign policy not be strictly within the realm of defense policy, but also economic as well as defense policy within the larger domain of "foreign policy".
We have to renew and improve our basic principles of multilateralism and economic security from a leadership position. But the key point is that sustainable leadership means folding the interests of other nations into ours, and vice-versa. As Clyde Prestowitz clearly articulate in his book Rogue Nation: American Unilateralism and the Failure of Good Intentions.
In every area, a multilateral approach, consistent with our humane and liberal core values, is also in our long-term best interests. It has been the very basis of our success in the post-war era. In contrast, almost every major foreign relations blunder has been at its core rooted in unilateralism or American exceptionalism which has resulted in stupidity, arrogance and ignorance in the exercise of our nations power.
Civil Equality (Social policy)
Equality under the law for all people, separation of church & state, and rights over one's own body are core liberal values and are the very bedrock of our national social contract. These are the core principles of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. Those two documents, as well as the seminal Gettysburg Address form, as Mortimer J. Adler put it in his definitive work We Hold These Truths: Understanding the Ideas and Ideals of the Constitution, our "national testament". Individual civil liberties are the foundation of free societies and are a core liberal value.
Summary
The "core principles" put forward here distill down into themes which are concise, simple to relate with concepts which are built on the underlying value assumptions upon which not only the Democratic party, but our core founding principles as a nation are built on.
I have tried to work within a trinary framework of the larger overarching scope of what governments can and should strive to secure for society. Distilling it down into the core principles of:
Responsible
Leadership =
Defense/Foreign policy
Economic Equity = Economic policy
Civil Equality = Social policy
These three values reenforce one another, and are present in varying degrees in most policy issues. Distilling down any policy issue to its fundamentals can be properly framed and argued on core liberal principles. Principles which are ingrained into most of our nations psyche, but are not being tapped into and drawn directly, quickly and simply to those core values. Freedom in the sense of civil liberties is based on equality under the law. That we are all treated equally and laws should protect civil liberties (i.e. freedoms).