There is nothing wrong with our message; we do not need to move

[question everything]

to the center, or to the right, or to any other direction.

We do, however, need to understand the shift that has happened in this country in the past 24 years. And I don't think that our leaders have capitulated on it.

I am no historian, but I would say that we, human beings, started as individuals fighting for ourselves and our families. As we developed we realized that we needed to stick together if we were going to survive. And sticking together was always motivated by fear and threat, rather than as a positive reinforcement, for the common good.

As such, the first forces that united us were religious ones. A god, or a god-like concept commanded us to act as a group or be punished. A messenger of god would always find reasons for bad events happening because we did not obey the gods.

Then came the Renaissance, the time of enlightenment where secular forms of associations came - the guilds of the artisans, the institutions of government and universities.

As we moved from working the small farms to cities and towns to work for employers, we needed even more to be part of associations and we formed labor unions.

I think that most of us remember our parents or grandparents as union or company men and women. Our parents and grandparents, perhaps many DUers, worked for the same employers for many years. There was a sense of loyalty between employers and employees and even if some felt it stifling, they could always move away to follow their own dreams.

And then came Ronald Reagan and Reagaonmics. Perhaps these shifts would have occurred either way, but it was during the 80s that the economic and fiscal policies favored mergers and acquisitions. They favored for investors bankers - remember "greed is good" - to buy stable, good companies and to raid their assets and to fire employees, instead of investing in new ventures.

We started losing our manufacturing base and shifted into a "service economy" where two-thirds of the economy is fueled by service. And we started on a long string of different jobs and careers. Any loyalty to an employer became and anachronism. Our resumes now had to show many jobs and employers to be attractive to future employers. And when we were laid off, again, and again, we were encouraged to become "entrepreneurs."

So we did. We became "consultants" and worked from home, and self employed and some of us because small business owners that provided jobs to others.

And while we were going through these transitions, government program - often tailored to large corporations - became irrelevant or even a hindrance to us as self employed or as small business owners. Traditional "benefits" - health insurance and pensions - have long ceased to be fringed. Even if we have an employer-provided health insurance, when we are laid off, we find that COBRA payments are just too expensive. Even if we have an employer-provided pensions, we find, years later, that as our employer shrinks or is going out of business, so are our promised pensions. Look at the retirees of Bethlehem Steel.

Most Americans are concerned about their safety; not just the fear of terrorism, but the fear of access to health care and fear of retirement. And as many now work for small companies or are self-employed, or move back and forth between being employed and unemployed, not able to pay for COBRA, we realize that we cannot rely on old government programs to be the solution.

And this is why we cannot get more than 50% to vote Democrats. Many were receptive to the theme that Kerry sounded, but I don't think that Kerry translated these fears into hope.

I think that the Evangelical vote was just the frosting on the top. I think that we need to, first, recognize that our society has changed from where it was right after WWII and we need to address the new realities.

We, liberals, still stand for recognizing the power of government for the common good. We still stand for recognizing the power of associations, be they secular or religious ones. We recognize that while it is admirable to celebrate individualism, too many fall between the cracks and need the help of government to live life of dignity. We, liberals, are forward thinking, envisioning the benefits of science and technology helping and enriching our lives. But we have to recognize that many Americans - by choice or necessity - view life only in the present, through very narrow blinders, nd it is with them that we need to bridge the gap.

[knowbody0]

1. i've enlightened many

with patience. listening, not threatening.
bridging the gap is not impossible
reality really sucks right now and denial is comforting

[johnaries]

2. Did you see the PIPA report?

On every issue, the majority of Bush supporters actually supported Kerry's positions - except they didn't know it was Kerry's position, they thought it was Bush's. Except for those who actually believed that Saddam had WMD and was involved in 9/11. And the majority of those poor mis-informed folks said we should NOT have gone into Iraq if there were no WMD or 9/11 connection. We have to find ways to discredit the Rushes, the Hannity's, the Coulter's, the O'Reilly's, etc ad naseum. We have to prove them for the liars they are. It won't be easy, but we've got to find a way to do it.

[question everything]

3. Exactly. We need to be able to articulate for them what they really feel

And we need to think for their future, but without offending them. We almost need an expert in subliminal messages..

Who, or what, is PIPA?

[johnaries]

4. Fascinating reading:

I printed out the PDF and carried it around with me all week:
http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Pres_Election_04/html/new_10_21_04.html

The sheep aren't evil, they just hear too many lies from people they think they can trust. Again, I blame all the Rushes, etc.

[question everything]

5. Thank you. Interesting reading. I think that these, however, are beyond

"repair."

What we need is the average people who want to hear specific plans from our leaders, small, incremental plans that they can try on for size.

[Frogtutor]

6. I couldn't agree more (new here)

Hi all;
I'm new here and found DU in my post election need to find like-minded individuals and vent my frustrations. I am just sickened by how many people call themselves "Republicans", without even knowing what that means. I have relatives and friends who would find that they are Democrats if they knew and understood the issues. Let me make clear that I respect people of all beliefs. Having said that, let me also say that I am a Democrat AND a Christian. I am not, however, a Christian who forces my beliefs on others (I believe that's an oxymoron), or has a religious agenda. So many of the people that call themselves Republicans don't seem to realize that it's possible to be both a Christian and a Democrat. Personally, I can't think of a better example of moral values and Christian beliefs in a Democrat than Jimmy Carter. I read a really interesting article about this very issue. It was written on behalf of churches and religious organizations who take that position. They feel that single issue voting (abortion) is not morally responsible, and that several issues (such as poverty, education, health care, wages, etc.) should be considered in an election. If anyone's interested in reading it, I can probably find it again.

Anyway, my point is that I think this message needs to get out to the public at large. The Democratic party needs to reach out to those "religious" voters and point out to them that there is so much more to be concerned about than abortion, that many Democratic politicians have outstanding moral values, and that many Republican politicians are NOT good examples of morality. I swear, my sister-in-law would vote for Hitler if he only said he was "anti-abortion"; I haven't talked to her since the election, and I am NOT looking forward to any political discussions at Thanksgiving!! I mean, we're still going to have the hard-nosed "religious right" to contend with, but I think most of those "marginal Republicans" can be reached. My only question is "How"?

Sorry so long; thanks to anyone who actually read this whole post! I feel better being able to say this to someone besides my immediate family (they're probably glad, too lol)

[choicevoice]

8. Further I would say one of our buggest problems was letting

THEM define us.

[question everything]

9. Great Post and welcome to DU

:toast:

The irony is that if one reads the teaching of Jesus and the apostles, really read them one would find them to be in line with our liberal principles, of caring for our fellow men and women. This, I think, is the reason why Catholics were traditionally Democrats.

[Frogtutor]

10. Thanks, and exactly!

I hear many so-called Christian's talk about trying to be "Christ-like" while they behave like judgmental, hypocritical, hateful twits. They need to read up a bit more on what Christ was like!
Frogtutor

[ClassWarrior]

7. Agreed. Our message is fine.

We just need to craft it... present it... frame it... better. And we'll learn to do that too.

NGU.

[tommcintyre]

11. absolutely!