Have Faith in America / A More Just Society
Found this lingering in a backlog file. Democrats and Progressives take note !!!!!!!!!!!
Letter from Bob Reich November 4, 2004*************************************
First, remember you're not alone.Imagine standing in a room with 99 other people -- a random sample of America.48 of them voted with you, against George Bush. All you need to do over the nextfew years is convince two of the others to join with you, and you've got amajority. We've got a majority.Second, learn the power of a moral message (if you didn't know it already).
Republicans ran on a moral agenda -- God, guns, gays, and true grit in fightingthe evils of Saddam Hussein and terrorism. Democrats ran on a policy agenda --affordable health care, deficit reduction, and combating terrorism throughstronger international alliances and a smarter strategy. George Bush spoke aboutright and wrong in moral terms -- as matters of righteousness and faith. JohnKerry spoke of right and wrong in pragmatic terms -- for example, saying he had the right way to get the economy moving again or to fight Al Qaida, and GeorgeBush was going the wrong way.I don't think most Americans rejected John Kerry's policies. It was Bush's moralvision they found more compelling.
When politicians talk about having a plan forthis or a policy for that, many eyes glaze over. But when they speak withrighteous indignation -- with passion and conviction about what is morally rightto do or morally offensive -- they can inspire the nation.
My recommendation to Democrats is not to become more religious. Religion is apersonal matter. But perhaps Democrats need somewhat fewer plans and policies,and a bit more moral conviction. They also need to talk more about faith --faith in what this great nation can accomplish if we work together.Democrats used to talk in moral terms -- about fighting for civil rights, for example. What could Democrats say now and in the future? That it's morally wrong to give huge tax cuts to the rich while cutting social programs for the poor andworking class -- especially when the gap between the rich and everyone else is wider than it's been in more than a century. That we have a moral obligation to give every American child a good education and decent health care. That it's morally wrong that millions of Americans who work full time don't earn enough tokeep their families out of poverty. And much else. My faith -- and yes, it is a matter of faith, a great leap of faith -- is that in all these respects, and many more, this nation can become a more just society.I'm not saying Democrats have to adopt my particular moral positions. But unless or until Democrats return to larger questions of public morality, they won't inspire the American public. Plans and policies are important, of course. But there's no substitute for offering a vision of what we can become as a nation --and giving citizens the faith we can get there. So keep up the good fight. You're needed more now than ever.-- Bob Reich
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About this message
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We encourage you to forward this newsletter to your friends, family, andcolleagues.We plan to send a periodic newsletter to Reich supporters.If you do not want to receive future newsletters, please reply with 'Remove' asthe subject line.-- Jesse Alan GordonJesse@RobertReich.org
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Robert Reich c/o newsletter@RobertReich.org Tel. (617) 547-2206 * To mail: Box 381483, Cambridge, MA 02238 * To Fax: (617) 498-0048 http://www.RobertReich.org
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Letter from Bob Reich November 4, 2004*************************************
First, remember you're not alone.Imagine standing in a room with 99 other people -- a random sample of America.48 of them voted with you, against George Bush. All you need to do over the nextfew years is convince two of the others to join with you, and you've got amajority. We've got a majority.Second, learn the power of a moral message (if you didn't know it already).
Republicans ran on a moral agenda -- God, guns, gays, and true grit in fightingthe evils of Saddam Hussein and terrorism. Democrats ran on a policy agenda --affordable health care, deficit reduction, and combating terrorism throughstronger international alliances and a smarter strategy. George Bush spoke aboutright and wrong in moral terms -- as matters of righteousness and faith. JohnKerry spoke of right and wrong in pragmatic terms -- for example, saying he had the right way to get the economy moving again or to fight Al Qaida, and GeorgeBush was going the wrong way.I don't think most Americans rejected John Kerry's policies. It was Bush's moralvision they found more compelling.
When politicians talk about having a plan forthis or a policy for that, many eyes glaze over. But when they speak withrighteous indignation -- with passion and conviction about what is morally rightto do or morally offensive -- they can inspire the nation.
My recommendation to Democrats is not to become more religious. Religion is apersonal matter. But perhaps Democrats need somewhat fewer plans and policies,and a bit more moral conviction. They also need to talk more about faith --faith in what this great nation can accomplish if we work together.Democrats used to talk in moral terms -- about fighting for civil rights, for example. What could Democrats say now and in the future? That it's morally wrong to give huge tax cuts to the rich while cutting social programs for the poor andworking class -- especially when the gap between the rich and everyone else is wider than it's been in more than a century. That we have a moral obligation to give every American child a good education and decent health care. That it's morally wrong that millions of Americans who work full time don't earn enough tokeep their families out of poverty. And much else. My faith -- and yes, it is a matter of faith, a great leap of faith -- is that in all these respects, and many more, this nation can become a more just society.I'm not saying Democrats have to adopt my particular moral positions. But unless or until Democrats return to larger questions of public morality, they won't inspire the American public. Plans and policies are important, of course. But there's no substitute for offering a vision of what we can become as a nation --and giving citizens the faith we can get there. So keep up the good fight. You're needed more now than ever.-- Bob Reich
*************************************
About this message
*************************************
We encourage you to forward this newsletter to your friends, family, andcolleagues.We plan to send a periodic newsletter to Reich supporters.If you do not want to receive future newsletters, please reply with 'Remove' asthe subject line.-- Jesse Alan GordonJesse@RobertReich.org
*************************************
Robert Reich c/o newsletter@RobertReich.org Tel. (617) 547-2206 * To mail: Box 381483, Cambridge, MA 02238 * To Fax: (617) 498-0048 http://www.RobertReich.org
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posted by T. Scott Brineman at 8:40 AM
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