Proposal for the DNC bumpersticker: Opportunity For Everyone (draft, feedback requested)

[yesthattom]

[ Note: A "bumpersticker" slogan refers to an organization's extremely brief description of what they stand for. It should be just a few words long, and structured so that if anyone is against it they look bad. For example, the Republicans have gotten a lot of mileage out of the bumpersticker “Less taxes / keep more of your paycheck”. Howard Dean, the new chair of the DNC, has stated that Democrats need to have one. ]

Proposal for the DNC bumpersticker: Opportunity For Everyone

To me, this expresses everything that’s good about being a Democrat. We believe there is nothing more important than helping people get a better lot in life. We know that fundamentally people will work to improve their lives and the only thing that holds them back is the roadblocks that are put in their way.

We don’t believe in a handout, but a hand-up. We’re in favor of anti-discrimination laws because they remove roadblocks to opportunity. We hate to see people go hungry, homeless, or without medical attention because that takes them out of the opportunity path. We want poison-free neighborhoods because without health, they have no opportunity. And of course, we want all Americans to get a quality education, because it is the single most important key to assuring opportunity.

To quote Billy Joel, I believe in a country where every child has a pretty good shot to get at least as far as their old man got.

I’m waiting for a Democratic candidate to stand up and make the following point in one of their speeches:

“Would you like to predict how I’m going to vote on an issue once I’m elected? It’s pretty simple. I believe in Opportunity for Everyone. It’s that simple. If the bill creates opportunity for people, then I’m for it. If it clears the roadblocks that prevent people from moving up their lot in life, I’m for it. But if it restricts people’s ability to do so, you can count on a “no” vote from me.”

There are second-tier issues that come to mind when talking about “opportunity for everyone”. For example, why does the government build highways? Because commerce depends on it and without commerce there is little opportunity.

Etc.

Etc.

I need to work on this more, but I think this is the right direction for finding our bumpersticker. In fact, I think we can even tie this into why having an ethical government is important.

Thoughts? Opinions?

Comments

[mangosteen]

Your argument (or rather the one you're presenting) "Didn't want it bad enough" implies that they are currently able to get there, regardless. I don't think the R's believe we're there.

I'm having problems parsing that, but I'll respond to what I think you're saying.

There are two sides to this. "Equality of Opportunity" and "Equality of Outcome".

The Republicans think that the former has been satisfied, and that the Democrats are whining about a lack of the latter.

The Democrats believe that the latter is as unrealistic at the Republicans do, but believe that the former is unsatisfied, and need to work harder at it.

It is the assumptions the Republicans make about "equality of opportunity" that create the "Didn't want it bad enough" argument.