More Thoughts on the Common Good and the New Patriotism

Shakes here…

Like Neil, I’m rather dubious about the Common Good argument, although for a slightly different reason. In fact, for one big reason—religion. As I noted in the comments to his post, I struggle to see a way to effectively use the Common Good argument to address a possible majority that believes it's in their best interest to require prayer in school, or the teaching of intelligent design, etc. And, perhaps even more importantly than that, I’m concerned that some of the important issues Neil mentions—abortion, gay equality—are so inextricably linked to religion on one side of the debate that the Common Good argument, if it cannot dexterously manage majority viewpoints rooted in religion, will inevitably fail to adequately serve as the core of the Democratic message.

It strikes me as rather absurd to try to convince a majority group who’s compelled by their belief system (or at least, their interpretation of it) not only to live their own lives by its rules, but to enforce those rules upon others, that the Common Good doesn’t accommodate their views. There is a particular flavor of Christianity in America right now (to which our president is an adherent) that sees their own attempt to legislate morality as imperative to the Common Good, which leaves us with competing themes, rather than a unique argument—in other words, exactly where we’ve always been.

For this reason, I tend to favor an argument rooted in “My rights end where yours begin,” when it comes to addressing policy issues, especially personal issues that find strong religion-based dissension on one side of the coin. It leaves no room for squabbling over who’s got the market cornered on the definition of “Common Good” or “moral values.” It is what it is, and what it isn’t is a launching pad for an inspirational message, so that must be dealt with separately, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Good politics aren’t always convenient.

I agree with Tomasky’s notion, as Atrios described it, “many people do want to feel a part of something bigger than themselves, something they feel is a force for good.”

The Dems’ limp “Together, America can do better,” though the most milquetoast attempt conceivable, is nonetheless a nod at this idea. It encapsulates the notion that America can be better, can move forward, and that it takes more than just policy initiatives to get us there. Democrats must be flatly willing to identify Bush’s entire tenure as a massive failure and propose leading America in an entirely new direction—to cast energy independence as the new space program, universal healthcare as the New Deal for a new generation, stem cell technology as a medical advancement as revolutionary as penicillin.

Of course, this will take money, and voter support, so they can’t be afraid to give voice once again to the virtue of sacrifice.

Neil touches on this with his nod to John Edwards’ framing. I’m a bit more of a cynic than John Edwards, so I’d take it a step further and turn on its head one of the GOP’s most opportunistic bits of sloaganeering: Support the Troops, a mantra which is invoked even as they slash funding for protective armor and veterans’ healthcare. It’s as easy as this: Are you willing to let our troops be the only ones who must give of themselves for the safety and success of America?

Anyone who would answer yes will be too busy screaming about how liberals don’t support the troops to hear the question. And they’d never vote for the Democrats, anyway.

Once upon a time, sacrifice was a patriotic idea. But under the gluttonous avarice of the GOP leadership, barrel-chested barons of a new Gilded Age stand astride the bodies of those who have been condemned to less fortunate fates, singing the praises of social Darwinism and bellowing about the superfluity of a social safety net—“The government never gave me anything!” they declare, as they deposit their million-dollar checks from their latest no-bid Defense Department contract then head off to Tiffany’s to get The Little Woman a bauble with their fat tax return.

That’s the new patriotism, and it should disgust all of us. The Democrats need to remind Americans that sometimes they must earn the fortune that being American affords them.