Let the Republicans have their family values, we've got something better!!

-American values.

So the Republicans think they've won on family values, eh? Fine. As the traditional nuclear family becomes more and more scarce, they'll be playing to an increasingly smaller crowd with that message.

Democrats, OTOH, have something more essential and timeless.... American values.

These values include:

Equal opportunity (I.E. appointing qualified people to cabinet positions, not Halliburton lawyers who bail your ass out every time).

Fairness: Women should get equal pay for equal work and be able to control their own bodies.

Charity: Government programs to help those who cannot help themselves. Any Christian who argues against that is taking a perilous position.

Progress: In the spirit of our nation's founders, explorers, and pioneers, we as a nation should not be afraid to take risks. Taking risks is what got us from a 30 horsepower homemade flyer to the moon landing in less than 70 years. Similarly, we should not be afraid to reject new ideas such as stem cell research, universal health care, and alternative energy out of hand.

Equity: If you benefit more than others from being an American, you should pay more taxes to support the nation. You get more, you pay more... in government as in life.

Responsibility: Don't we all wish we could run giant deficits in our personal lives without ever having to account for them. If I could run deficits like the government, I'd be writing this from the comfort of my private island. But I can't. You and I need to pay our bills. So does the government. A government in debt is an irresponsible one, and responsible Americans like you and I deserve better.

I'm sure all of you can think of more. If you've got more American values that are represented by the Democratic party or other progressive causes, list them in this thread. If not, I'd sure like to know what you think of my idea!

On edit: If they try and argue, we should act shocked and indignant, like they always do, and say "Are you against American values?!" Back 'em into a corner.

Equal opportunity: Communism.

Fairness: Communism.

Charity: Communism.

Progress: "Doom and gloom! You're all doom and gloom! If you don't like the way things are now, you're a whiner."

Equity: "Tax and spend Liberal!"

Responsibility: "George W. Bush would be a better President if it wasn't for Bill Clinton. Why don't you hold Clinton responsible?"

Where would your family be now if it weren't for the equal opportunity granted to your ancestors? I'm sure your grandfather didn't get that job at the factory because he was best friends with the millionaire owner.

Fairness is communism? You're an extremist reactionary, and you're implying that cutthroat cheating is something to be proud of. Remind me never to play cards with you.

Charity is communism? What would Jesus say to you if he heard that?

Progress is "doom and gloom"? I guess that makes Washington, Adams, Jefferson and the rest a bunch of whiners.

Tax and spend is one thing. Borrow and spend undermines everything we work for.

As for the Clinton stuff, I don't think that's going to hold up in Bush's second term as we move farther and farther from the Clinton years. If anything people will be nostalgic for the good old days of the 90s.

Excellent points.

maybe a yup to all you say with american values, human values, but i still have family values too. not gonna give them that, when i sit in a family of love. they dont get to make what i am less,......no way

Whats family values when mom and dad are out of work and cannot feed their family, when children don't have health care, when our education system is failing our children. Family values should be used to frame our core arguement (you just mentioned) for why we think democratic leadership is better for America. Only one likely presidential candidate has done that throughout his political career and that Evan Bayh of IN. That's why I think he should be our candidate in 2008.

I agree that the weaknesses in that line of the Republican argument should be exposed, if it can be done. But with a different line of arguing, such as American values as a different and more widely accepted substitute for family values, we could catch them with their guard down and define ourselves before they define us.

Wouldn't family values be a subset of American values?

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Instead we need to argue that our positions and values are family values. For instance when Clinton ran for office he said that fully funding Medicare is our duty to our elder family members. Meanwhile job loss under Bush hurts families.

Welcome to DU!! :toast: