I could do a number of posts on Obama’s speech last night at the DNC. But I’m fairly sure that Mike will be doing an analysis of it at some point, and I’d rather take potshots at his analysis from the peanut gallery than write my own (well, at least I’m honest about these things…).
But here’s one line I’d like to dissect and disagree with in the interim:
“In Washington, they call this the “Ownership Society,” but what it really means is that you’re on your own. Out of work? Tough luck, you’re on your own. No health care? The market will fix it. You’re on your own. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, even if you don’t have boots. You are on your own.”
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this rhetoric. Congressman Rush Holt used this approach about 4 years ago to an audience of policy majors at Princeton in describing the GOP. I disagreed with it then, and I disagree with it still. Here’s why:
There’s a big difference between government not helping you, and nobody helping you.
Continue reading »

Recent Comments