15 New Ideas

E. J. Dionne Jr., columnist at the Washington Post, makes some good points this morning worth exploring.

He quotes Michael Tomasky in the current issue of the American Prospect. The right's message of "radical individualism" should be replaced by Democrats with politics for the "common good". Dionne adds to this the need to include, along with the idea of citizen sacrifice, that people band together if self-interest is dedicated to a common project
For "project ideas he refers us to the recent list of 15 New Ideas put forward by the Center for American Progress.
These follow....download the complete,expanded version at
15 New Ideas

Offering Opportunity for All: Build an opportunity nation where every hard-working person—regardless of background—can realize his or her dreams through education, decent work and fair pay.

• Create a Fair and Simple Tax Code
• Extend Learning Time
• Improve Teacher Quality
• Increase College Opportunity and Completion
• Reduce Debt Burdens by Fighting Abusive Lending
• Strengthen Pensions: Universal 401(k)

Promoting a Just and Secure World: Use America’s awesome strength to bring the world together, not pull it apart.

• Use Integrated Power
• Strengthen the All-Volunteer Army
• Grow the World’s Energy Future
• Invest in Global Equity

Building Strong Communities: Reawaken America’s conscience—our sense of shared and personal responsibility—to build healthy, vibrant communities.

• Provide Universal Health Coverage
• Use Health Care to Strengthen the U.S. Auto Industry
• Provide Comprehensive Worker Adjustment Assistance

Creating Open and Fair Government: Reform government so that it is of, by, and for the people: open, effective, and committed to the common good.

• Bring Government Decisionmaking into the Information Age
• Impose New Rules to Curb Abuses of Congressional Power