'Third Rail' Grail: Political courage is a winning strategy.

Wall St Journal ^ | November 18, 2002 | VIN WEBER

[SJackson]

This month's midterm elections were further evidence of a seismic shift that is occurring in American politics. Social Security was once the Democratic Party's political talisman, its most effective and reliable electoral weapon. Today, Social Security is set to become a potent political issue for the GOP. That is, if Republicans maintain their courage and convictions.

[GailA]

btt

[Burkeman1]

Social Security reform will only continue to be more and more of a GOP issue with each passing year. As the investment and 401k ignorant "greatest generation" dies off the Democrats will be on the defense when it comes to Social Security or will become "me too" on the issue with the GOP.

[Tennessean4Bush]

I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Webber. Further, this is a chance to take what was a huge advantage for demonRATs for several generations and turn it into an advantage for Republicans for generations to come.

It is a fact that investors vote Republican. The more we make people investors the more they will trend conservative. If we can extend the investor class all the way down the ladder (which is what this reform will do), it will breed a much more conservative electorate.

[Irene Adler]

"If we can extend the investor class all the way down the ladder (which is what this reform will do), it will breed a much more conservative electorate."

Yes. When you can see how much is in your retirement account at any given time rather than just counting on some "who-knows-what-it-will-be" amount from the government (decided upon entirely at the government's discretion) then it gives you a whole new attitude toward a whole lot of things.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me

[Burkeman1]

True. As more and more people get into investing through 401k's or through some sort of social security reform the less vulnerable they are to lies about the economy from liberals. People may not follow politics very closely but they do watch their money very very closely. In this past election democrats tried to sell the lie that Bush had "cut their 401k's in half". The Democrats are so stupid as to think that people don't know when their 401k's started going south? They knew exactley when things started getting bad in the market and why. It was during the Clinton administration and a year before the election. In fact, Dick Morris warned the Democrats about this lie backfiring on them big time. People don't like to be treated like they are idiots or lied to so blatantly. I myself heard people who were non political scoff at democrats when they heard this line on the economy.

[elenchus]

If the conservative agenda on taxes and social security is to have a chance of succeeding and if conservative judges are to gain Senate approval, we must preserve a Republican Senate--which is in greater jeopardy than many realize.

For those who understand why the Louisiana election is crucial to retaining the Senate in the face of possible Republican defections by Chafee and McCain, please see the article just posted on:

"How Suzanne Terrell can Defeat Mary Landrieu"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/791117/posts

If you need convincing, also see the post:

Columnist Broder Sees Potential Party Switches by Senators McCain and Chaffee

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/791096/posts

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I blame political consultants for most conservative politicians' wimpiness. They always do these polls that show that the uncommitted voters are the mushy middle of moderates and, therefore, must be catered to at the expense of the base. IMHO, this is a waste of time because any moderate is moderate because he doesn't clearly understand the issues. By softening the issues in order to appeal to them the consultants make the issues even less understandable and compelling. However, a politician who knows what he believes, says it repeatedly and forcefully, brings along a lot of moderates by the force of his conviction. That convinces them more than any blurring of the lines.

The Dems don't blur their lines, they just lie about their beliefs. The contradictions soon become evident and the moderates lose faith. That leaves the door open even further to conservatives with a strong message delivered with conviction.

As far as SS. wouldn't it be nice if each American would indeed have a confortable retirement when he grows older. Although I am for small government, most Americans will not invest wisely so if a small portion of their income was taken from them and invested, rather than confiscated, I could support that. That investment also helps build the economy on which they are dependent so it is a win-win.