ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 13, 1996 TAG: 9610140004
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: guest column
SOURCE: HENRY W. TIELEMAN|
Amid train whistles and hoopla, I attended my first Democratic National Convention, in Chicago in late August.
The Democrats set out to show Americans that they have a vision to lead them into the 21st century with an agenda stressing economic opportunity through improved education, while reducing big government.
The biggest challenge facing the party deals with problems for low-and middle-income Americans, specifically those without a college education, who are experiencing a declining living standard. America's work force is the backbone of our nation, and President Clinton realizes he must focus on the concerns of working America so that they can achieve upward mobility in this time of economic change.
Consequently, his agenda would ensure that working people have access to education and training, affordable health care, secure pensions and a safe work place.
At the Chicago convention, Democrats sought to move the party away from its old orthodoxy of big government with equal outcome for all. It stressed ideas based on mainstream values that a majority of Americans can support.
Clinton's platform advocates a government that creates individual opportunities while it expects responsibility from its citizens.
Among the ideas forming the basis for the second Clinton administration are: Americorps national service program, community policing, expanded earned income tax credit, work-based welfare reform, pro-growth fiscal policy, tax credits for educational expenses, and programs for fighting teen pregnancy
This agenda clearly departs from "politics as usual." It became clear during the 1992-1994 election cycle that the old ways of "tax and spend" or "trickle down" are no longer working or accepted by the electorate. This agenda would make government more responsive to the needs of all citizens - a more entrepreneurial government that empowers citizens to change the country from the bottom up.
In 1994 the Clinton presidency was dead in the water, but since then the Democrats, led by Clinton, have regained the political initiative by concentrating on these issues.
So what did I learn at the Chicago convention? I saw the party building a bridge to the 2lst century wide and strong enough for all of us to walk across, and not just a selected segment of this country's population.
Henry W. Tieleman lives in Riner.
LENGTH: Short : 50 linesby CNB