Reply #12: guaranteed standard of living [View All]

[Martin Eden]

I thought it was a great speech, and convincingly pointed out how the wealthy elite/republicans drive wedges of fear and ignorance between the American people in order to manupulate them into voting against their own best interests. But at the risk of being flamed, I have to take issue with his ending:

creating an America that guarantees every man, woman, and child a decent standard of living

My concern is that the term guarantee would be siezed upon by the RW fear-mongers as evidence that progressives are pushing for a big-government welfare state that pays people for not working. If this speech were ever to gain significant national attention, I fear the guarantee would provide an opportunity for RWers to discredit the entire message.

To some extent I'm quibbling about the wording of a single sentence in a speech with which I wholeheartedly agree, but I'm also pondering the concept of a guaranteed standard of living for every man, woman, and child. Even with the minimum wage elevated to a decent living wage, and an effective safety net, can we really guarantee a decent living for everyone?