Dear Editor,

I have a suggestion for the national Democratic Party in terms of what its message should be for the 2018 and 2020 elections. Back in 1987, I heard Bill Clinton give a speech in which he said something that I really agreed with.

He said “People have ‘rights’ and responsibilities.” He said that Democrats seem to focus too heavily on their “rights” and seem to believe that they shouldn’t and don’t have any “responsibilities.”

He said that Republicans seem to focus too heavily on their “responsibilities” and seem to believe that they shouldn’t and don’t have any “rights.”

He said that Democrats should say that the federal government should help people who struggle financially and in return for that assistance, people should be expected to lead responsible and productive lifestyles.

That includes giving something back to the country and taxpayers in return for receiving that assistance even if that only means doing volunteer work if they cannot find a job. This way, no one is receiving “something for nothing.”

I believe that “Rights and Responsibilities” is a winning message and campaign theme/slogan for the Democrats in 2018 and 2020.

Sincerely,

Stewart B. Epstein

Rochester, New York

Published on January 16, 2018 at 11:14 pm