June 12th, 2006

On June 22nd, I will be hosting my OPEN HOUSE public policy forum focused on a question that has been on my mind a lot recently: What’s Wrong With Liberals?

The dual meaning of this question is intentional. On the one hand, why have liberals proved themselves unable to effectively counter conservatives as the right-wing of our country has monopolized many of our public discourses? On the other, why has "liberal" become a dirty word in some circles; what is really right or wrong about liberal values, approaches, and public policy?

Liberals have been playing defense for decades, outspent, out-bullied, out-organized, and out-strategized by conservatives in the struggle for the hearts and minds of the American electorate. Why haven’t liberals been able to stand up for what they believe in and articulate their beliefs to the public? Where, for example, is the liberal outrage as the gulf between rich and poor widens? Who’s yelling as our "law and order" President declares himself above the law? Where is it written that conservatives own the flag, family values, and matters of faith? What’s going on when small-government conservatives want to pass laws reaching into the womb to protect life before birth and reaching into the tomb (as in Terry Schiavo’s case) to protect life after death? Where is the anger as environmental safeguards are eroded?

What do liberals stand for anyway and why haven’t they been able to communicate their values as clearly as the conservatives? Where were the liberals when, in supposedly liberal Massachusetts, the most powerful politician in the state was the conservative Speaker of the House? What’s the liberal platform for education reform or is it just enough to just say "no" to the right’s campaign for charter schools, high-stakes standardized testing, and vouchers? Why after 9/11 do Americans trust that conservatives, and only conservatives, will keep us safe?

What do you think is right or wrong with liberals? That’s the question for the June 22nd installment of OPEN HOUSE.

And, for the first time in OPEN HOUSE history, there is recommended reading to help seed the discussion: George Lakoff’s Don’t Think of an Elephant. Lakoff, a cognitive linguist, analyzes the political right’s use of language and public discourse to advance a political agenda and exhorts liberals to figure out how to communicate their values. Waldenbooks (1713 Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington,) Sundial Bookstore (1666 Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington,) and The Book Rack (13 Medford Street in Arlington) are offering a discount on copies of the book purchased before the forum.

This last forum in the series’ eleventh season will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 PM in the National Heritage Museum at the intersection of Marrett Road (Route 2A) and Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington. As always with OPEN HOUSE forums, comments and questions from the audience will shape the conversation. Please call my State House office at 617-722-2240 if you would like any additional information.

I hope you can join us on June 22nd as we tackle this knotty question.