More Than What it Takes to Win This Time

Mark Schmitt, Director of Policy and Research at the Open Society Institute, at The Decembrist has a thought-provoking post up in reaction to Peter Levine's thoughts on "What's wrong with the left, and what we can do about it."

In summary, Schmitt argues:

1. Focusing on money is a necessary but not sufficient way for the left to get back into the game with the right.
2. Blogs and other discussive media let us try out and implement new ideas faster than previously.
3. Left/Progressives are conservatives when it comes to the best parts of American society - the parts worth conserving.
4. Get beyond the politics of "more" - and embrace the politics of better. We're not going to win in the long run by being the party of people who want to spend more money. We have to win by spending the same or less money more effectively.

Schmitt makes a lot of sense. I am looking forward to reading Levine's post in full. Although the day-to-day fight of politics is exciting, it's always time for us to think beyond the current election.