On January 6, 1941 FDR gave a State of the Union Address where he not only gives a great bit about foreign policy we should still be using, he also discusses the need for the focus of domestic policy to center around the Four Freedoms: Freedom of speech and expression; Freedom to worship God in your own way; Freedom from want; and Freedom from fear. What a radical notion, these four things, and perhaps what a great way to provide over-arching philosophy to the various issue areas we focus on.

In reading Ben's previous post I thought about how that applies to both Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear. If we are seriously preserving these freedoms, then we have to start with those children. We have to deal with their reality where neither home nor school nor anywhere in between is free from fear. We have to deal with their reality that neither home nor school nor anywhere in between is free from want.

As a Democrat, as a progressive I am trying to think of ways that we can move towards solutions to this problem that are politically viable. I have a couple of thoughts, but I'd love to hear yours. What do you think of the Four Freedoms? Can we go back to that standard for our political philosophy? Would that judgement cause us to find a way to help these children find another way to live their lives?