Over at Legal Fiction, Publius points out that the values debate is like any other political dispute; you can't beat something with nothing.

“Values” has been used as a means to oppose progressive policies. The Left has responded by demonizing religion or rejecting the rhetoric of values altogether. A better approach is to construct, rather than to deconstruct, a new concept of values. If “values” is the obstacle, redefine it. Offer a new version – Values 2.0, if you will. Tell the world what your values are, rather than arguing within the definition of "values" created by Reagan (or perhaps Goldwater and Wallace).

That's right. And the rest is here.

UPDATE: The values issue actually has two parts -- the rhetoric, which Publius ably addresses above, and the policy piece, which involves devising programs and initiatives that reflect the values that most Americans share; e.g., the Earned Income Tax Credit that rewards work, the GI Bill that rewards service, etc. Needless to say, we have to be careful here -- it's awfully easy to leave the "undeserving poor" behind when constructing programs along these lines. Still, as Social Security's enduring popularity demonstrates, programs that connect with people's values are more sustainable over time than those that don't.

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