The Neoliberal Blues

Dynamic capitalism, flexible specialization, individual development accounts, public investment strategies -- was a meeting of accountants under way? No, it was a gathering of the country's top Democrats trying to sound fiscally responsible, tough-minded and pragmatic, to sound, in fact, a lot like Republicans.

The vision thing? The G.O.P. has the luxury of wondering out loud about it. When Democrats search for an overarching philosophy, they seem too dreamy- eyed. The last time liberals had vision -- the Great Society, the War on Poverty -- things didn't work out so well. Candidates like George McGovern, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis failed...