I am chagrined to note that Jon comes up with a better title for my vision than I do in my book (the phrase I use is "insurance and opportunity" society). But whatever it's called, the basic idea is simple:  Just as businessmen and entrepreneurs are protected against the most severe economic risks they face to encourage economic investment and growth, we are most capable of fully participating in our economy, most capable of taking risks and looking toward our future, when we have a basic foundation of financial security. Economic security is not opposed to economic opportunity; it is its cornerstone. And restoring a measure of economic security in the United States today is the key to transforming the nation’s great wealth and productivity into an engine for broad-based prosperity and opportunity in an ever more uncertain economic world.

 Jon also asks a good question: What are the next steps? For those who are interested, I've laid out one -- universal health care through a new approach that builds on the best elements of our current system -- yesterday in Slate.

But Jon also asks a deeper questions: Do I think that a "security and opportunity" agenda can bring those who believe in it to power?

The answer is yes. And my reason for saying yes will be the subject of my next post.