Some progressives have offered that in this financial crisis whoever can be the “prosperity maker” will win. But prosperity doesn’t reinforce our frame (to use a term that is so 2004 that even I cringe to write it).

If the conservatives are about liberty, let progressives be about opportunity. We have a leader in Obama that can be the symbol of opportunity and the American dream. We have an activated grassroots that is ready to be a movement. We have issues—the economy, health care and education-that reinforce this value and each other. Opportunity through economics, health care and education, is the path to the American dream.

Republicans at the Republican Governors’ Association last week talked about the need to reposition their party as the one with “the solutions to fulfilling the American Dream”. Their path will surely be many of the frames they’ve used to date: liberty, small government, lower taxes. And they’ve framed the Democrats and progressives as irresponsible on these values.

But what if we started talking about taxes as a path to opportunity? About responsible government that makes sure that free markets and Wall Street don’t take away Main Street’s opportunity to live the American Dream. Health care and education as pathways to opportunity (for all).

America has always been an aspiration-based culture. It is why Nike commercials give us goose bumps and the realm of possibility (like sending a man to the moon) excites us. Opportunity reinforces this cultural orientation. And when we step into culture’s stream, our work becomes much, much easier.