How about "New Gilded Age?" As in, "Thanks to the Bush tax cuts, we now live in a New Gilded Age where the wealthy are fleecing the poor, wages are stagnant, and more and more people are falling into debt each day."

It's not the unified field theory of elevator speeches (of which I question the value), but it's something we should be saying a heck of a lot more often.

This ruling is potentially a HUGE issue. First, it will open up end-of-life issues to a real debate, and we may see other states begin to look into death with dignity. The social and medical effects of the discussion should be really valuable.

But more importantly, this has the look of a major wedge issue for liberals. Looking back to the Terri Schiavo incident, it seems clear where religious conservatives fall on the issue. Not only are they against the practice, they're willing to go to extraordinary means. But assisted suicide is supported by a fairly substantial majority of Americans. (It varies depending on how the question is worded, but a CNN poll from last fall, which asked about the Oregon law, found that 64% of respondents felt "physicians should be given the right to dispense prescriptions to patients to end their life.")

Roe preceeded the national impulse toward abortion, came from a top-down ruling, and wedged the left. Death with Dignity followed national interest and came up from the states. It looks to have every chance of wedging the right. Dems should take note and lead the discussion on national end-of-life issues. It's a winner.

I've got a bit more analysis at my blog, which also takes an historical view (I'm an Oregonian).