Free Us From Economic Fear

Last month at DemocracyFest in Austin, TX, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. talked about the need for Democrats to work their agenda and messages around a theme.  As an example, Jackson talked about Voting Rights.

Later, it occured to me: Why not Economic Rights?   I have doubts that political freedom and voting rights will be enough to engage a lot of Americans, when there's economic fear.   Our constitution talks a lot about political rights, but, as President FDR pointed out, there's an economic side to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.   Rather than focusing on the mechanisms of voting and expression (e.g., The Patriot Act), should we instead be addressing as a theme Economic Security?  Or a kind of Economic Populism?   Health Care, Income Insurance, Global Competitiveness, Etc.

How do think Economic Rights might work as a theme for progressives and the Democratic Party?