These are contradictory statements because they are politically loaded. The "things are alright, and are getting better, but we can do even better" party doesn't energize people, and no one wants to be that party, even if it accurately describes things.
I'm looking forward to the TAAAAGBBWCDEB Party rallies:
— What do we want?
— Gradual change!
— When do we want it?
— In due course!
I appreciate the local approach to referenda. A referendum can be brought "solve X with Y!", but the government then has a chance to say, "we agree that X is a problem, but we think it'd be more effectively addressed via Z". Then we all vote for either Y, or Z, or (the most popular response) "X ain't so broke; don't fix it"
I mean if being politically energizing is all you care about, just court folks scared of immigration.
Of course if you actually want to not make the world worse you need to argue for a better world. Liberals seem literally and generally incapable of this basic task.
