Bart,

It not that parties don't "get it" but that it is electoral suicide to tell people they can't have it all and must reduce their standard of living.... Remember the two rules, how do we get elected and how do we get re-elected.

This is why our so called leaders in fact hardly ever lead but follow public opinion. As soon as you have more of the voteriat in favour of something than opposed the politicians will leap aboard the already moving train and claim they have led the charge despite tremendous opposition.

So, line up your networked grassroots organizations and see those politicos jump aboard.

Politicians have implemented policies designed to cut people's standard of living in the past and there's no reason to think they won't do it again.
Some politicians actually tend to implement more liberal policies than the one they've campaigned on.

An examination of the circumstances in which unusually austere policies get implemented may lead you to re-examine your political model.
I think you will find that politicians are able to lead when they understand public opinion is being reshaped.

Leading politicians with grassroots organizations works best when no one (that matters) is pushing back.