One of the main reasons I wrote my book, The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be, was to give progressive leaders and activists a narrative about American history that would let them argue the progressive cause. I am delighted to pass the word on that members of the Democratic caucus in the House have taken that idea, and run with it. Congressman Keith Ellison and the Congressional Progressive Caucus organized an hour-long special order on the subject "Why I am a Progressive." The first half-hour was on what progressives have done to make America a better place, and the second was on what bold progressive vision for America could be now.
I was especially honored because Keith told me that The Progressive Revolution in great part inspired the idea of this special order, and because he used research and talking points coming from my book in his remarks on the floor.
This is what progressives should be doing, on the floor of the House and Senate, and in their organizing on behalf of progressive causes everywhere across this country: telling the proud story of the progressive movement, and why we should be bold in pushing for more and bolder progressive change.
Here are the thoughts I sent to Keith on their special order.
I am a progressive because progressives have always fought for Jefferson's idea that all of us are created equal.
I am a progressive because progressives embrace the idea of a government of, by, and for the people instead of a government run by the wealthy and powerful.I am a progressive because we need an economy built from the bottom up, not the top down; an economy that is built on rising wages and an expanding and prosperous middle class, not one built on getting scraps trickling down from the rich and investor bubbles; an economy built on producing quality products, not one based on moving money around from one wealthy financial conglomerate to another.
I am a progressive because all of the great advances in American history come from the progressive movement, from people who believed in equality and democracy and justice and change fighting against the powers that be:
-The American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence
-The Bill of Rights
-The abolition of slavery
-The national park system
-Consumer safety laws
-Breaking up the big corporate trusts
-Women's suffrage
-Social Security
-Minimum wage
-Unemployment and worker's compensation
-Rural electrification
-The GI Bill
-Child labor laws
-The weekend and eight-hour days
-Ending Jim Crow
-Medicare and Medicaid
-Head Start
-Legal Services
-Clean Water Act
-Clean Air Act
-The EPA
-The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
-Martin Luther King Day
-Labor Day
-Family and Medical Leave
-S-CHIPAll of these gains for the American people came about because progressives had the idea, organized for it, and passed it into law.
If progressives could make all these things happen in our history, what can progressives do in our times if they think big and act boldly?
-Build an economy that is run almost entirely on wind, solar, and other clean renewable energy by the year 2020
-Create a health care system where every American has access to health care services, with their own choice of a high-quality doctor, whenever they need it, and where they and their doctor don't have to fight with insurance companies over the treatment they need.
-Create a full employment economy where everyone is paid a wage that will keep them and their families above the poverty line
-Create an educational system where anyone who wants to get a college degree is able to do so without going deeply into debt, and where every single K-12 public school succeeds at getting their students ready for life as productive citizens.
-Invest in a non-profit sector where citizens are empowered to build community organizations that make a difference in their lives.
I would love to know how you would answer those questions , and frame the progressive argument.
Here's some video highlights from the "Why I am a Progressive" hour on the House floor.
Congressman Keith Ellison: "Why I Am A Progressive" from Progressive Revolution on Vimeo.
You write here:
" I am a progressive because we need an economy built from the bottom up, not the top down;...................., not one built on getting scraps trickling down from the rich and investor bubbles...."
Here's a progressive clue for you, Mike.
You're almost talking about economic democracy here.
But economic democracy would be a little TOO progressive for those among us claiming the mantle of the day, yourself included.
The Krugmans, the Kleins, the Kuttners (the K-group of economists), the Galbraiths, Bakers and Bonddads among them.
If you want to try a truly progressive policy idea that can actually get you want out of this economy, then read up on the Chicago Plan for Monetary Reform.
It is a plan designed by truly progressive economists to replace the failed Federal Reserve debt-money system with full-reserve banking and government-issue, debt-free money.
For crisake, get the freaking lead out progressives.
Take some bold action.
You guys are resting on some well worn-out laurels that have nothing to do with solving today's economic-financial-social problems.
Monetary reform.
And, NOT Glass-Steagall.
The Chicago Plan.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/letter_of_amends_from_a_recove.html
Conversion stories are a dime a dozen from both sides...I could tell you my story and I get a bunch of people "welcoming me back"
The reason that I am a conservative can be SIMPLY stated as GOVT should NOT be allowed to EXCEED the powers given to it BY THE PEOPLE per the Constitution. How much was your vehicle registration this year??? Just wait until they raise that with the new carbon taxes that are coming.
Nor am I. I would say that would go for ALOT more sectors of daily life also.
I believe that may be the BEST description of the LIMITED Govt principle that I have seen posted here. I would agree that govt should be as TRANSPAERENT as possible. We are not quite to the point where ALL Govt actions are recorded aka Star Trek, Stargate, pick your sci-fi series here but we are getting closer with the coming on the Internet. Im sure that eventually ALL will be known as to what actually happened with regards to detaniee abuse. I would hope that are military would primarIy be home before that happens. I have NO problem personally listening to progressive ideas ie social security reform, health care reform, etc. BUT it would be DIFFICULT to convince me that Govt can do something better than private industry can thus lower taxes the better. When was the LAST time Congress CUT their pay for the good of the country???? IF anyones pay should be limited, its the frakking politicians who are the ones that should get it not private industry professional who spent untold amounts on educations for the most part to get where they are.
You being unaware that progressives being around in the 1740-1800 era doesn't mean that they weren't there. The idea of changing things for the better, going as far as breaking free of Great Britain was a very progressive/liberal idea. Our founding fathers just didn't call themselves progressives. It was the conservatives that wanted to stay with England.
Stating that you are a conservative because you believe GOVT should NOT be allowed to EXCEED the powers given to it BY THE PEOPLE per the Constitution, must mean that you were very upset with Pres. W. Bush because jailing people without a right to question the justification for the jailing is certainly exceeding the powers given to it by the people (due process). Approving that type of action means the government can arrest anyone, even an American, claim they are a terrorist, claim they are not an American, and that person has no recourse. A la the movie with Cheech Marin who loses his wallet and is swept up in an INS sweep, and can't prove that he's an American.
The joke on 'conserv' is that the Republican party was the more progressive party for many years, and what he or she needs to do is to lose PARTY affiliation in discussing progressive ideals.
Solve the economic problems of the day - GREENBACKS !
Debt-free money of government issue.
It worked for the Republican Mr. Lincoln and it will work for the quasi-progressive Mr. Obama, as soon as he gets his financial head out of you know where.
1) society is no different than the jungle, survival of the fittest 2) taxes should not be collected to support those who don't "succeed" in a lightly regulated capitalist economy. 3) if you lose your job or somehow don't have enough money to survive, you deserve to starve and die.
Just be open about it if that's what you really believe, then the nation can fairly judge if that's the kind of country they want.
As to the problem being handled voluntarily by private charities? Woefully inadequate and dependent upon the voluntary generosity of others -- in other words, probably won't happen.
It's interesting how people in some European countries like France practically revolt at the first mention of the word "layoff." We seem to crawl in a hole like it's all our fault.
Hmm, what will the progressives do to fix this I wonder??
Raise taxes??? Ration health care??? Lower the point at which one becomes eligible ??
Reagan may have ben a little smarter than you think. Ohh thats right, he went to PUBLIC university. He can not be THAT intelligent!!!
75% of the American people also think the government should provide a public health care solution, social security, etc. A lot of conservatives really want those things also. I don't know a single one who has turned down unemployment, social security, or medicare. They just don't want to pay for it. They even cheat on their taxes to avoid paying their fair share.
We can bemoan the power of propagandists to taint honorable words. I say we should just use "Progressive" until Reagan's generation passes.
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/05/rip-rubber-stamp-congress.html