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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat It Means To Be A Progressive: A Manifesto
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2013/03/22/1761431/what-it-means-to-be-a-progressive-a-manifesto/What It Means To Be A Progressive: A Manifesto
By John Halpin, Guest Blogger and Ruy Teixeira, Guest Blogger on Mar 22, 2013 at 12:49 pm
snip//
In terms of values, Progressive Thinking breaks down the four pillars of progressive thought as follows:
2. Opportunity. Complementing our commitment to human freedom is our belief in opportunity. Like freedom, the concept of opportunity has two components: one focuses on political equality and the other on economic and social arrangements that enhance our lives. The first component of opportunity prohibits discrimination against anyone based on race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious faith or non-faith, or disability. It also means embracing the diversity of American society by ensuring that all people have the chance to turn their talents and ambitions into a meaningful life, not just the rich and powerful or dominant racial and ethnic groups. The second component of opportunity involves the conditions necessary for people to be secure and to move up in lifehealth care, education, a decent job, labor rights, a secure retirement
3. Responsibility. Along with freedom and opportunity comes responsibility personal responsibility and the responsibility we have to each other and to the common good. Personal responsibility requires each of us to do our part to improve our own lives through hard work, education, and by acting with honesty and integrity. Responsibility to others and to the common good requires a commitment to putting the public interest above the interests of a few and an understanding that strong families and communities are the foundation of a good society. It means working to achieve greater social justice and economic conditions that benefit civil society broadly. It demands an open and honest government and an engaged and participatory citizenry
This requires pubic investments in things like transportation and trade, innovation, a skilled workforce, courts to protect patent rights and contract agreements, public safety and other measures that support the creation of wealth and help to make individual prosperity possible. It also requires progressive taxation, meaning those who have and earn more should pay more to help support the investments in things like schools, transportation, and economic competitiveness necessary to advance the interests of all.
A key component of responsibility involves ecological and social sustainability. This requires on-going stewardship of our land, water, air and natural resources, smart use of energy, and the responsible consumption of goods
4. Cooperation. Rounding out these political values which are primarily directed at the rights, opportunities, and duties of individuals is the basic progressive value of cooperation. Cooperation is the foundation of our most important social institutions including our families, our communities, and our civic and faith groups. Freedom without cooperation leads to a divided society that cannot work together to achieve common goals and improve the lives of all. Cooperation as a value requires that we try to be open-minded and empathetic toward others and that we are accountable for their well-being as they are accountable to us. Progressives believe that if we blindly pursue our own needs and ignore those of others, our society will degenerate.
Successful families and communities cannot exist without cooperation. We also value human interdependence on a larger scale and accept the importance of looking beyond our own needs to help others and find global solutions to global problems.
As progressives gear up for inevitable fights over taxes, budgets, and social policy, we shouldnt forget about the importance of values in explaining who we are and what we want to achieve. We believe in freedom with opportunity for all, responsibility to all, and cooperation among all. We believe that the purpose of government is to advance the common good, to secure and protect our rights, and to help to create a high quality of life and community well-being. We want decent paying jobs and benefits for workers and sustainable economic growth. We want growing businesses producing the worlds best products and services. We want an economy that works for everyone, not just the few. We want all nations to uphold universal human rights and to work together to solve common challenges. This is what a progressive America looks like.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)Conservatives and Libertarians also appeal to freedom (from and to). For example, the freedom to carry a concealed weapon into any public place, or the freedom from government taxation. We've even had freedom of speech redefined as freedom to spend money on political campaigns by individuals and corporations in an entirely unregulated manner.
These are not progressive or liberal positions at all, of course.
You've got to be careful in using "freedom" as a line of defense for progressive ideals.
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)It is a negative document which essentially recognizes freedoms (i.e., pre-existing), and prevents Congress from abridging and infringing those rights. The Fourteenth also forbids states from abridging the privileges & immunities of citizens of the U.S.
The rights recognized are individual as well. Any collective policies and laws to "promote the general welfare" (Preamble) are within the powers of the government, as long as they comport with the individual rights guaranteed within the Bill of Rights.
So, guaranteeing everyone health care, housing, food, a good education, and clean environment are within permissable powers of the government.
Note on guns, since the issue has popped up so very quickly. Essentially, the courts and Congress have left the manner of "bearing" arms to the states: Either open carry, concealed carry, or both, but not a denial of both rights. What remains is where one carries, also a state matter. Of course, the Fourteenth must be adhered to.
Riftaxe
(2,693 posts)*judge people as they are, not as you want to perceive them.
**if you are indecisive as to what is right/wrong, reflect and consider 'til you find a solution; if you come up short, reconsider.
quinnox
(20,600 posts)That is the most important ideal, and I'm glad to see it put first. All the others flow from it. I'm normally very picky about things like this and wording, but I'm impressed by this definition they made.
It reminds me of this, one of the most important statements in human history, in terms of mankind and what governmental principles should be based on as a foundation - We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. It is even kind of spooky or mystical, when you think about it, how they managed to come up with this kind of brilliance, way back then.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)in response to your attempt to claim, absurdly, that Republican obstructionism is the major problem we face:
http://sync.democraticunderground.com/10022520195#post2
Until we are honest that our own party is *also* working against us, we will not be able to fix a damned thing.
The corporate war against us is bipartisan. That is why fierce opposition to it among the people needs to be bipartisan, too. We need *everyone* to scream bloody murder about what both Democrats and Republicans are doing, because they are doing it TOGETHER, and it is predatory.
At a certain point we have to stop the knee-jerk partisan response of attacking only the other team instead of focusing on the oligarchs and their purchased politicians in BOTH parties who are impoverishing ALL of us.
This is how they keep us divided. This is how they keep the agenda going, by making sure we hate each other so much that we cannot conceive of uniting to stop them.
The corporate assaults are deadly serious now, and they are bipartisan. We need to be uniting now across the country, Democrats, Republicans...ALL OF US...to stop what they are doing to ALL of us.Obama backs Trans Pacific Plan that will end almost all American Dreams http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022518705
Obama signals "retreat" on Keystone Pipeline
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022518030
Obama administration to let spy agencies scour Americans' finances
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022504417
Federal Judge Finds Obama Admin's National Security Surveillance Letters Unconstitutional
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022515057
Obama To GOP: Im Serious About Cutting The Social Safety Net
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022507004
Most Democrats not opposing cuts to Social Safety Nets
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022512555
Obama picks serial defender of corrupt banks for SEC
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022275024
Obama picks architect of "Kill Lists," defender of torture, drones, and telecom immunity for CIA
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022153194
Obama picks Monsanto exec. with history of lying about food safety for FDA
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-smith/youre-appointing-who-plea_b_243810.html
Obama retains Eric Holder, marijuana warrior but friend of corrupt banks
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251251944
THIS is the economy in which Obama is doing these things:
It's time to stop denying reality. We are LOSING OUR COUNTRY, and the WAR AGAINST US is BIPARTISAN. We cannot afford to pretend otherwise anymore.
Being a real progressive means fighting for progressive PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES first and foremost, and refusing to shut your eyes and circle the wagons when Democrats are the ones aggressively working against those policies and principles. If we are going to talk about "freedom," we had better damned well admit that our current Democratic administration is leading the charge to strip civil liberties from Americans:
Chilling Legal Memo From Obama DOJ Justifies Assassination of US Citizens
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101654954
Obama seeks longer PATRIOT Act extension than Republicans (December 2013)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x380450
When it comes to civil liberties, apparently Democrats are just as bad as Republicans.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022101960
NSA's Massive New Spy Center to Track Your Emails, Internet Activity, and Phone Calls
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101620852
Obama Quietly Signs Abusive Spy Bill He Once Vowed to Eliminate
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022104861
Obama repeals Magna Carta, asserting powers our forefathers denied to Kings
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101655620
Obama's Memo on Killing Americans Twists 'Imminent Threat' Like Bush
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101654919
Obama no better than Bush when it comes to security vs. civil liberties.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022355307
Obama Admin Seeks Permission TO LIE In Response To FOI Requests - Even To The COURTS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2185303
NDAA on trial: Obama Administration fights ban on indefinite detention of Americans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101748688
Obama administration complicit with private prison industry: President Obama's IncarcerNation
http://www.nationofchange.org/president-obama-s-incarcernation-1335274655
Obama, Democrats Push to Make Bush Spying Laws Permanent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022084702
NDAA, signed by Obama, is a direct attack against legitimate protest and dissent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022064803
NSA Whistleblower: All Americans under constant surveillance, all info. stored, no matter the post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002193487; http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021935289
Bipartisan Congress Disgracefully Approves the FISA Warrantless Spying Bill for Five More Years
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022087323
While Public & Media Focused on 2nd Amendment, 5th Amendment Quietly Dismantled
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022390581
How the Obama administration justifies extrajudicial killing of Americans,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022318187
Judge Says Under Law Executive Branch Can Commit Acts That Sure Do Seem Unconstitutional
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022122464
Obama Justice Dept. says wiretap lawsuit should not proceed
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014337039
NDAA Lawsuit- Hedges v. Obama, The Last Thin Line of Defense
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022357078
Federal authorities step up efforts to license surveillance drones for law enforcement
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022383596
Big Banks and FBI worked together vs Occupy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022095056]
FBI Investigated 'Occupy' As Possible 'Domestic Terrorism' Threat, Internal Documents Show
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022061578
FBI Documents Reveal Secret Nationwide Occupy Monitoring (Updated the OP)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022057064
Public Buses Across Country Quietly Adding Microphones to Record Passenger Conversations
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021965291
Street artist behind satirical NYPD 'Drone' posters arrested
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021920967
The Obama DOJ urged the Supreme Court's endorsement of strip searches.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002521527
Obama Administration Fights to Allow Warrantless GPS Tracking
http://sync.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1074474
Anonymous to FBI: hey, dudes, maybe you could take a break from...investigating activists....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022145621
Half a billion dollars for drones to spy on Americans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021876414
From Bradley Manning to Aaron Swartz -- The Government's Inhumane Persecution of Brave Truth Tellers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022276941
The sight of Army helicopters and the sound of gunfire...on Houston's south side
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022276742
Kiriakou and Stuxnet: the danger of the still-escalating Obama whistleblower war
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022275570
Can the DEA Hide a Surveillance Camera on Your Property?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022237059
Social Media and the Stasi
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021888029
Homeland Security Wants to More Than Double Its Predator Drone Fleet Inside the US, Despite Safety/Privacy Invasions
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014312823
CIA Behind Bizarre Censorship Incident At Alleged 9/11 Plotters Gitmo Trial
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022280285
I Am Wearing My Conviction As A Badge Of Honor.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022275128
Meet the Contractors Turning America's Police Into a Paramilitary Force
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12525281
How Secrecy Corrodes Democracy
http://election.democraticunderground.com/101655009
Obama Quietly Issues Ruling Saying It's Legal For The FBI To Break The Law
http://election.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7545687
US Pulls Plug on Iran Cable News (Press TV)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014394770
DHS Watchdog OKs 'Suspicionless' Seizure of Electronic Devices Along Border
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022339091
Do we have a problem with these things? Are we "real" progressives, or not?
.
Generation_Why
(97 posts)If you place restrictions on that due to some ideology, you run into issues getting things done.