By Ron McBride
If we have learned anything from the election of Barack Obama as President it is that there are a lot of Progressives out in voter land.
Regardless of whether we call ourselves liberal, or conservative, Democrat or Republican, we have shown with this vote that the Progressive Movement in America is large and well.
Some claim this was more a rejection of Bush than a mandate for Obama. I don’t think so. It was more of a rejection of the referendum on Republicanism and their ideologies.
I for one have some concerns with Obama’s positions on various issues such as the bailout of Wall Street Financials and on NAFTA to name two. And am quite sure that a lot of Progressives feel the same way.
The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder wrote:
"It might be dangerous for the Republican Party to elevate the stakes for this election to a death match between competing ideologies. If Barack Obama's victory is as decisive as it is shaping up to be, the Democrats can justifiably claim that conservatism itself has been rejected as a political and governing philosophy. In the closing weeks of the campaign, as the Republican ticket continues to run against the very idea of progressive politics, they are sowing the seeds of the post-election realignment narrative...Obama has been talking about the larger GOP governing philosophy for a while now, but until recently, the race hasn't seemed like as much of a referendum on Republicanism; it's been more of a referendum on the Bush years. What changed? The GOP went all in on an ideological war."
What we got with the Obama win is proof positive that the American people are far more Progressive than Obama’s own policy platform. We want politicians who recognize that we are all in this together. Regardless of whether you call yourself liberal or conservative at heart the majority of you are Progressives.
When three-fourths of Americans support a higher minimum wage, when twice as many think that we are hurt more than helped by a global economy, when two-thirds of Americans believe that the government should help those who can’t help themselves, then my friends we are Progressives. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the economy or social issues, trade or terrorism we stand together on a Progressive platform.
Americans don’t want a Republican slant that tells government to leave us alone, they want a Progressive slant that says the government should be the glue that holds us together.
On energy we Progressives desire more conservation than more production. Only oil companies, conservative politicians and a minority of Americans (41 percent) want to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to drilling.
A Gallup poll reveals that 69 percent of Americans think it’s the government responsibility to make sure all Americans have health coverage.
The rise of the blogosphere has overshadowed the mainstream media, and blogging is a Progressive playground. Combine this with netroots groups such as WeDemocrats, MoveOn and others who have empowered the people (who used to set on the sidelines and when elections came around voted the straight party line) to step up and step out into the political arena and make their voices heard.
The loss of 3,000,000 manufacturing jobs, that have been farmed out overseas since 2000, just months before the election we saw gasoline prices double from the year 2000, Health Care is up a whopping 87% over this last eight years. These are what concern Americans about the Conservatives Line of governance. Top that with huge tax breaks and government giveaways to the Big Banks and Big Oil, who are not only breaking profit records each and every quarter, but using our money to have elaborate retreats and fantastic vacations that the average American can only wish for.
I believe its time that the Progressives in America stood up and took their rightful place amongst the political parties who are considered each election whether it is local, state or national. But the question remains are we ready for a viable third party?
WeDemocrats.org has produced a survey asking those questions. You can take the survey HERE and help shape America’s future.
Ron is Chairman of WeDemocrats.org and Editor of WE! Magazine Online