Slow progress is happening. The slide towards fascism has at least slowed down if not stopped. "Real 'Mericans" now admit that health insurance reform is needed.
Recently, I've noticed that my conservative friends and customers statements, regarding two progressive issues, have shifted substantially. Introducing, Buck, a compilation of various people I interact with on a regular basis. Buck self identifies as a conservative and always votes Republican, believes he is self made, and is blind to the advantages he enjoys from his white, middle to upper middle class upbringing. Buck is a product of public schools that had well funded extra curricular activities, small class room size and experienced long term staff.
Until recently all I heard was, "why do they want to destroy our health care system, which is the best in the world?".
I'm happy to report that Buck now believes that reform is necessary. Still opposed to anything that has the tiniest hint of socialism, because socialism is, well it is just bad, everyone knows that! But he now will support tort reform, allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines and supports banning denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions rule changes. He also agrees that insurance companies should not be allowed to drop customers for getting sick or injured.
This shift in attitudes is huge and gives me hope. Now that reform legislation has passed, he is upset, and donated to SarahPAC, but he will come to see the benefits eventually.
The thing that moves Buck is the cost to outcome ratio. As a result of the healthcare insurance reform debate, he now knows that the US spends twice as much as any other country and only gets mediocre results. Buck totally gets that. He does the same sort of analysis when he makes other large item purchases. Whether a new million dollar piece of farm equipment or a new reach in refrigerator for his liquor store. He knows how to compute the cost of ownership and the return on investment. He won't quite admit it, but Buck is not really swayed by any moral or social values, the bottom line is what gets his attention.
Same sort of shift regarding climate warming, Buck will now say that we should start the shift away from fossil fuels, because of the long term economic and national defense benefits. Maybe some improvement to the environment as a bonus. Again, he is not swayed by a belief that production of greenhouse gases is causing the climate to trend warmer, but the belief that our dependence on foreign sources of energy is bad in the long run. He has not peeled off his drill, baby drill bumper sticker though. Buck could care less about the polar bears and caribou in Alaska, just get the oil out as soon as possible.
So, from my perspective, there is progress with progressive issues.
Just do me a favor and don't tell Buck, he needs to get his corn planted and if his head explodes that will be tough to do.