I recently read through some of the Federalist Papers, mainly because I was researching a diary about the history of the Senate. These papers served as an advocacy for a new form of government. Political parties and ideologies have used such arguements for centuries. I believe it is time we had our own documents to explain what we would do, the path down which we would take this nation. I am going to call this project "The Progressive Papers".
It is important to first consider the nature of a government. What is the proper role fo government? This is an age old question, one that people throughout history have wrestled with. Conservatives feel government's only role is to defend the homeland, be it from foreign or domestic threats. The lionshare of the federal budget must be spent on defense and little else. Social programs are slashed, taxes are kept low, and regulations on private enterprise are weak, maybe even non-existant. We have seen the destructive effects of such policies multiple times in our history. After these policies have taken society to the brink of disaster, which they always do, it is left to the liberals to rebuild society.
Liberals generally believe in an expanded role for government. More accurately, we believe that people should not always be left on their own. There is a role for government in social policy, there is a time when people fall down, and they need a helping hand to get back up. The poor and infirmed of our society should not be left on their own, sacrificed so the bank accounts and influence of big business can swell. Government must work if society is to work. Our policies have been proven time and again to work, to dig our nation out of the massive ditches conservatives continually drive us in to.
So why are we constantly required to defend our policies? Why are we constantly required to defend ourselves from vitriol no conservative is ever subjected to? We're socialists! We're communists! We're fascists! We built this country. It was the progressive movement that created this country in the first place, that spurred our people to revolt against the tyranny of the British crown. Progressives freed the slaves-sure, Lincoln may have been a Republican, but he was truly the first RINO. Labor laws, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Civil Rights for minorities, all of these steps forward were taken by Progressives. Even the things we take for granted-school lunches, food safety regulations, public broadcasting-these too were provided by the Progressive movement? So why are we on the defensive on every arguement?
I wish I had a simple answer, but maybe that's the problem. We have no simple answers. It is easy to say no. It can take thousands of pages to explain a piece of legislation, to explain a proposed solution to a problem. It takes two letters to say no. Maybe this is the price we pay for actually caring about governing, for actually aspiring to solve the enormous problems that face us. But I believe we inflict some of the damage on ourselves. We take thousands of words to say things that could and should be said in short, concise sentences. Why can't everyone see a doctor? Why do we need to pay for services necessary for survival? Why should you have to be a millionaire to run for political office? Why should you go bankrupt paying for an education? These are simple questions that can require complex answers. But isn't part of the debate asking the questions in the first place? Once you ask the question, you get people thinking. Yes, why can't I see a doctor? Why should I go bankrupt so that my son can get a college education? Once the people start to question, they become open to solutions. And solutions are where we win the debate. Our solutions are better than the right's, mainly because we offer solutions and they do not.
In the coming weeks, I hope to offer my own solutions to these issues. You may not agree with them, but that is fine. I welcome your constructive criticism. And I am under no illusions that the solutions I propose will actually be enacted. I suppose miracles could happen. But my larger motivation is simply to offer solutions, to offer a way forward. The right is powered by anger. Anger about the man who occupies the White House, anger about the perceived march to socialism or communism or any other ism our nation is currently undertaking. The GOP will co-opt this anger. They will use it to win elections and return to power. But what happens when the anger is gone? What happens when solutions are required? The GOP will not be prepared for this day. They will offer the same tired idead they have peddled for the last three decades-tax cuts, no regulations, strong national defense. We can do better. We must do better.