I keep seeing people say, "I am not a progressive," and "Those far left Progressives," so I wanted to put out there what I think Progressive Democrats stand for and see if anyone disagrees.
1. Civil Rights - Civil Rights are not just abstract principles. They represent nothing less than our ability to provide for ourselves and our families and to live free from discrimination or persecution. For decades, Democrats have fought for these values, working to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to fully participate in our society—to live in a place where there are no second-class citizens, where each of us can go about our lives without fear of discrimination.
More over the jump
2. Energy Independence - Passing comprehensive energy and climate legislation to protect our nation from the serious economic, environmental, and strategic risks that result from our reliance on foreign oil. The BP oil spill is the latest reminder that our current energy policy is simply unsustainable. We can’t afford to stand by as our dependence on foreign oil deepens, and deadly pollutants threaten our air and our water and the lives and livelihoods of our people. And we can’t fall behind as other countries take the lead in creating clean-energy jobs and industries of the future.
The transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of new jobs here in America.
3. Job Creation and the Economy - We stand for the values of hard work and responsibility, and we know that as a country we are most successful when we invest in our people—middle-class families and small business owners—who can grow our economy from the bottom up. Together, we must begin to lay a new foundation for growth, building an economy that works for all Americans.
4. Education - As the global marketplace grows more competitive, we need to expand opportunities for higher education and job training. We are committed to increasing the college-completion rate as well as the share of students who are prepared for budding industries with specific job-related skills.
We recognize education as the most pressing economic issue in America’s future, and we cannot allow our country to fall behind in a global economy. We must prepare the next generation for success in college and the workforce, ensuring that American children once again become global leaders in creativity and achievement.
5. Retirement Security - We believe that all Americans have the right to a secure and healthy retirement, and we will continue fighting to preserve both Medicare and Social Security for future generations.