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Progress isn't accidental. An historically crucial factor has been Democratic leadership.

Image of Rob in Vermont, author

by Rob in Vermont

Community

(This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday, Jul. 25, 2021 Sunday, Jul. 25, 2021 at 8:30:08am PDT

'Democrats Fight for Workers' bumper sticker

Illustration of donkey with message: DEMOCRATS INVENTED & PROTECT Social Security - Medicare - Medicaid

Progress isn’t accidental. It never hurts to remind voters (and politicians) of the importance of progressive leadership.

Who invented Social Security? Who started Head Start? Who hired out-of-work Americans to create 711 state parks? Which president and senator helped bring peace to Northern Ireland? (If you have time, each of those links is worth visiting.) Below, I list some of the national and international initiatives which came to fruition because of the passion, inspiration or crucial assistance of Democratic leaders. I invite you to use the comment section to discuss personal, historical, or topical examples of the positive impact of Democratic leadership.

Former Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, left, with Eleanor Roosevelt at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in March, 1961. — Former Labor Secretary Frances Perkins (left), the “mother of Social Security,” with Eleanor Roosevelt, March 1961

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) ▱ The Works Progress Administration (WPA) ▱ The Rural Electrification Act ▱ The Fair Labor Standards Act (Minimum Wage, Overtime Pay, Prohibition of Oppressive Child Labor) ▱ Social Security ▱ The United Nations ▱ Executive Order 9981 (Desegregation of the Armed Forces) ▱ The Marshall Plan ▱

The National Science Foundation ▱ The Peace Corps ▱ The Community Mental Health Act ▱ The Equal Pay Act of 1963 ▱ The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 ▱ The Wilderness Act of 1964 ▱ Job Corps ▱ The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ▱ The Voting Rights Act of 1965 ▱ Upward Bound ▱ Medicare ▱ Medicaid ▱ Head Start ▱ The National Endowment for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Humanities ▱ The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) ▱

381091 40: President John F. Kennedy speaks at a press conference September 13, 1962. (Photo by National Archive/Newsmakers)

The Apollo Moon Missions ▱ The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) ▱ The Camp David Accords (Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty) ▱ The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund) ▱ AmeriCorps ▱ The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ▱ The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ▱ The Good Friday Agreement (Northern Ireland Peace Agreement) ▱

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act ▱ The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) ▱ The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ▱ The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) ▱ The Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act ▱ The Paris Climate Agreement ▱

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) ▱ The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ▱ The Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: U.S. President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress as Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and Speaker of the House U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (R) look on in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol April 28, 2021 in Washington, DC. On the eve of his 100th day in office, Biden spoke about his plan to revive Americaâ€™s economy and health as it continues to recover from a devastating pandemic. He delivered his speech before 200 invited lawmakers and other government officials instead of the normal 1600 guests because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images)

US President Barack Obama (R) hugs US Representative John Lewis, Democrat of Georgia, one of the original marchers at Selma, during an event marking the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, March 7, 2015. The Obamas traveled to Selma to commemorate Bloody Sunday, when civil rights marchers attempting to walk to the Alabama capital of Montgomery to end voting discrimination against African Americans, clashed with police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 11: (AFP OUT) U.S. President-elect Barack Obama (L) and Gulf War veteran Tammy Duckworth both their heads after placing a wreath to honor America's veterans on Veterans Day at the Bronze Soldiers Memorial November 11, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois, The national holiday, held on the anniversary of the end of World War I, honors all those who have served their country in the military. (Photo by Tannen Maury-Pool/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 28: U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal speaks to the press on March 28, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. The congresswoman discussed deployment of a new field hospital at CenturyLink Field Event Center which is expected to create at least 150 hospital beds for non-COVID-19 cases and will include 300 soldiers from the 627th Army Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 27: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks during a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol April 27, 2021 in Washington, DC. Warren held the news conference to discuss the reintroduction of the "Universal Child Care and Early Learning Act." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

President Obama signs the 2014 Sanders-Miller VA Reform Bill.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg meet with a bipartisan group of House members on infrastructure in the Oval Office of the White House March 4, 2021 in Washington, DC. Participants include Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) (left) and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) (center). During his campaign, President Biden proposed spending $2 trillion on infrastructure and clean energy in his first term. (Photo by Oliver Contreras-Pool/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 17: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks during her weekly media availability on Capitol Hill on June 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. Pelosi expressed her support for the Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act and called on Congress to pass H.R. 1, a bill to expand and protect voting rights. (Photo by Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks as Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) listen during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump stepped up his attacks on four progressive Democratic congresswomen, saying if they're not happy in the United States "they can leave." (Photo by Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images)

"Democrats Govern With Care" bumper sticker