What makes me a Progressive and a Liberal?

I support Peace on Earth,
although I realize that my just wanting that is not what will make it happen. But no, I don't support most wars (although WWII was justified IMO). I also believe that we should not be spending the money that we do on defense. I think it is a travesty that we should invest so much in that when we need so many other things to make life for our citizenry better.

I support the established law Roe vs. Wade,
and will consistently support a democratic administration in order to insure that the judges in charge of making any decision in reference to it are pro-choice.

I support single payer health care,
even if I believe that there are too many forces against it that would have allowed it to be done
this time around. I do believe that we can get there though...and I will work towards that end.

I support clean energy and very strong environmental safeguards via governmental oversight,
although I realize that dirty energy forces have been at work infiltrating
and corrupting our government for the last 30 years minimum, and that it will take
this country's united political will, time and patience (and possibly further disasters) to get us at an acceptable level of using as much clean energy as safely as possible.

I support the best free education, primary as well as secondary, for all Americans,
and although I put my kids through private school, I don't ever begrudge paying
taxes going towards public education, and would be willing to pay more taxes if only
it would be used in a way that would benefit the children....because I believe that the more educated our society is, the more we all benefit. I do think that we have to get a handle
on the current education crisis, although I'm not sure I know what the perfect answer is.

I believe in a strong central government,
because giving too much power to the states is a dangerous proposition, and history on this
is my guide.

I believe in marriage equality,
because all consenting adults should have the freedom to pursuit their own happiness,
as stated and guaranteed in the constitution.

I believe that government should reign in corporations, because corporate interest
does not equal an individual's interest, and corporations should not have the same
rights as citizens.

I believe in Net Neutrality,
because where would we be exactly without the Internet? Totally fucked, IMO.

I believe in progressive taxing policies,
because those who experience success in this society,
should support those who are still trying to get there;
that's what living in a shared society should mean.

I believe in a living wage,
because this country is to boundiful for that not to be the case.
I also believe that government jobs are just as good as any other jobs.

I believe in free and open elections,
and I don't care for the voting machines at all,
and believe that something should be done about them;
like they should be banned.

I believe that certain basic needs of people living in this society should be insured,
that includes food, a roof over one's head, health care, education and dignity. That's why
I support Social Security, housing assistance, single payer health care,
and welfare for those who want to help themselves.

I believe that the media should not be ran by a bunch of corporate conglamorates,
and in fact I find it extremely dangerous that they are, and will work actively
to change that.

There are other things that I believe, but this is a good round up.
Yes, I'm a Progressive and a Liberal....although I'm not a cynical Liberal as
I do not doubt most of the moves made by this administration as being nefarious in nature.

I do believe that this administration, based on what it has the power to do,
will try to advance the majority of the goals that I have stated as ones that I want,
and I think that based on the alternative, they will make my reality closer to what I believe.
So no, I don't believe we can achieve exactly what I believe in right away,
because we have been going away from most of what I have listed for so very long.

You see, I also believe that our opposition wants just about the exact opposite of everything I have
listed as my beliefs as a Liberal, and it is because of it that I have chosen to fight the
opposition much harder than to fight those who share some measure of my goals.

Those in direct opposition of what I believe are my opponents, in particular the more on my list that they check off as believing the opposite.

So I value doing what I can in working to get to where I want us to get to,
as much as actually being there....since I know by now that we can't just get there
....just like that, although I often wish we could.

for a great post.

:hug:

I hate to admit it, but I kinda of like myself too! :)

Of course, there are some who don't share our notion on that,
guess they may either be the opponents that I spoke of,
or the cynics who believe that their cynicism is what defines what a Liberal is,
when it actually doesn't.

Oh well!

I don't understand people who don't, in general, support what you say here.
I tend to treat them as if they are kinda crazy.
Of course, they think the same thing about me...

I give up... :rofl:

a HEARTY K&R

There is NOTHING I can disagree with here, Ms. Cat. I love this post and I too am a proud progressive and liberal (and -- a Democrat-- how 'bout them apples ;) )

Why did you send your kids to private school? Just curious.
:hi:



Good post.

So we decided to sacrifice and drive the 30 minutes to Berkeley everyday,
to the bi-lingual private French-American school,
where we felt our kids would not only learn in a better environment,
but they would also learn in both my native language; French...as well as in English.

Both my husband and I come from nothing, and we learned early that education is
what can make the main difference in the future of most who have nothing.

We were used to paying for childcare, so paying wasn't a foreign situation....
just meant I didn't have as many shoes in my closet....or stuff in my house.

My eldest now holds a Harvard degree, has a Harvard educated husband,
and is currently going for a PHD at another top notch university,
and my Youngest is transfering from a Community college to a prominent 4 year university
in September. So I'm thinking it was worth it! But I wish everyone would have the same
opportunity of attending top notch schools starting in kindergarden! I'm thankful we could get
it done, and wished that it wouldn't be such a sacrifice for anyone. It is also why I don't support Vouchers, but do support some charter schools; as I don't see them as the same thing. :)

Seems like it worked out just fine. :hi:
Just curious about these things.

I'm sure Neighbors wondered why our house needed painting for so long before it finally got done! :)

Just look how successful they are!

Of which I totally agree with.

But only see this government working to really, truly, deliver on about 4 of them.

Not good enough. Thanks.

I understand, even if I disagree with the number you cited.

I have a feeling that most of us here at DU believe in basically the exact same things with a few variations. I think most of the controversy here arises around the methodology for achieving those goals, more of a idealism vs pragmatism argument. Both are important, but on any given issue, that dynamic will vary widely.

I haven't posted lately because of being weary of arguments that go nowhere that ultimately result in name-calling. There are many challenges facing us as Americans, and a long as we can agree on the core principles then the details that we don't see eye to eye on won't be so bad in the grand scheme.

But, it was well written and thought out. Bravo!

We are likeminded on ideals and the reality of achieving them. Well said.

for a WIN.;-) Just my opinion. YMMV. And it certainly seems Salazar could move quickly and get us "there" on M+M when he HAD to. So I really can't buy into the old we can't get there just like that. Sometimes it is just in having the will. Political expediency shouldn't trump values. Again, just my opinion.

exist in the real world. It is dealing with the reality of the moment while having an ideal in mind as a goal. Not every ideal can be realized or realized in full. Whatever steps can be taken toward realizing an ideal, given the current state of being, should be taken so that a progression toward the goal can occur. Otherwise nothing happens except a very real chance of regression.

progress in the world takes place by aiming high, as Kennedy did with the Space program. I understand that sometimes one must bargain down but one can never start negotiating from the bottom or with the announced intention of being willing to "settle". And we should NEVER be grateful for crumbs as they often end up being a replacement for the whole meal.

There was a time when standing with organized labor and fighting for the rights of the worker was front and center on the liberal/progressive agenda. Today, it's hardly mentioned. David Sirota, Ed Schultz, Thom Hartmann....they talk about organized labor, but not many do. That alone tells us something about corporatism: They have succeeded in taking labor unions off the radar screens of even those who gave them their support! (I'm not bashing you - it's a great list....just pointing out how not that many years ago there's no way a list could be made by ANY liberal and support for labor not be in the top 5.) Times have changed and we've let them bust unions with so-called Right-To-Work and other anti-labor measures.

Again - really good list.

and yes, I believe in workers organizing in order to insure that they will have decent benefits....which I reckon is the reason that workers' organize, in order to be guaranteed certain things; one being fair pay for a fair day of work.

As an accountant, I've generated certified prevailing wage reporting for multiple union shops in the Bay Area, so I am very aware of the complexity of various level of Unions wage rates for various categories of workers and the various benefits guaranteed to those Union members.

I was just noting that - with all of us - organized labor has become less PERSONAL and therefore less on our broad political agendas, radar screens, etc.