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What does "progressive" mean to you?

posted by Lanya Shapiro
January 15, 2005 - 11:03pm

Reporting again from the Emerging Progressives forum...

I've had some intriguing conversations here about the term "progressive" and its appropriateness to define this meeting. While everyone here is being described as progressive, it doesn't feel quite right to me. One person said, "They should have called it 'Emerging Democrats.'" (I had wondered the same thing earlier.)

A couple times, when I've mentioned being unhappy with the direction of the party, people responded by saying how third parties aren't practical, will only hurt the Dems, etc. -- as if I were about to abandon the party. For the record, I'm not. (Sheesh, I'm a precinct chair and am being recruited to run for county chair!) But if Roemer gets picked for DNC Chair, all bets are off...

And when I described what I think progressive candidates would fight for, someone responded, "Those are mainstream Democratic values -- they're within the party!" Which I guess is precisely my point. They ARE core Democratic values. Progressives are not looney radicals. The problem, as I see it, is the recent trend among candidates to shy away from those principles, thinking that the only way to win is to move to the right, which disappoints me tremendously.

I guess I thought we'd ALL be strategizing about building a stronger progressive voice within the party, ensuring that our candidates will have some backbone, and finding the best ways to frame progressive issues so that they will win.

Instead, there's a lot of emphasis on winning period, and very little talk of ideology or policy -- with some notable exceptions, particularly the fabulous William McNary of US Action. I don't think the race for DNC Chair has come up at all.

Don't get me wrong -- we need to talk about helping Democrats win. It's just not what I was expecting out of this weekend.

Which brings me to a question:
What does progressive mean to you?
Is it synonymous with Democrat? Does it describe an ideological orientation, regardless of party? Is it about change (reform, progress) vs. the status quo?

I'll admit that I haven't ever crystallized my own definition of progressive, but to quote my infamous former Senator, Jesse Helms: I know it when I see it.

Until I come up with mine, take a few minutes to read this phenomenal article by Anna Quindlen, then read some other folks' definitions here, and then post your thoughts in the comments.

I look forward to reading them!

Lanya Shapiro's blog
( categories: Organizing | Politics | What I'm Working On )

Progressive isn't the same as Democrat, although some people are both.

Here's something on Progressive Democrats, by Robert Borosage, one of the leaders of the movement: http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/011605V.shtml

Excerpts:
"After a year in which progressives drove the debate, roused and registered the voters, raised the dough and knocked on the doors, the corporate wing of the Democratic Party is trying to reassert control. Its assault on MoveOn.org and the Dean campaign - the center of new energy in the party - is reminiscent of 1973, when corporate lobbyist Bob Strauss became head of the party and tossed out the McGovern mailing list, insuring that the party would remain dependent on big-donor funding."

"Normally staunch Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi floated for chair of the party former Congressman Tim Roemer, a New Democrat distinguished mostly for his opposition to women's right to choose, his vote to repeal the estate tax and his ignorance of grassroots politics. Consolidating its corporate backing, the DLC solemnly warned against "economic populism" ..."

Submitted by Anonymous on January 16, 2005 - 11:06am.

Lanya just launched a discussion about the title of this forum and the meaning of "progressive". What does progressive mean to you? Add your thoughts here. Right now, we're wrapping up our morning of trainings. More on that later......

Submitted by Emerging Progressives (trackback) on January 16, 2005 - 3:00pm.