One being progressive but not leftist
I’ve been reading and following Medium writers who seem to me to be far to the left of my own progressive positions. I’ve commented on a few other columns and a few other writers, and the responses disagreeing with me have prompted this first post of my own. I offer some thoughts on the recent elections across the nation and the left/progressive/moderate/center Democratic parties.
First, the complaints by writers on the left side of the Dems are, as I’ve said in comments, petulant. My critics say the Dems will never win unless they embrace the far Left, the AOCs of the party. I try hard to understand their arguments, but I cannot. I offer several thoughts here.
America has never jumped on radical change, with the exception of 1776. We have moved at a relatively slow pace in every progressive movement in our history. I matured in the 60’s and early 70’s with the anti-war fervor of my generation and the social unrest of the civil rights movement, though as a white male I didn’t have too much to win or lose in those races. But my progressive ideals grew stronger as I watched Richard Nixon send my high school and college classmates to fight in an unwinnable conflict. I voted for Nixon in my first presidential election because he promised to end the war, and the Dems did not until about 6 weeks before the election. I’ve been sorry for that error ever since. Tricky Dick lived up to his name, and his hollow promise to end the war proved the evil he held within. Yet, even he moved to open relations with China, an amazing feat at the time. He, however, would be too moderate for today’s GOP.
I’ve supported progressive movements since. I look favorably on AOC, but she’s just not ready for prime time with the American public. Her district, just a few miles from my home, chose her over a less liberal candidate, which surprised everyone, and she does well on social media in responding to the name-calling coming from the President and the GOP. She’s an articulate spokesperson for progressive values and often presents them well, but beyond her NYC supporters, she needs more polish and real-world pizazz to play well in the suburbs. And when she moves farther left, she scares the hell out of half the country.
Why do I say that when my critics tell me that only with a clear move to the Left can Democrats survive is clear from the election results. Democrats lost seats in the House this time around, when we expected to enlarge a majority. It’s certainly not because there were not enough left-leaning candidates running. My critics who suggest that are living in their left bubble. We lost those seats because across most of America Democratic candidates have been labeled communists, socialists, anti-business tax and spend politicians. I know that’s nuts, but the President and conservative media (which has more than half the listening and print audience) play that tune successfully. To hear that AOC and her newly elected associates are the face of Democrats gives voters pause before voting for our party. They can’t separate campaign attacks from policy and programs.
That Biden won suggests Americans grew tired of the trash dispensed over the last 4 years by Trump and his enablers. That the GOP has not stood up to him about challenging the election, and citizens are not calling their GOP representatives to follow democratic norms is evidence of the influence of Trumpism and, more importantly, the place where middle America has been trending for some time — to the right. A quick move left is just not going to happen. The majority of voters don’t trust a one-party government. Though I would love to see two more Democrat senators in Georgia, I can only pray that might happen — it’s a long shot at best. And the candidates on my side in Georgia are certainly not left.
What my party needs is solid, progressive talk and movement on issues that the majority of Americans can support. Improved health care but not a forced move to Medicare for All. That’s too much too soon. A national infrastructure program that will begin to upgrade our transportation system and electrical grid that will create millions of jobs. An alternate energy program that can begin to cut emissions. Sensible restoration of clean air and clean water programs that the GOP has gutted. The restoration of science to guide decision makers across government. Tax reform that protects everyone, not simply enriching the already rich and giving big business lower taxes when so many already pay no tax at all.
And Democrats need to hammer the public with the economics of government spending in these new areas. A government dollar spent produces a net gain in dollars returned because of M, the flow of money. Every government dollar going out goes to purchase something or to pay someone. That money flows into the system again and again and is taxed at the state, local and federal lever several times over. It’s a net stimulus to the economy. Google the flow of money for several explanations. Cutting taxes for business did not stimulate the economy, just the personal wealth of business leaders and shareholders. I have to admit I’ve done well as a shareholder, but I need everyone in this economy to benefit so they can spend and keep the flow going. Until Democrats can get this kind of message into the public consciousness, we will continue to suffer under the false premise that we are socialist enemies of the working man.
