Why Progressives Keep On Losing and the Right Keeps On Winning

[KoKo]

Why Progressives Keep On Losing and the Right Keeps On Winning

Richard (RJ) Eskow
Consultant, Writer, Senior Fellow with The Campaign for America's Future


Congratulations! The "grand compromise" will cut nearly thirty nine billion dollars in needed government spending, which proves how "serious" everyone is about reducing the deficit. The grand compromisers could have cancelled the next ten years of tax subsidies for oil companies and cut the deficit by forty billion, but apparently that's not how serious people do things.

If the Republican Party were singing to its base today, the song would be the theme from Friends, "I'll Be There For You." And the Democrats would be singing "You Always Hurt the One You Love." We're being told we should celebrate a "compromise" in which Democrats gave up $38.5 billion in spending cuts, when the original Republican demand was for $32 billion. That means the Democrats only gave the Republicans 20% more (20.2135%, to be precise) than they originally demanded.

Okay, guys. You get an extra 20% -- and not a penny more!

Once again the unpopular views of a minority have been imposed on the majority. Others will rant and rave about the Democratic leadership, and in fact that process has already begun. But progressives in this country should be asking themselves a serious question: Why does the Tea Party seem to be so much more effective than the left as a movement?

More...This article is a good read about how Dems can move forward...finding and selling a vision:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/why-progressives-keep-on_b_847054.html

[theaocp]

1. Gotta love RJ!

A couple'a noted parts:

And there's a world of difference between supporting the Democratic Party and supporting incumbents in the Democratic Party.

Where's the progressive vision for 2021? Where's the dream people can seize upon and make their own? Where's the ideal that can energize activists? Where's the extreme position from which the Democrats can be "bargained down" so that they, too, can only get 20% more than they asked for when the negotiations began? If they're not going to do it, we have to do it for them.

Here's a start: First increase Social Security retirement benefits by 15%, across the board, by lifting the payroll tax cap and imposing a financial transactions tax. Second, increase income taxes on a sliding scale that goes up to 60% for the highest earners in the country. (It's been as high as 90% during periods of our greatest prosperity.) Third, add $500 billion to our stimulus spending over the next two years, and keep adding it until unemployment is down to 4%. Fourth, immediately add a public option, "Medicare For All" plan that's voluntarily available to Americans of all age brackets.

Have fun. Add your own visions. Dream. Then demand your dream. It's working for the Tea Party, and it can work for you.

:think:

[KoKo]

5. Yep...that was a "lightbulb" moment...for sure..

What are we (Obama) going to run on in 2012 that people will believe enough to vote for. :think:

:think:

[nashville_brook]

2. love what he says about vision -->

Say what you will about Rep. Ryan's budget proposal, it's a vision. By proposing to dismantle Medicare for people retiring in 2021 and afterwards, he's laid out a radical alternative to today's policies. By slashing taxes for the wealthy and proposing deregulation for all industries, the Ryan plan envisions a future America: one where the environment is despoiled, the poor go unfed, and the middle class faces a lifetime of financial insecurity following by an old age of sickness and penury.

It may not be a good vision, but it's a vision.

Where's the progressive vision for 2021? Where's the dream people can seize upon and make their own? Where's the ideal that can energize activists? Where's the extreme position from which the Democrats can be "bargained down" so that they, too, can only get 20% more than they asked for when the negotiations began? If they're not going to do it, we have to do it for them.

[zbdent]

3. isn't it amazing, the cognitive disconnect, the fact that RWers can claim

(in the "liberally-biased media", and almost in the same breath)

that Obama has kowtowed to his far left "base" at almost the exact same time that they claim he is alienating it?

[felix_numinous]

4. Progressives have been playing nice, and avoiding confrontation

while the RW is NOT PLAYING around. They want to change our government and we have the right to fully express our anger and draw the line where it belongs.

THE CONSTITUTION IS NOT MEANT TO BE NEGOTIABLE. It is US who need to stand our ground and not compromise on these points. Human Rights, our Health Education and Welfare are not negotiable.

Anyone who wishes to change the Constitution is a domestic threat--THIS is our ace in the hole and we need to use it!!

I think we have to kick some butt this summer, and prepare for demanding representation in 2012.

[MacNfries]

6. How do the unpopular views of a minority get imposed on a majority?

M-O-N-E-Y ... and lots and lots of it from corporations. They are already taking mainstream Republicans hostage, that's why "Boner" kept coming back to the media time after time, with his sourpuss face, with new requests ... then say "there is no ceiling of cutting spending" ... hahaha ... "Liar, liar, pants on fire". Boehner knows he's now become the designated bitch for the Tea Party.
Unless the Democrats grow some huge balls in the next year, the party is going to find itself close to extinction. Nancy Pelosi was not good for the Democrats when Democrats controlled congress; pissed off too many people with her arrogance.