Why are you a progressive?

[MJongo]

I'm new here, and I am curious to see others' reasons and stories about how they became/why they are progressive and share my own.

For me, I got into politics when I was a senior in high school. I do not like to admit it, but I had strict libertarian views, believing in an absolute right to private ownership, almost bordering on anarcho-capitalism. Those views quickly faded, however, when I entered a political philosophy class in college and read John Rawls. Everything he said in his book "A Theory of Justice" made sense.

(The following is a tangent on Rawls' philosophy. I highly suggest reading him or about him if you have never heard of it.)

The idea is that in order to make a society truly fair, laws must be imagined as being written under a "veil of ignorance": the legislators have no idea what the genders, races, handicaps, ages, incomes, or social statuses are of the people they are representing. Therefore, laws that discriminate against one group of people would not be seriously discussed, as there is a possibility that that group of people are the ones they are representing. Therefore, everyone will be granted equal rights/liberties. The other thing that comes up is rectifying disadvantages (either by physical handicaps, income, or discrimination). You want your client to be as best off as they can be no matter what their situation is, so you would raise the minimum bar as high as the laws of economics allow (called the "maximin"), and provide fair opportunities for holding political office.
Rawls himself states that two rules as follows:

First Principle: Each person has the same indefeasible claim to a fully adequate scheme of equal basic liberties, which scheme is compatible with the same scheme of liberties for all;

Second Principle: Social and economic inequalities are to satisfy two conditions:
They are to be attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity;
They are to be to the greatest benefit of the least-advantaged members of society (the difference principle). (JF, 42-43)

(End tangent)

Anyways, I began reading as much as I could about progressivism and became active in various campus organizations promoting "justice as fairness", which I continue today. What is your story?

[FLyellowdog]

1. Being anything else is just wrong. nt

[jgraz]

2. Liberal women are waaay hotter.

:hide:

[Deep13]

27. Oh for sure! RWers are all about "me me me." nt

[Oregone]

3. Im not. Im whatever my leader tells me to be

If he tells me to read your post, then Ill even do so. :)

[derby378]

4. The key is in the first two syllables of "progressive"

It's all about moving our society towards "a more perfect Union." There is still a world of work to be done in order to help America progress towards becoming a better society for everyone instead of the privileged few.

[FarLeftFist]

5. Equality, Liberty, and Justice for all.

[Sheepshank]

6. I've never thought of the label

but in some ways I think it means I'm not afraid of change and I don't necessarily think everything done the old way is the right way...moving forward=progressing, progressive? maybe I suppose.

I've been been unfortunate enough to be in the presence of a total right winger who spits out the word like it's a nasty corn kernel, and I've always wondered why he does that?

[BlooInBloo]

7. Because Jessica Alba is.

[FarLeftFist]

11. Olivia Wilde too.

Well I guess most of Hollywood is, which is why the RW hates them so much.

[BlooInBloo]

14. OMG! She's teh awesomez!

[obxhead]

8. I answer this the same way I answer

why are you an atheist.


Because I have hit the age of reason. I look out for my better interests, not the interests of the corporations.

[Brickbat]

9. I'm not.

I'm a liberal. More specifically, a Farmer-Laborite. So, you know.

[marmar]

10. I'm reclaiming the word Liberal.....

What does Progressive really mean?

[FarLeftFist]

13. Every Progressive is also a Liberal but not every Liberal is a also Progressive.

[marmar]

15. But in Canada, the full name of the Conservative Party is.....

..... the Progressive Conservative Party.

It just seems to me that liberals adopted the term "progressive" while the term "liberal" was being demonized in the 80s and 90s.

[Oregone]

19. And the Liberal party isn't incredibly liberal too

:)

[FarLeftFist]

22. ? Progressive party dates back to 1912

[ChicagoSuz219]

12. I was a hippie...

...it was a logical progression... ;-)

I never thought about it... it just was in keeping with who I was/am.

[Barrymores Ghost]

16. I think, therefore, I am.

It's that simple.

[Deep13]

28. bingo. nt

[jotsy]

17. I'm not a big fan of labels,

I like to think all I really want is what is fair, and subsequently find fair is the most expedient route to forward. I try to be vigilant in seeing that applies as well to all I encounter. I haven't read any well known philosophers, Richard Bach's Illusions is for me where the seeds of such notions were planted, in the mid 80's.

I'm not sure what that makes me politically.

Welcome to DU.

[Faygo Kid]

18. Yep, and I'm a damned liberal, too.

Proud of it.

[BlooInBloo]

20. Oh - and for a quick microcosmic gist of justice-as-fairness, just go see....

The cake-cutting problem!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_division

No need to torture yourself with the 700 or whatever pages of ToJ. I really wouldn't wish that on anyone. Except maybe as an interrogation tool.

[Warpy]

21. I realized a long time ago that conservatives never did a damned thing

for anyone but the wealthiest in a slavish, follow the leader sort of way and that progress for the human race came from elevating the bottom, not making the top completely unreachable by people elsewhere along the continuum.

Progressives are the only ones making sense about how to achieve a social order in which everyone is free to flourish and reach his or her potential.

[SargeUNN]

23. for me, being a Liberal/Progressive is

due to the fact that I believe we should respect the rights of others, but these rights don't mean you aren't responsible for your use of your rights. Because I believe everyone has a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That you can better your status without having to sell out your basic beliefs. That a rising tide lifts all boats not that draining the water will reduce everyone to the same.

[Atticus]

24. Rawls opens the mind. Michael J. Sandel's "JUSTICE" will polish the edges.

I recommend it if you enjoyed Rawls. Professor Sandel discusses his philosophy at length.

[MineralMan]

25. Because I can do no other.

Sorry, Martin.

[Deep13]

26. Sorry to be picky, but I'm not "a" progressive...

...I'm a free thinking individual who agrees with liberal and progressive public policy.

And the reason is because I'm paying attention.

[proud patriot]

29. To Defend The Powerless from the Powerful

[FarLeftFist]

30. Because:

The Constitution is one of the most Liberal documents ever written for that time period. A period where everyone had to obey the king, our founding fathers wanted their citizens to have things like freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, to move freely ,to assemble peaceably, to communicate with the world, to express or publish one's opinions or those of others, to practice one's religion, to be secure in one's person, house, papers, vehicle and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, to enjoy privacy in all matters in which the rights of others are not violated. It was formed on the principles of the Enlightenment. I think the only other document more Liberal than the Constitution is the Christian Bible, ironic isn't it.

[IndianaJoe]

31. My Grandpa Warned Me about Republicans at an Early Age.

I'm 60 now. When I was 4 years old, my Croatian-born grandpa took me on his knee and told me, in broken English: "Joe, never vote for the Republicans. They won't do a damn thing for you."

He was right.

[Liberal In Texas]

34. Welcome to DU! n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

32. I was a "Red Diaper Baby". Socialist at birth, moved left from there.

I grew up listening to stories about the Brit landlords from my Irish granny and how FDR had stolen, and watered down, the Socialist agenda to stop the revolution.

[DonCoquixote]

46. So you hate FDR?

Well, somehow, I do not think you would done well under Stalin. I am a progressive, but I also think folks like Mao and Stalin used the cover of leftists ideas to enact fascists regimes, and that both of those had to fall/die before you could remove their taint. In the modern era, you have countries like Sweden that can do "social democracy" without even getting near Mao and Stalin, but that would not have been possible during the FDR era. No, I did not want to see how Stalin would co-opt an American Socialist revolution.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

47. I don't hate anybody. I'm an Anarchist.

My father was a Socialist who, during the '30s, believed that there was a revolution coming that was prevented by FDR's watered down socialism. He was, however, an admirer of Eleanor who he thought was more leftist.

As an Anarchist, I'm certainly no fan of Stalin or Mao or any kind of "strong leadership" in government.

[Beako]

33. I haven't become a sexist racist homophobe yet

But mostly, what will keep me a progressive / liberal is that I grew up with great admiration for the scientists, the environmentalists, and the people in academics. They are smart and caring, qualities which I fundamentally find to be virtuous.

I find religious and conservative ideologies to be relics. If you cannot adapt to the changing world around you, you will be out-competed, and you will not survive. It is for this reason that I also find these static ideologies to be unsustainable and destructive. To remain attached to these ideologies is to remain in fantasyland. Just my opinion :)

[Liberal In Texas]

35. It's the only logical way to be. And welcome to DU. n/t

[rucky]

36. A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. n/t

[Odin2005]

37. Because I have a heart and care about people.

I'm not a big believer in ideological doctrines, I follow my heart.

[guitar man]

38. Because I'm too damn smart

To be one of them. If that smacks of being an "intellectual snob" so be it. I just can't be part of the anti-knowledge crowd no matter how much of an Oklahoma country boy I may be. Progressive, liberal , left wing pinko, use whatever label fits , just don't call me a right winger or republican and I'm fine with it. ;)

[Ozymanithrax]

39. Simple...

I was in the Navy feeding a family of 5 on $18,000.00 dolars a year when Jimmy Carter gave the military the largest pay raise in history. One of President Reagan's first acts was to try and take the entire raise away, because the U.S. could not afford the raise and build his beautiful 600 ship Navy. All the time he was in office Military pay rasises were held to less than inflation, and inflation in his first few years was very high. I learned that Republican/Conservatives don't give a fuck about the poor or the military. It was a lie, a scam.

I began to reading and moving left then and havn't stopped.

[no_hypocrisy]

40. I'm sure I was born that way.

From the time I could understand concepts, my focus has been on what's fair and what isn't. I've never been satisfied with the status quo and certainly never trusted authority figures from parents to teachers to administrators to employers. We can always do better than what we have right now but I'm not afraid to make mistakes en route. The only time "doing nothing" is fine is when you need to be still and quiet to think about where you are and where you need to go.

[misanthrope]

41. Because I believe that things can always be better...

...That we can treat each other with far more respect and care than we do.

Because even though I no longer believe in the supernatural aspects of the religion of my youth (Christianity), I internalized the value system outlined by the teachings of Jesus as described in the Gospels.

Because I believe that in order to insure my own rights, I must insure them for everyone else.

[caitxrawks]

42. because i am just such a damn softie.

No really.
My husband debated with me so much that I realize that he was very right and I was very stupid and naive.

I just feel it deep inside, that this is what's right for me. I don't agree with anything the right wingers believe in. It's not really something I chose, I just drifted there.

[PhoenixAbove]

43. I went from nothing to Progressive

over a span of years. It started during the Ronnie Raygun 1980ies not long after he busted the Air Traffic Controllers Union. I was in my early 20ies and the management of the company I worked for went crazy trying to find ways to fire our union reps. It got so bad that people were afraid to run for positions on the executive board of the union... and this IUE was no small group. It was the 4th largest IUE union in the state of Mass.

Eventually, I began to get pissed off and I ran for two (yes two) executive board positions. I won the election and became Chief Steward and Treasurer at the same time. Over a period of just two or three years, I watched our national membership numbers drop like a rock as unions were busted and jobs were shipped to Mexico or overseas. We became desperate for more clout as Raygun's policies decimated us. We merged with the AFL-CIO. Over a period of two more years, I watched as AFL-CIO unions were busted and their jobs were shipped out. We kept screaming about how our manufacturing sector was being annihilated but I guess, back then, nobody was interested in listening. Wonderful. Welcome to the year 2010. How is everyone enjoying it so far? :sarcasm:

Throughout this experience I went from nothing who didn't vote to Democrat. As I became more Democratic, I became more Liberal. As I became more Liberal, I became more Progressive. I voted for Obama but now I'm even starting to get pissed off at him. Maybe I'll just join the socialist party or something. Feeling all left wing crazy inside...

[Iggo]

44. Progress > Stasis

[TexasObserver]

45. Because I favor gay rights, national health care, civil rights and oppose war, bigotry, police state

There's more, but that's the nuts of it.