We need a big win and to take the US House of Reps back for a progressive revolution

[L. Coyote]

We need a big win and to take the US House of Reps back for a progressive revolution
By Dem Jun 20, 2016 · 5:10 PM PDT



It is crystal clear that any legislation that is to the left of Hillary Clinton could never pass the current US House of Representatives. The GOP holds 247 seats in the US House of Representatives. We only hold 188. Without a US House of Representatives that has a majority of not simply Democrats but progressive Democrats and 60 US Senators that are likewise not simply Democrats but progressive Democrats, major landmark progressive legislation on big ticket items will never get to the next president’s desk. Until that time, the reason why major progressive legislation on big ticket items does not pass will not be due to Hillary Clinton being overly conservative. It will be due to the simple fact that progressives do not compose a majority in either chamber, much less the legislative branch as a whole.

Based upon her current policy proposals and positions, Hillary Clinton will likely be, if elected, the second most progressive president in the history of the United States, a debatable second to President Obama. The differences between the progressive nature of the goals of Hillary Clinton and her challenger are minimal compared to the difference between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. While many of us, including me, support Medicare for All, free university, $15 an hour minimum wage, and other proposals, unless we give her a progressive legislative branch, she would never even have the opportunity to consider supporting it or other almost as strong legislation (forged by creating a consensus among Democrats that could pass) making significant progress in that direction.

I wish more than anything that electing a President who is outspoken and uncompromising in his/her support for progressive legislation were all that were standing in the way of passing major landmark progressive legislation. Until you give her the progressive legislative branch that she needs, your criticism in which you lay the blame upon her for the failure to pass major landmark progressive legislation (or your fear that such will result) misses the mark and does not accord with reality.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon those of us who criticize Hillary Clinton as insufficiently progressive to work and support as hard as we can to give her the legislative branch we need. Failure to do that would reveal inconsistency. ..............