A Short Note On The Democratic Party And The Progressive Left....

[Douglas Carpenter]

115. it certainly is a good idea to keep in mind just how reactionary the current political culture is

It is true as you and others point out that issue by issue a majority of Americans do support most progressives positions. But it is also true that this has not successfully cashed out to the ballot box enough to alter the political culture. Unfortunately most political compromise is not about making small little steps toward a more progressive and social-democratic society - it is at best the vast majority of times only an attempt to minimize the steps backward. I honestly cannot see how the ACA which actually strengthens the hand of the insurance industrial complex and even more deeply entrenches their position of privilege and power is a step toward single payer or some other form of socialized healthcare. The entire discussion around "entitlement reform" supported by much of the Democratic Party establishment is certainly not a discussion about how we can improve the safety net. It is a discussion that presumes that the most needy of society are already receiving too much and this should be reduced. The liberal or progressive or even what the "centrist" pundits would call the "far left" are fighting only to minimize reduction. For most of the last thirty to forty years when it comes down to actual legislative action - though we have seen some incredible strides on social issues - on economic issues being a sensible Democrat has not meant working for incremental progress - it has at best meant minimizing the steps backward. Perhaps that is all the current American political culture will allow. But I cannot see how an issue oriented progressive can sustain very much enthusiasm about such a state of affairs, when the only battle cry is as the always obnoxious but sometimes correct Bill Maher put it, "Vote Democratic - we are pathetic - but the other guys are nuts."