KRUGMAN: "a simple, straightforward single-payer system just isn’t going to happen"

[kjones]

105. It's like none of these people have any idea what "Progressive" means.

Progressive, as in gradually building up, one step at a time.

And people characterizing it as "defeatism" or purposefully
slowing down progress are full of it.
Sure, "revolution" sells well, but the vast majority of human
progress has been...of course, progressive. The heavy lifting
of moving society forward has been through steady pressure
applied consistently...in small steps and increments, rather
than leaps and bounds (as memorable as those moments may be).

I have nothing against leaps and bounds, some great things
are in leaps and bounds. To quote the hero of the day, there
are times when we can't afford the "luxury of cooling off or to
take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism." MLK

Reality tells us though, that this is not one of those times, this
is a time where we need to hold firm to gains...because we
can't afford to spin our tires now...after all, there are some
truly terrifying people just waiting for us to slip up. We are
not in an advantageous situation...as has been pointed out,
the political landscape (congress) is still in a state of insanity.
Obama pulled us out of some dark times, and now, we need to
regroup, and consolidate our strength, replenish our allies (both
in number, and support) and protect the ground we've gained.
No, we are not done, we do not believe we are done....we do
not believe we will ever really be done.

So I encourage you all, instead of burning bridges, to build them,
because we will need the strength in the coming decade. The 2020s
are aptly labeled, because with the benefits of both hindsight
and foresight, and if we actually work to build those bridges and
strengthen our positions, we will be well placed to make it a
decade of a "Progressive United States," and not the stagnant,
bogged down US we have been...or worse, the REgressive US
that those other people would have us become.

So, I don't know about everyone else, but I intend to keep
my foot firmly planted on the gas pedal. Yeah, it may not
be as noisy, noticeable, or dramatic as flooring it...but hey...
we're not in a race, we're in a convoy...and I don't intend
to leave anyone behind.