Before re-cognizing it, there would be cognizing it. Articles such as this one are indispensable, yet there's "miles to go before we sleep'. It's necessary to consider that the word 'progressive' is still a very contested word. Thanks for the article - moving forward, a better world is possible.

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84 percent support to increase the minimum wage

Maybe 84 % should take economics 101 at the community college and see how pointless a blanket wage increase is. Raising minimum wage is only useful is your 16 and looking to buy a quarter sack.

For people caught on the wrong side of the economy, research by the University of Michigan National Election Studies reveals that 69 percent of Americans believe government should care for those who can’t care for themselves

Notice it said “For people caught on the wrong side of the economy”. The vast majority of the middle class people I know, don't feel they have an obligation to inferior apes. Why do you think ”56 percent majority oppose making it more difficult for a woman to get an abortion”? Could it have anything to do with the fact that if trailer/ghetto/barrio trash is never born, they will never sink their teeth into societies ass?

Gallup polls in March 2007 reveal that twice as many Americans want to solve energy problems with more conservation instead of more production

If this was true, wouldn't it mean that SUV sales would be down?

Americans would give up the Bush tax cuts to make sure all Americans have access to health care.

Lets put it to referendum in 2008 and see. I for one will vote nay.

With terrorism turning against them, the conservatives have little left.

They always have Jesus the magic sky monster. Why do you think a good number of Latinos voted for Bush?

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and this means something uncomfortable for Alternet: what I and others have been saying everytime there's another screed about the fundies taking over the world - most Americans believe in both God AND social justice. It's not convenient, it's not something the InterLeft ever wants to deal with, but it's a basic fact of American political life. If you really care at all about results for poor and working people, about reducing corporate control, about ratcheting back the war bureaucracy, then you have to work with people who don't share your cosmology. Religious progressives have acknowledged this all along, that's why they primarily are active through secular political groups, with some exceptions such as Sojourners and Tikkun. Do I agree with every position held by my fellow Christians on every issue? Of course not, but then neither do secular leftists agree on everything. Politics is about building coalitions, not about litmus tests.

Peace all

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The country is heading in the wrong direction. 73 percent of Americans feel it in their gut.

They also know which way they want to go. The question is whether their leaders will take them there.

The idea of "leaders" taking us in the right direction is un-American. The democratic way is for the people to decide which way to go. Then it's not a question of electing leaders who will "take" us there, but of electing public servants who have the best plans of how to get there.

This means that the election is secondary to the planning. The electorate should tell both parties what they want done, that is, which issues are to be on their platforms. Then the campaigns should be about how candidates intend to accomplish the will of the voters.

Somewhere along the way our system has been corrupted, we have lost the meaning of "government of the people, by the people, and for the people".

Today we allow the parties to tell us which issues the election is about. This is fundamentally wrong.

The parties and the big businesses that control them won't give up this perverted democracy until the voters force the change. The change can't come about through elections; this issue won't be on the agenda of any party. It must be done before the election and by the force of numbers.
Bob Reichenbach,
Director, The Lincoln Initiative

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congress would still be in control of Republicans, both in the house and the senate. Democrats have proven they don't have any ideas and only want to bash President Bush.

No question this country tilts right. Conservatism is alive and well. "Liberalism is a mental disorder."
What has happened to the pioneer spirit of the people in this country. It has been replaced by, let the government do it. Why work hard for something when some hand wringing do gooder will give you something for nothing, instead of earning it. Unfortunately human nature takes over and along comes laziness.
I once asked a couple of kids in the inner city why they wanted Kerry to become president. These young strong kids did not hesitate when they stated, "cuz we gets more free stuff."

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I have relatives who believe what's "really wrong" with this country is the ACLU! Try to comprehend that. And my father can't understand why creationism isn't taught in science class, as if it were science. He simply can't comprehend the difference between science and religious dogma. They ain't the same thing!

We have a long, long row to hoe before this kind of thinking is relegated to the backwaters where it belongs.

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To White middleclass male; re your comment, 'Maybe 84 % should take economics 101, etc'

I think you misread the situation; the use of an improved minimum wage does not 'level down' in the way you surmise. If you consider the best performing economies in Europe, (I would say) Britain & Ireland, both have reasonably good minimum wages (~ $10 - $11 per hour).

But rather than everyone being impoverished, everyone seems to be more comfortable than our neighbours in continental Europe, where wages costs are ~ 30% lower.

e.g. a median wage in UK is £300 - - £400 per week (~$560 - $740) Goods, services & housing are more expensive than US, but everyone seems OK [barring the unemployed]

I suggest that economics & the supply of money folows a cube rule of volume. It is staggering the real increase in wealth, worldwide, over the last 15- 20 years

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Is this really the progressive solution?

Giving the Nazis in charge even more power?

Good Luck with that one!!!

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When we were a prosperous nation leadership seemed almost invisible. K street was just a street. Wall St. has always been there. Uneducated people did just fine. The next generation did even better. There were opportunities and not obstacles between people and a comfortable lifestyle. Education was always important. Children had hopes that didn't include 28% student loan interest. Regard for the human condition is gone. Thanks, ANNA

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Mr. Lotke must be referring to the obnoxious hordes of conspicuous consumers with "No Blood For Oil" bumper stickers plastered on their Moondust Volvo wagons?

Perhaps the throngs of TV junkies who hang breathlessly on every word the Paris Hiltons of the world utter??

It might be those who would lend so much credence to a pompous asshole named Bono who sees fit to lecture the world on the "plight" of Africa while toting off nearly US $1 billion to Eurotax shelter, the Netherlands. Guess Mr. "we've all gotta pay our fair share" didn't like it when Ireland decided that musicians should pay royalties - sniff, sniff. Yeah, I know - he's one F'ing hell of a guy! You can save your elaborate defense of the hypocritical prick who privately embodies the very brand of Capitalism he publicly deplores. You go right on believing he's saving up so he can blow his entire wad in one fell swoop by innoculating all of Africa. Bill Gates and Ted Turner will administer the shots. I've also got a bridge to sell ya . . .

What I see is a country that's in debt up to its goddamn eyeballs, and that "ain't just a Conservative thang" folks. Collectively, Americans of all stripes have a negative savings rate and continue to spend lavishly on gadgets, cars, vacations and homes they most certainly cannot afford.

Remember these, and hundreds of other examples I could cite were I so inclined, the next time "The Bachelorette" oozes out of millions of plasmas across this brain dead nation. A Huge Progressive Majority you say? All I see is a nation of corpulent cowards and half-wits who voted Democrat and promptly said "Ahhhhh - it sure felt good voting for change". Polls say one thing, Mr Lotke. Actions tell an entirely different story!

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Huge Progressive population.. we need a definition of two things – Huge and Progressive.. Huge as compared to what.. ..like maybe 1 million is now 3 million???

Progressivism???.. – “progressivism made great strides under American presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt””” (a few of my favorite Presidents, Teddy and FDR!!!!) - Progressivism historically advocates the advancement of workers' rights and social justice. The progressives were early proponents of anti-trust laws and the regulation of large corporations and monopolies, as well as government-funded environmentalism and the creation of National Parks and Wildlife Refuges””..( mmm.I’d buy into this in a heart beat… but what has it become.)


So what is Progressive values today..?? – seems to me more socialism - “progressive economic policies such as minimum wages, safety nets for the poor and trade barriers (which I’m not necessarily against) has been thought to drive up unemployment among poor and unskilled labor. Defending the country is a low priority.. I know, I know, I can’t wait for the well thought out comments by the usual.. but the perception is this is what it has become..

Only 29 percent want to see Roe v. Wade overturned. And 67 percent, according to polls by Kaiser and Harvard, want sex education in schools to include information about contraception, not just abstinence. I'd agree with this also.. seems more moderate to me than anything else!!!

For people caught on the wrong side of the economy, research by the University of Michigan National Election Studies reveals that 69 percent of Americans believe government should care for those who can’t care for themselves. Twice as many people want "government to provide many more services even if it means an increase in spending" (43 percent) as want government to provide fewer services "in order to reduce spending" (20 percent). Majorities say we need a bigger government "because the country’s problems are bigger" (59 percent) and a "strong government to handle complex problems" (67 percent). REALLY!!!!!! If this is progressive thought, no wonder why they have been in a decline since Teddy R.

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QUESTION: What prominent national politician made the following statements?

"I believe in the separation of church and state. “
"The religious factions will go on imposing their will on others."
"I don't have respect for the Religious Right."
"Every good Christian should line up and kick Jerry Falwell's ass."
"A woman has a right to an abortion."
“Gays should serve in the military.”
"We should not be involved in nation-building."

ANSWER: The Godfather of Modern Conservatism, Barry Goldwater.

CONCLUSION: Using their mutual opposition to Bush's treasonous immigration bill, there is no reason why progressives and REAL conservatives can't build a third-party coalition next year and take back our country from Shrub and his traitorous neocon cabal.

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I want to believe that all this is true, that America is a more progressive society than our current circumstances indicate, but I don't see a mention in this piece about the critical role Christian fundamentalism plays in current Conservative hegemony. Look at the make-up of the White House and the Judiciary, and note that the Democratic majority in Congress is slim, and then watch how the Democratic presidential hopefuls pander to the religious community.

Public opinion may indicate a progressive bent, but until opinion is transformed into action and policy, Progressives have miles to march.

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After all Bush has no mandate. He had to steal two elections. Considering the popular vote for the democrats plus the votes for Nader and other progressives I would say the US is now overwhelmingly ready for a solid progressive agenda. The progressive caucus needs to wake up and plan for the future. Can the democrats lead?

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Progressive is? I think of myself as Progressive in that I know the greatest progress that mankind has ever made was when the USA Constitution was made. When we were a noninterventionist nation IN OUR FOREIGN POLIY. When we placed the middle class as absoutely essential to a heathy REpublic with opportunity for all to move to the middle class or higher. When we had as small central government, with power resting with the people, communities and states. When social needs were the proper jurisdiction of families, churches, communities, private charities and LASTLY the local government. Same with school systems. As a Progressive I want to once again come to real progress by greatly downsizing the central government and the power elites that run it.

Bottom line, the best real Progressive I know of who can bring a Constitutional America is Ron Paul and to a lesser extent Dennis Kucinich.

SO WHAT IS A PROGRESSIVE?

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Personaly, I prefer a liberal amount of food on my plate in exchange for a conservative lightening of my wallet. Some people prefer a liberal amount of service, and a conservative amount of food, but then, tastes differ.

If you want to stick a label on yourself, go for the 'human being' one. That'll leave you free to think for yourself, instead of mindlessly following some political wanker over a cliff.

Politicians and marketing professionals are always trying to group people for this very reason - they use very simple-minded labels out front, and have very complex schemes behind the scenes that usually revolve areound getting their hands on wealth and power.

Look at all the comments - progressives are this, conservatives are that - but where are the independent human beings? Bob Dylan said it best: "Don't follow leaders, watch the parking meters"

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this poll is not consistent with other major news polls that show rudolf "bigger badder bush" giuliani ahead of both clinton and obama.. and another pew research poll shows independent voters only slightly to the left of giuliani but far to the right of both hilary and obama...so as much as i would like to accept the results of this poll..it is difficult for me to do so...

white middleclass male is a piece of shit to be sure..but he might still be right about the demographics of this thing...and mark my words ..if rudolf giuliani becomes POTUS..we will hear the words "inferior apes" from his mouth while WMCM and his ilk wet all over themselves...

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but if the Repubs go along with that, they or we are in big trouble(like we aren't already). I watched daily news on Rudy while he was mayor - most of those who now think he is so wonderful have a one day picture of a "hero" who would have never been noticed had old Bushit been doing his job as commander in chief instead of riding around in a jet and reading "My Pet Goat". It was Rudy's decision to put the communications IN the WTC for his convenience, resulting in the needless deaths of firemen and policemen. And it was a confused, lazy, and useless media (which we still have) who turned this tyrant into a media darling.

Rudy was and still is NO great leader. He divided New York City like no other mayor, he angered every civil servant and pleased only the rich. The perfect Republican. Do we need four more years of Bushit, Rudy style? I sure hope not.

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For those liberals who don't have the wherewithal to find the data, it is on page 2.

AP-Ipsos poll last week

The data is pretty straight forward. The majority of Americans (irrespective of party loyalty) consider themselves conservative

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Yeah...like raincoats and goggles for the flyin excreta!

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Alternet never talks about what the 70% white majority wants?

First, Alternet is NOT posting the article as theirs. It is witten by the author Eric Lotke from TomPaine.com. I know, sniff, sniff, it's so difficult for you to put your two little brain cells together and THINK.

Secondly, you and I are nearly a minority now. Only 52 %, not 70%, of Americans are "white". I know, ... I know. I commisurate with your extreme ignorance. It's just so difficult to get "things" straight, huh?

Re: 84 percent of those queried support an increase in the minimum wage.

Maybe 84 % should take economics 101 at the community college and see how pointless a blanket wage increase is. Raising minimum wage is only useful is your 16 and looking to buy a quarter sack.

You know, dippy, it's probably not good for you to relate what you did in High School and consider it the national experience. Millions of workers, including college kids, latinos, blacks, poor white trash like yourself, etc. find that, with the present minimum wage, they have to work TWO or THREE jobs in order to eat or get a car.

Notice it said “For people caught on the wrong side of the economy”. The vast majority of the middle class people I know, don't feel they have an obligation to inferior apes. Why do you think ”56 percent majority oppose making it more difficult for a woman to get an abortion”? Could it have anything to do with the fact that if trailer/ghetto/barrio trash is never born, they will never sink their teeth into societies ass?

Ignorance and a failing grade in READING has bit your slimy ass already! Fucking bigoted racist!

Gallup polls in March 2007 reveal that twice as many Americans want to solve energy problems with more conservation instead of more production

If this was true, wouldn't it mean that SUV sales would be down?

They went down, dipshit. That's why our brilliant American Car companies are looking at bankruptcy everywhere. But then, a lot of hedgers own a SUV and keep a gas-sipper in the garage. Wait till it bumps above $4 per gallon. The used car lots will be full of cheap SUV's.

Americans would give up the Bush tax cuts to make sure all Americans have access to health care.

Lets put it to referendum in 2008 and see. I for one will vote nay.

Right..You want to keep those Tax Cuts for the very wealthy he put in so you can work your way up into that bracket. Ha Ha LOL ! NO health care? What are you going to do with that raving case of syphilis that has eaten all but two of your braincells? Get well on your own , soon, dippy.

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""I kicked this guys ass in the economic debate after he unwittingly presented BLS stats that failed to make his case and in fact bolstered mine.--yellow""

Note that none of the leftist's posts above even remotely refute logically, factually, or empirically the assertion that I made that America is decidedly conservative.

Yellow's definition of "ass kicking" is really ad hominen attacks (like the one above as an example) totally devoid of any facts or logic.

Here is a sampling of the "brilliance" of Yellow in just this commentary:

Raising the minimum wage would be a good idea. According to the Economic Policy Institute, about 48% of households at or below the national median income rely on at least one minimum wage earner to keep the household income above the poverty line. That is the minimum wage earner is generally the main household earner. A raise couldn't hurt.--yellow

The EPI is marxist-leninist organ. The minimum wage costs jobs because most small businesses are operating on a razor thin profit margin. A government that FORCES a free people what, when, and how to conduct business is immoral and inefficient. In addition, the assertion made by the EPI (and digest by the brainwashed yellow hook, line, and sinker) that most making minimum wage are the main wage earners in a family is completely false. In fact most minimum wage earners are employees who are part time, temporary, and under 25.

Note also the invective from this ignorant juvenile in just a sample from this commentary:

By the way the US white population is no where near 70%. Its more like 60% and dropping. To bad cracker boy.

There's also no reason to call someone an ape just because they're poor you dumb cracker. You're probably not so smart yourself.

I guess a moron like you would abuse religion to pursue shitty agenda most people oppose.

kbest, why don't you take your head out of your ass.

Jack da moron is baaaaaaaaaack...

Ah the biggest moronic troll of them all!! The stupid white man Michael Moore warned us about.

In summary, yellow is typical of many leftists on this blog. When confronted with facts they lash out with hate speech devoid of facts, logic, and empiricism. In addition, they frequently cite sources that are completely subjective and in the case of the EPI--wholly marxist-leninist ideologically.

Their should be a place for weak thinking bigots like yellow to go and "argue" the merits of their respective "ideologies" with the likes of the Nazis and KKK.

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In the first place, labor markets cannot be viewed in the same way as markets for goods and services. Nor do they function the same way. This is because employers always have the upper hand due to the obvious fact that any amount of unemployment creates incredible hardship for the worker holding out for higher wages. Entering the labor market is thus not a just rational decision but an imperative which gives generally employers total power over the labor market.

Virtually all the studies the right-wing presents "proving" that minimum wages create unemployment use undifferentiated aggregate macro-economic data instead of the relevant micro-economic data pertaining specifically to the minimum wage and its actual effect of the local economy in question. This is one reason why the data presented by employer run think tanks like The Employment Policies Institute is utterly misleading and biased.

The most convincing study on this subject was done in the early 1990s by two Princeton University economists named David Card and Alan Krueger. They studied over 400 fast food resturants in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and concluded that there was no correlation between the substantial increase in the New Jersey minimum wage in 1992 (New Jersey is closely linked to the economy of easter Penn) and employment levels in the area being studied.

Furthermore, the study of aggregate data in local economies, such as those in the Pacific Northwest, were misleading because they link unemployment and job loss to increases in the local minimum wage when in fact it was other factors which lead to general unemployment in states like Alaska, Oregon and Washington State. In Oregon, a state which was in a deep recession after 2001 with 8.3% unemployment, the nation's highest rate, gained about 1,300 jobs in the low wage resturaunt and Hotel industry at this time right when the minimum wage was raised by 40 cents!! The job loss was in industries not paying or effected by the minimum wage. In the State of Washington, which raised its minimum wage in 1998, the loss of high wage manufacturing jobs in the aerospace industry caused the high unemployment problem that conservatives attributed to the raise in the minimum wage. This was preposterous. Job loss didn't occur in low wage industries in that state. In the case of Alaska, which has one of the highest minimum wages in the country exceeding $7.00/hr, actual job growth continued well above the national average even through the deep 2001 recession. The high unemployment rate isn't because of slow job growth but because the growth of the labor force in that state is among the very highest in the nation.

If one looks at the real growth of the US federal minimum wage and correlates it with employment trends nationally one sees a reverse trend from what conservatives claim we should expect. Between 1960 and 1998 the real value of the minimum wage consistently trended down as unemployment increased. In the late 1990s unemployment actually went way down as real average wages increased and those earning the federal minimum began to occupy an ever smaller share of the total labor force decreasing from about 8% in the late 1990s to 4% currently. Thus, there is no correlation between joblessness and the minimum wage.

Finally, I would like to point out that the majority of Americans, including 650 distinguished economists who signed a letter to President Bush, support an increase in the federal minimum wage. It is both morally and economically a sound proposal.

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