FourFreedomsBlog - You say You're Progressive, I say me too!

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You say You're Progressive, I say me too!
Author: Raine Date: 12/07/2009 13:45:27

Lately we have talked about the fracturing of the Republican Party, the conservative movement and the general chaos politically from the right. From the teabaggers, to the birthers to the 12thers -- It has been interesting to see the general disorganization happen within a party known for being lockstep to political ideology. Sometimes there has been a bit of schadenfreude, I'll admit. But, in the interest of being honest with ourselves, is it time we look in our own back yard and ask: Are we in danger of becoming just as fractured on the left?

Nate Silver over at 538.com had a little something to say about the status of the progressive movement, and I suspect it is going to piss a good number on the left off. I will let him speak

The definitions of the terms “liberal” and “conservative” have been the subjects of much debate in contemporary American politics. But it has become increasingly clear that the term "progressive" is equally ambiguous, and is associated with at least two relatively distinct philosophical traditions. Although these two "progressivisms" share common ground on many (probably most) issues, they are at loggerheads on some others, as has perhaps become more apparent since the election of President Obama.

There is a far more detailed explanation of this 'Rational' and 'Radical" progressivism at the link. The chart itself is quite simplistic, possibly too much so, but it gets a point across. Personally, I prefer Pragmatism to Rational and I don't like being called a sellout, but I understand why some would think I am. But around the inntertubes, I have indeed been called that, among other things, like a warmonger, for example.

Many on the left like saying that getting us together is like herding cats. Will Rogers famously said 'I am not part of an organized party, I'm a Democrat.' Both of these statements have long been true of the left. What I am wondering is if we are becoming more like the other side of the aisle. I hope you will read the entire post, but as I sit here trying to write this morning's blog, I find that Mr. Silver is correct on so many levels, I will quote him again:

Let me be very clear about what I am saying. I believe that our country needs a lot of work -- a lot of work -- almost certainly more work than Barack Obama is going to be able to accomplish in four or eight years. I believe that greater awareness and greater participation on behalf of everyday citizens is almost certainly a necessary condition to facilitate that work. To the extent that blogs, political campaigns, church groups, labor unions, and whatever other organization you can think of can coalesce that participation and turn it into a "movement", I am all for the "movement".

But if someone wants to marshal an army to fight a battle of wills while playing fast and loose with the truth and using some of the same demagogic precepts that the right wing does, I am not particularly interested in that. In fact, I think it is acutely dangerous.

Labels may not mean anything to you, or they may be very important, but the reality is we may be hurting our own side of the aisle with the level of discourse we are showing to the world. We don't have to be like the GOP -- running in lockstep -- but we all need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot, otherwise we are doing the rights job for them. What do you think?