“America IS progressive, Dugger, too bad you listen to convicted criminals and a drug addict, who are extremely well paid by the right-wing elites to lie to you.”

???????

Dugger (Caro – Can make good syrup, but not good sense)

By eloquent do you mean simple minded and naive?

The genius of our forefathers in setting up a system of government that recognized this and inserted checks and balances to ensure some level of continuity was remarkable for their time. Because of one party rule we can see great dissatisfaction or immense satisfaction depending on which side of the spectrum you are viewing things from. Until this balance is again restored America’s eight cylindar engine will continue to run on only 4 cylinders. With the current low approval ratings of elected officials on both sides it seems many Americans would prefer gridlock to what we have now.

If Joe six pack has a predisposed bias against liberals then starting a “progressive” movement gives those with fresh ideas at least an opportunity to get a first listen. Reagan only got America’s attention because he ran as a different type of Republican, not as a “traditional” conservative.

Although, progressives won’t get too many chances to sell their programs. They have to appeal in some way to Joe six pack and must be able to sell him on how he will benefit. It just won’t suffice to go around telling him how modern conservative policies are failing. There must be attractive solutions and alternatives.

I can honestly say that I don’t know a single person who fits the perjorative definition of a liberal that has come to mean a weenie, tree hugging, terrorist loving, flag burning, American hating, communist who if given a chance would rather sell out their country in a heartbeat if the ACLU asked them too.

America has always been a progressive nation in spite of those who would prefer to turn back the clock to some idylic period when only their memories and distorted views of history somehow rationalize that things were better way back when. During the times when these Ludites took charge progressiveness went underground and eventually rose to the surface as the preferred way to go. Right now we are in one of those periods, and in the underbelly of America there is groaning taking place that signals another resurrection of positive change.

I’m a progressive, and other than on a few religious issues (and even on those the wording of the questions is suspect), 60 to 80% of Americans agree with me.
http://makethemaccountable.com/articles/The_2005_Political_Typology.htm

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

Hey, prior to the 1980s, conservative was a dirty word. That’s why there was a conservative revolution where Ronald actually said “Yea, I’m a conservative. So?” We need liberals/preogressives like that. Think Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy was a progressive (and a Republican! Horrors!) who was an unabashed progressive.

I’m a Jewish feminist lesbian with democratic-socialist leanings who has been in and organized her fair share of protests– but I couldn’t agree more. I am so over conventional, organized protesting. No one cares about them. Especially marching on Washington– a total waste of time and resources. It doesn’t shame or surprise anyone, Bush and his people don’t care if there are 1 million or 20 million people camped out on the mall.

All protesting really accomplishes these days is that it makes the protesters feel like they’re doing something important when, in fact, they’re not. Sure they feel good, solidarity and all that, but they really don’t accomplish anything. Sorry, but it’s the truth.

Clearly we have to do a lot more than “take to the streets.” We need to figure out ways to actually reach out to other people who don’t already think or believe as we do, or to people who do agree but no one is getting them involved. It’s called organizing, reaching out, canvassing.

I d love to see his compare and contrast between progressive and conservative  atrocities.

No, you wouldn’t. Trust me on this one, frame. I’ve been down that path. That way lies madness.

Nonsense.

Classic Dugger: “See how moderate and reasonable I am, even if you are all swimming in oceans of blood.”

I’d love to see his compare and contrast between progressive and conservative “atrocities.”

Would every pro-war conservative who thinks the war is worth fighting please raise your hand if you’re willing to forego your life stateside and simply sign up to fight the war that you’re advocating?

Sometimes Oliver makes a polemical, one-sided point. I, as I am wont to do, come back with a polemical rejoinder. Then someone such as yourself makes a very sane argument back – not polemical. So I won’t be polemical. Everyone should be a progressive conservative: making progress where possible but not so fast and so drastically that we undermine and weaken the entire basis of our society. Many, many things liberals have done have been good and right (voting rights for instance). Likewise conservatives. The mix is good IMO. But that is not to say that the hands of people who proudly call themselves progressives are not stained with actual and intellectual atrocities – likewise conservatives.

Perhaps the problem is that when you hear conservative, Jerry Falwell pops into mind and when I hear progressive, Ward Churchill pops into mind.

Anyway. Good comment (the aterisks around ‘invest’ morally disarmed me).

Dugger

So it took 20 years for your guys to make “liberal” a dirty word. You can do it again with “progressive.” It shouldn’t take nearly as long this time. You’ve had practice.

Perhaps the problem is that when you hear conservative, Jerry Falwell pops into mind and when I hear progressive, Ward Churchill pops into mind.
Falwell’s a part of the right’s political operation. Churchill is an obscure college professor who’s #1 fan is Michelle Malkin. There’s your problem.