Progressive Thoughts

I am making an announcement today. I am going down to the Pitkin County Clerk to change my registration from Republican; remember Reagan; to Democrat; please remember JFK or Truman.

The failures of the Republican Party and conservatives in general are numerous. The jingoistic notion that our military can solve all the worlds problems. “You are either with us or against us” The laize fare attitude towards government regulation of financial institutions The idea of cutting taxes and then embarking on a trillion dollar war, an unnecessary war. For 8 years we saw the rich get richer and the poor stay the same, or in inflation adjusted dollars, get poor. The middle class has all but disappeared. The denial of basic healthcare to all Americans is unacceptable. The failure of our education system to provide an education to offer true opportunity to all. The elimination of estate taxes to perpetrate the largess gained by many in a system that favors the few at the expense of the many.

The Democrats are none too perfect either. The Obama administration has been plagued by democrats that are more concerned about reelection than they are about governing. The democrats can’t seem to do away with the spoils system, ear marks, or their own stupidity, Obama has not filled the vacuum of leadership that has existed in the White House for decades.

So while my party affiliation will be changing... the political change is more profound. I find myself becoming what is known at times as a progressive. Some may say thats just real liberal, but I don’t think so. As a progressive I believe there is a role for government to enhance the lives of all people in America. As a progressive I believe that all Americans should have basic healthcare. As a progressive I think the state of education in America is a national emergency and the federal government must involve itselfs at the state and local level to solve it. As a progressive I believe that our support for foreign nations should be through the Peace Corps and not the Marine Corps. As a progressive I think we should work within the United Nations for change rather than slap on our gun belt and polish our badge. As a progressive I believe the measures of success for our country is not GNP, GDP or the S&P. But rather success should be measured by the elimination of poverty, graduation rates, unemployment rates, and our impact on the environment. Measure success for all Americans not a few. As a progressive I find the racially charged view of immigration disgusting. Where do we think we came from anyway? We are a nation of immigrants and when we decide to close the doors, we are dooming ourselves as the Romans did many centuries ago when they limited citizenship. As a progressive we need Change. Whether Obama can delver on that change is a question, more so now than 6 months ago. If he cant, the worse thing we can do is react and elect a Republican.