5 most important progressive issues

[garthranzz]

Maybe the title should be "5 most important issues for progressives." Whatever.

The Democratic Party has a wide spectrum. That spectrum is well represented here. And there are lots and lots of important issues. I'm curious, though, what the collective wisdom of DU thinks are the most important progressive issues - the first items President Obama should be pushing, the first items a Democratic controlled Congress should make law.

(Yes, this will help me in some arguments I'm having with non-Democratic or non-progressive friends.)

Thanks!

[NYC_SKP]

1. Income equity, environmental justice, health care for all, expanded social security, global justice.

That would be my five, mixed in with that, and necessary to reach these things, are others, including restoring the bill of rights, ending the patriot act, cutting defense expenditures, undoing Reagan's fixes with the tax structure, net neutrality, etc., etc.

[liberal_at_heart]

2. It's hard to narrow it down to specifics. The whole system is broken.

We have to get money out of politics(and voluntary reform will do nothing btw). We have to find some other economic system other than Trickle Down Economics. We have to start fighting for a real living wage(and $10/hr is not a real living wage). We have to stop subsidizing corporate America and let them succeed or fail on their own merit. We have to stop privatizing our public institutions. We have to restore funding to our public institutions. We have to honor the 4th Amendment. We have to fight for labor unions. Sorry there is just too many to count. Like I said the whole system if broken or should I say bought and paid for.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Peace, Privacy, Freedom, Social Justice for all, the environment.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. I was just thinking about this question today

And I don't yet have an answer.

Sadly, until recently I would have said stopping the President's TPP and TPIP, but these are now dead thanks to Harry Reid and some other actual Democrats.

In general, it's most important to turn around the bipartisan state-sanctioned evisceration of the 99%. But what specific steps to take? Not sure. Thinking about it.

[garthranzz]

5. Thanks!

These are great responses so far. I hope more are coming, and this sparks some discussion.

So far, it seems economics-income equity, the environment, social justice-civil rights, and safety net are broad categories. Privacy also - which I'd think more moderates and conservatives would agree with.

Great stuff, guys!

[reusrename]

6. Justice is definitely #1.

To get there, the makeup of our Roberts court has to change. It's not only the highest court in the land, it's the highest court in the world.

Impeach Scalia & Thomas. They are both criminals. One of them even brags about being above the law.

[reddread]

13. absolutely

peace follows justice, and those clowns didnt get there on merit that applies to our needs as taxpaying citizens.
the entire process needs to be investigated and charges filed against the criminals, if only in the voting booth and daily discussion.

[DebJ]

7. If voter suppression and gerrymandering are not addressed, no other issues will be either.

Same for climate change.

[wickerwoman]

8. 1. Breaking up media monopolies and reintroducing broadcasting standards for news

2. Money in politics, lobbying, corruption, unlimited donation from corporations
3. Lack of regulation of the financial sector
4. Peak oil and decaying infrastructure
5. Single payer health care
(6. Student loan debt and rising costs of university education)

[democrank]

9. Thought-provoking

Not necessarily in this order:

1. Job-creating public works program (infrastructure, schools, roads, bridges, grids,etc.)

2. Overhaul of student loan program

3. "Justice" system: prison reform, drug rehabilitation programs

4. Election reform: public funding, combating voter suppression, paper ballots

5. National campaign to end homelessness

[Adrahil]

21. I like your list... One tweak suggested...

We need significant public expenditure in scientific research. This includes research grants and NASA. Add to point one.

[bananas]

10. #1: Global Nuclear Disarmament

This isn't just a progressive issue:

a) Almost every countrywide worldwide has already agreed to it - it's part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which almost every country has signed.

b) It's bipartisan - for example, the organization Global Zero was created by leaders in both the Democratic and Republican parties.

c) It's one of the reasons Obama was unanimously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize


Why should this be #1?

Even a small regional nuclear war would result - in addition to the millions of people instantly vaporized - a billion people starving to death due to the nuclear winter (or "nuclear autumn" as some prefer).

Everything we've fought for as progressives would be thrown aside.

Some think nuclear war is impossible - that nuclear deterent is 100% reliable. Nope - nuclear deterence is a mechanism, a device, and just like any other mechanism and device, there are many ways it can fail. And just as we can estimate failure rates of planes, trains, automobiles, rockets, and computers, we can also estimate the failure rate of nuclear deterrence. It comes out to about 1% per year - every year, on average, there's a 1% chance of nuclear war.

This is not something we can rely on - we can expect failure within a few decades, if we don't change.

To negotiate global nuclear disarmament means each and every country must be convinced that their needs and concerns are being met.

[Adrahil]

22. Yeah, that's a pipe dream.

Everyone will think they can hide their own small store "just in case." It is,
Sadly, an impossibility. Cat out of the bag. Pandora's box.

[Spider Jerusalem]

11. Climate change should be at the top of any list of "most important issues".

The consequences of doing nothing would make every other part of any hypothetical "progressive agenda" moot. Just take a look at what's been going on: multi-year drought in the US Southwest that threatens the water supply of tens of millions of people and the longterm food security of the entire country; extreme and disruptive "superstorms" and winter weather events affecting the US east coast; heavy rains and flooding in the UK; melt of Arctic sea ice (to the point where the Arctic will be ice-free in summer, soon...for the first time in three million years); projected warming and rises in sea levels from Arctic ice melt mean that cities like Miami will be underwater; there has to be a point at which we realise that all of this is connected and it's about 30 years past time to be doing something about it. Unfortunately it may be too late.

[raouldukelives]

20. 100% agree and how could anyone not?

What does it matter if we leave a balanced budget at the expense of an unbalanced climate? Will our descendents be happier with having healthy bank accounts or having healthy ecosystems?
For every person with sincere respect and admiration for nature & wildlife there are 100 investors doing they're best to finance attacks against those wishing to protect & preserve them.

[rurallib]

12. Money in politics is #1 - all else flows from that

just ask your corporate Democrats who go hat in hand to Wall street for campaign bucks and then can't seem to vote to reign in Wall Street.
Or look at any Republican elected official anyplace in the US.

[DrewFlorida]

14. I would start with "Citizens United" and the broader problem of election funding reform.

Income inequality, minimum wage and much more.
Election geremandering.
Equal rights is a constant fight to defend and move forward.
Climate change, energy subsidies toward alternate energy.
Building/rebuilding of infrastructure in America.

[Fumesucker]

15. 1) Campaign money reform, voting rights

2) Jobs, income inequality in a precarious job market
3) Climate change
4) Changing to renewable energy
5) Education

[Scuba]

16. TPP, Chained CPI, Privatizing Education, XL Pipeline and circumventing the 4th Amendment.

Well, at least if one considers Obama a progressive.

[Romulox]

17. Bankster Bailouts, Increasing Drone Killings, More NSA Spying, "Free Trade", SYRIA!

How'd I do?

[reformist2]

18. Getting money out of politics. The sine qua non of political issues.

It's the reason that no matter who wins - even a "radical" like Barack Hussein Obama - nothing ever happens.

[Boom Sound 416]

19. Shut off the wall st pump; desegregate real estate industry; jobs, jobs, jobs

[Egalitarian Thug]

23. Public financing of elections and strict campaign regulation, Raise the minimum wage, significantly,

Universal single payer health care, stronger anti-trust laws and strict enforcement of them, and overhaul the entire tax code.