What Makes A True Progressive?

[Bullet1987]

If I simply went by many here on DU, a "true Progressive" is someone who is anti-corporate and very liberal. The truth is, trying to determine who and what constitutes a "true Progressive" is like the problem Conservatives have in trying to define the meaning of Conservatism.

According to Dictionary.com, a Progressive is,

1. favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are, esp. in political matters: a progressive mayor.

2. making progress toward better conditions; employing or advocating more enlightened or liberal ideas, new or experimental methods, etc.: a progressive community.

But it's not as simple as the definitions given above. Many people have labeled certain issues as being Progressive and if a particular politician doesn't feel the same way...they don't fit the mold so-to-speak. Case in point is the candidate I'm supporting for 2008, Barack Obama. I don't think anyone would argue that he's not a reformist. Him and Russ Feingold put through legislation that would have created an independent ethnics committee instead of what Obama calls simple bandages that aren't solving anything. He also has legislation on the table for Voters Rights that would make it criminal to mislead and intimidate voters. But, one of the staples on the "Progressive Movement" is being anti-globalization...and even though Obama didn't vote for CAFTA (he voted nay), by all intents and purposes...he's not anti-globalization.

http://obama.senate.gov/news/050630-why_i_oppose_cafta/index.html">Why I Oppose CAFTA -Barack Obama, 2005

Does this mean Obama is not Progressive? Does this mean he's a corporatist? No. It's like the theory of the "True Negro" (another problem Obama seems to be facing). I don't believe there is any group of stances that determines who is progressive and who isn't, just like there shouldn't be any group of physical traits that determines who is Black (ie. thick lips and kinky hair). You just have some people who are MORE Progressive than others, like if you compare Dennis Kucinich with Barack Obama. Both are Reformists, but one moreso than the other.

I also noticed people on this board got really upset when Barack Obama and other Dems didn't go and campaign for Ned Lamont...so he wasn't a "true Progressive." I think it's petty to hold people to a strict guideline of stances for such a loose term.

[AtomicKitten]

1. the Democrats did precisely what they were supposed to do

They supported the Democratic incumbent, Lieberman, over his opponent. And when Lieberman lost, they supported the Democratic nominee, Lamont. As it should be. But that support just wasn't enough to some here, as is the case with most of the whining that ensues here at DU.

In the final analysis, the Democrats did exactly what they were supposed to do.

[cyclezealot]

2. being progressive to me means being independent.

Many feel we progressive are anti corporate. While many of my positions are not popular with Corporations, I think anti corporate is a misnomer. I believe the corporate race to the bottom will eventually cause them to destroy themselves, if not unchecked.
I believe in keeping corporations honest and competitive. It's they that seek out monopoly control and desire a race to the bottom. I am proud when Democrats propose making it easier to form unions. When they favor health care delivered independently and go against the power of the insurance industry. When they buck the dollars thrown at Congress members by the war merchants in order to promote unnecessary military hardware.
More important than a numbers game of how perfect a candidates voting history is; are they independent thinkers or beholden to the corporate purse string. Can they break away from that grip and take an independent stand for the people's interest. That is what makes a leader progressive.

[Skittles]

3. the ability to empathize without firsthand experience

yup

[HereSince1628]

4. Just my two cents

Progressives believe that this society can and should be made better. That is they believe in progress.

Better can be measured in terms of increased human dignity in the form of 1) greater justice, equality, liberty, 2) health and environmetal security (i.e. freedom from environmental insults imposed upon them through the inconsiderate behavior of others).