There's talk that progressives are too extreme. We are compared to tea-partiers. We are accused of being negative.
In response to John Sanchez Jr. opednews.com regular commenter and longtime member, on my article, The Lesser Evil Won, Now Get to Work, Set an Intention and Deal With the Cancer On Democracy We Are Living With, I started to do a list of issues progressives stand for that are moderate, positive and reasonable, not at all extreme. Here's what I started with:
We want
trustworthy elections-- meaning paper ballots, possibly counted by OpScan, but recountable as paper.
-Healthcare for all-- like every other member of the G20
-a justice system that treats all equally, not a separate one for corporations and the wealthy
-an end to corporate personhood
-a tax system that charges higher taxes for those who use more of the resources of the US and the government
-laws that protect people, workers and the environment... and enforcement of them
-an end to the two party duopoly, moving towards a more democratic system of electing and governing.
-an end to the Fed and establishment of state banks.
-Encouragement of whistleblowing and support and special protections from prosecutions for whistleblowers-- the canaries in the coal mine.
Then, I realized. I've written about this before. Here's an excerpt from an article I wrote in January 2010
.
Can you imagine a world where all the issues you care about have been worked through and there is justice, fairness, safe food and environment, clean, untainted elections?
Looking up, forward, we have a long way to go, but
while the leaves may seem bare now, spring may arrive
before we know it.
Can you imagine a world where justice reigns, where are all people are treated equally?
Is it possible for you to imagine a world where people who protest, who call for justice, for a better world are honored and valued, even rewarded and given special recognition, rather than arrested and jailed?
Can you imagine a world where all people are treated with fairness, where the nation's resources are not exploited by two percent of the population, who get rich off the rest of the people. There's still room for great success, but not dynastic wealth that grows to anti-human, destructive levels.
Are you able to imagine a world where corporations no longer have rights to be treated as humans as they now are.
Can you imagine a world where elections are honest and really recountable, where funding is strictly controlled so the wealthy and powerful don't have an advantage and can't game the system.
Is it possible for you to imagine a world where the forests, oceans, rivers and skies are getting cleaner and purer each year, where the atmosphere is not being polluted and global warming has been faced and dealt with sternly and effectively.
Can you picture a congress where legislators represent their constituents' interests and are held accountable-- even senators?
Can you see a world where education and health are a right for all, not just the wealthy, and where no-one dies or loses their home because of lack of health insurance?
Is it possible for you to imagine a world where guns are effectively controlled so gun killings and shootings are drastically cut?
Can you imagine a world where women have the right to control their bodies and resources and support systems are available to care for unwanted babies?
Can you picture a mainstream media that does it's job, that asks the hard questions, that doesn't allow easy passes and covers the stories that should be told?
Can you imagine a world where top-down control is fading away and being replaced by bottom-up processes and systems where we all have the right to a role in deciding and getting things done?
Is it possible for you to imagine a world where people who protest, who call for justice, for a better world are honored and valued, even rewarded and given special recognition, rather than arrested and jailed?
Can you imagine a world where all people are treated with fairness, where the nation's resources are not exploited by two percent of the population, who get rich off the rest of the people. There's still room for great success, but not dynastic wealth that grows to anti-human, destructive levels.
Are you able to imagine a world where corporations no longer have rights to be treated as humans as they now are.
Can you imagine a world where elections are honest and really recountable, where funding is strictly controlled so the wealthy and powerful don't have an advantage and can't game the system.
Is it possible for you to imagine a world where the forests, oceans, rivers and skies are getting cleaner and purer each year, where the atmosphere is not being polluted and global warming has been faced and dealt with sternly and effectively.
Can you picture a congress where legislators represent their constituents' interests and are held accountable-- even senators?
Can you see a world where education and health are a right for all, not just the wealthy, and where no-one dies or loses their home because of lack of health insurance?
Is it possible for you to imagine a world where guns are effectively controlled so gun killings and shootings are drastically cut?
Can you imagine a world where women have the right to control their bodies and resources and support systems are available to care for unwanted babies?
Can you picture a mainstream media that does it's job, that asks the hard questions, that doesn't allow easy passes and covers the stories that should be told?
Can you imagine a world where top-down control is fading away and being replaced by bottom-up processes and systems where we all have the right to a role in deciding and getting things done?
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