Article: Progressives. Meek Greene. Strangers in Strange Place

Strange as the contrast between Representative Meek's rhetoric, voting record, might be, these are nothing in comparison to the silence heard from the Greene campaign. When asked of the war in Afghanistan, Jeff Greene endorsed an eternal devotion to Israel. (Meek agreed.) Mister Greene assured the audience, military engagements in the Middle East would not diminish his dedication.

Jeff Greene (and Kendrick Meek) avowed loyalty to war and peace as though the two divergent possibilities could be one. The Progressive populace, on the other hand, is more definitive.

ForeignPolicy Self-identified progressives appear to have a strong commitment to diplomacy in international relations and are predisposed to think of immigrants in a positive light. Zogby reports that 77% of progressives say that it is not America's job to promote its values around the world and 97% think that our efforts in the war on terror should focus on reducing anti-American sentiment rather than on military force. . .
Activist progressives identified by Pew are even more likely to be dovish in their approach to military affairs than liberals. For instance, 96% of activist progressives think that diplomacy is the best way to ensure peace compared to 76% of liberals. About 78% of activist progressives believe that the United States should take its allies' interests into account even if it means making compromises with them and 93% agreed that it is acceptable to refuse to fight in a war one believes to be morally wrong..

Then there is the issue of tax and spend. Did the candidates think it wise to allocate Federal funds to forward America's future? As a United States Senator, would Mister Meek or Mister Greene vote to invest even more money in a Military Industrial Complex? Would either work to endow the infrastructure, education, environmental research, or expand the development of renewable fuels? Perhaps the answer is revealed in personal realities. Historically, how have Kendrick Meek and Jeff Greene handled their own taxes? Obfuscation and again the role of reputation reign in the Greene rhetoric . Representative Meek returns to his theme, the record.

Tax and Spend
Traditionally, a "Progressive" tax structure is one that charges those with higher incomes. This is, usually, a prospect that Democrats endorse. As one would expect, Florida Democrat and candidate for the United States Senate, Kendrick Meek supports such a system. On this issue, Citizens for Tax Justice with an established thirty-year mission of "working for a fair and sustainable tax system" rated Congressman Meek's record 100% in support of a Progressive tax. Citizens for Tax Justice and Congressman Meek advocate for "Taxation that minimizes distortion of economic markets," CTJ and Kendrick Meek also think it necessary to "Require the wealthy to pay their fair share."

Neither are philosophies reformed Reagan Republican Greene, from his actions, would favor. The fiscally very flush candidate nay his wife, think such an agenda serves them well. When asked Will Jeff Greene release his tax returns? they exclaimed in chorus, "Hell no!"

Ah; the paradox. For Democrats, and or Progressives this is truly a strange time, a strange place and these two men are in the strangest place, or they are but a reflection of a novel reality. For me, personally, favoritism for other than the greater good is extraordinary. In a country where all men are believed to be equal I struggle to understand. Thus, as I cast my ballot for the candidate that offers a chance at meaningful reforms, Congressman Meek, I could not help but think of America and the newly adopted ballad; Look What They've Done to My Song.

Reformers and References . . .