Another Political Blog
Like so many, I just can't keep quiet anymore. Things have been going the wrong way in American politics for six long years, and I have been waiting and hoping that Americans' steady good sense and decency ultimately would prevail. But, of course, waiting and hoping aren't enough, and so I have decided to speak and act as well.
I am a practical American progressive. I am progressive in the sense that I believe in a national community that works together toward solving the human problems that have troubled our society -- everything from inequality and poverty to crime and terrorism. I am practical in that I acknowledge there are limits to what government can accomplish; in that I recognize unpleasant realities; and in that I know that winning elections and persuading voters is essential to accomplishing anything at all. And I am American not only by birth and choice, but also because I believe fervently in the principles of American democracy and in the ideas and ideals of our great founders and framers.
What I hope for this journal is to begin to articulate, with others who wish to contribute, some ways to promote practical progressivism in American politics. I want to start by discussing what a practical progressive politics should look like -- what positions, principles and ideas should animate such a politics and how they all hang together. At the same time, I'm not looking for a sterile philosophical discussion but one that addresses the big issues of today -- the Iraq war and all our troubled relations with the rest of the world, the economic stagnation and slippage that most Americans face, the persistent problem of multigenerational poverty, America's poor elementary and secondary education system, access to health care, the balooning public debt, and, of course, our problematic relationship with our natural environment.
Why engage in this discussion? In part it is simply the satisfaction of understanding more and developing a coherent social and political worldview. But to be a little bit more ambitious: I want to push our progressive leaders to be more visionary -- to see all these challenges as connected and to learn to present them in a way that can generate the passion among our countrymen that is so necessary to addressing them. In short, I want to push our leaders to lead better.
It's a lot to talk about, so we may as well get started.
I am a practical American progressive. I am progressive in the sense that I believe in a national community that works together toward solving the human problems that have troubled our society -- everything from inequality and poverty to crime and terrorism. I am practical in that I acknowledge there are limits to what government can accomplish; in that I recognize unpleasant realities; and in that I know that winning elections and persuading voters is essential to accomplishing anything at all. And I am American not only by birth and choice, but also because I believe fervently in the principles of American democracy and in the ideas and ideals of our great founders and framers.
What I hope for this journal is to begin to articulate, with others who wish to contribute, some ways to promote practical progressivism in American politics. I want to start by discussing what a practical progressive politics should look like -- what positions, principles and ideas should animate such a politics and how they all hang together. At the same time, I'm not looking for a sterile philosophical discussion but one that addresses the big issues of today -- the Iraq war and all our troubled relations with the rest of the world, the economic stagnation and slippage that most Americans face, the persistent problem of multigenerational poverty, America's poor elementary and secondary education system, access to health care, the balooning public debt, and, of course, our problematic relationship with our natural environment.
Why engage in this discussion? In part it is simply the satisfaction of understanding more and developing a coherent social and political worldview. But to be a little bit more ambitious: I want to push our progressive leaders to be more visionary -- to see all these challenges as connected and to learn to present them in a way that can generate the passion among our countrymen that is so necessary to addressing them. In short, I want to push our leaders to lead better.
It's a lot to talk about, so we may as well get started.
posted by Rob at 3:07 PM
1 Comments:
Rob, hello. I found you through a comment on your father's blog. You've chosen a worthy task and, from reading your posts thus far, you'll contribute much -- just like your father. Best wishes.
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