Last year’s definitions drive this year’s program.
What is a progressive, anyway?
By
Christa Westerberg
I was surprised a few weekends ago by a cover piece in the New York Times Magazine calling for a new “progressive conservatism.” The editorial, by columnist David Brooks, opined that conservatives had lost the battle for small government, and lamented that “[n]ow it is conservatives who often embrace special tax breaks, special subsidies, special regulatory sinecures.” Brooks proposed a “progressive conservatism” which would use government, but in limited and “energetic” ways.
Though Brooks’ progressive conservatism is still unformed, it’s bound to be better than the “conservatism” we have now: bellicose, budget busting, and Bible-thumping. But the article pointed to how ill-defined the term “progressive” is: Is it something to which both liberals and conservatives both can subscribe? And if so, what can this group of people with this common interest in progressivism do to advance it?
To find out, I recalled the “What is a progressive?” exercise that Fighting Bob conducted last year, asking readers to e-mail their definitions of the term to FightingBob.com and posting those definitions on signs at last year’s Fighting Bob Fest. The definitions people submitted were strikingly similar.
Most everyone agreed that progressives believe government must serve the public interest rather than private interests and fight the influence of big business and big money. Similarly, a progressive believes in the rights and worth of the individual, including (especially) the underrepresented, and constantly strives to improve the lives of people who have traditionally been treated less well by government, the market and fate. In the e-mailers’ own words:
A progressive believes in the interest of the people over the interests of the powerful; a progressive takes stands on this principle. -- Jack Holzhueter
A progressive is someone unafraid to take on powerful interests in order to protect things more valuable than wealth or power. -- Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin
Progressives perceive the economic, political, and social inequalities of life and seek to remedy those inequalities through careful and thorough research and the development of thoughtful and well-planned public policy. -- Jon Kasparek
"Progressive" incorporates the ideas and purposes of the writers of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, especially the principle that money (big corporations) must be prevented from influencing our governing process. True democracy means the rights of the little person must be supported, preserved, celebrated. -- Arlene Kanno
Other themes emerged from the “What is a progressive?” exercise: public participation in government; protecting the interests of future generations; upholding the Constitution; optimism; equal opportunity; financial responsibility. Very few of the submissions ascribed particular viewpoints to progressives. Rather, it seems that progressives are content to argue about the ends so long as the process is fair and free from undue private influence. Of course, once the private interests are eliminated, it is pretty easy to agree the public interest will be served by some policies, like good education, a clean environment, and fair treatment of workers.
It was also apparent that progressives do not subscribe to party lines or traditional labels, answering the question of whether both liberals and conservatives can be progressives. To wit:
To me, the progressive tradition encompasses a belief in civility, bipartisanship, and respect for the public dollar, as well as the highest ethical standards in government and a real fight for the rights of all families. Folks here in Wisconsin identify with the tradition of Bob LaFollette, Gaylord Nelson, Frank Zeidler, and Bill Proxmire, who looked beyond traditional allegiances to solve problems, treated the people’s money with respect, and worked to root out corruption. -- Senator Russ Feingold
A progressive is someone who approaches issues with a fresh, open mind and is not bound by political allegiance or past policy or approaches. -- Bob Beck
A progressive is a liberal who is not a spendthrift and a conservative who is not callous to the needs of people that only government can provide. -- Ken Artis
Supporting these statements is the fact that submissions came from people on opposite sides of the party aisle, like Door County Democratic Party chairman Tom Hermann, and Martha Marks of the organization Republicans for Environmental Protection.
As it turns out, it is not so tough to be a progressive. In fact, there are a lot of us in Wisconsin (as well there should be considering Wisconsin’s rich progressive tradition): More than 2,500 people went to Fighting Bob Fest last year, and FightingBob.com has more than 5,000 subscribers. In fact, more people attended Fighting Bob Fest in 2003 than the 2004 Wisconsin Republican and Democratic conventions combined.
If so many progressives are out there, what can we do? Right now, the answer is clear: attend the next Fighting Bob Fest, which is just around the corner on September 18, 2004. There, we will share ideas, hear from speakers, become inspired to act on our common progressive ideals, and maybe even develop a plan for the future. You e-mailed your definitions, so now we all have to do something about it.
Fighting Bob Fest has gotten us off to a good start by inviting one respondent to the “What is a progressive?” exercise to be the keynote speaker this year. According to Senator Tom Harkin:
In a capitalist society like ours, there inevitably comes times when too few people have too much money and too much power, and the rest have too little of either. It is not only the right, but the obligation of our free government to readjust the balance. A true progressive fights for this rebalance.
If you like what you have read here—and apparently a lot of you do—make sure to come hear Senator Harkin, Jim Hightower, Robert Kennedy Jr., Peg Lautenschlager, Gwen Moore, and many others at Bob Fest on September 18 in Baraboo. Forward!
September 12, 2004
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Christa Westerberg lives in Stoughton and is an attorney with law firm Garvey, McNeil & McGillivray.
