Unlike their colleagues at the opposite end of the political spectrum, I'm not aware of a single liberal --- or, if you prefer, progressive --- intent on trashing our government, despoiling the world economy, and thereby creating widespread misery. Instead, they're doing their level best to preserve and, whenever possible, strengthen the social safety net. This much is true at all levels of government: federal, state, and local.
Fortunately, President Obama and the Democrats didn't give in to the Tea Partiers and their compatriots as they did in 2011. Yet still, during the sixteen days that much of government operation was frozen in place, plenty of damage was done.
Consider this: Issued-oriented polls --- mainstream ones --- consistently indicate that there's majority support for the following items: Job creation, more funding for education, maintenance and strengthening of Social Security and Medicare, tax fairness, and shrinking the military budget (without hurting active-duty personnel and veterans).
The most consistent sponsors and supporters of such legislation are the House and senatorial progressives. Seriously! Yep, good burghers such as Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and Congressfolks Keith Ellison, John Lewis, Raul Grijalva, and, until this year, Dennis Kucinich, whose seat was gerrymandered into nothingness by the Ohio state legislature.
A lot of Americans don't like being politically labelled, and that's understandable. The Gallup organization periodically fields an attitudinal survey, asking respondents to define themselves --- as liberal, moderate, or conservative. The majority consider themselves moderates. Because the term "liberal" has a long history of being stigmatized, I believe that a lot of older respondents prefer to label themselves as "moderates", even if they share values and priorities with self-described liberals.
At least one survey combines this data under one cover: The General Social Survey, funded by the National Science Foundation and fielded once a year by the National Opinion Research Center of the University of Chicago. (For instance, how self-described moderates, libs, etc. feel about specific issues). It's not available on-line, but should be accessible at most public and university libraries.
Admittedly, I haven't given myself a chance to eyeball it, but I'm convinced that the data would affirm my perspective --- that as a nation, we really care about each other and believe in social justice.
Unfortunately, many --- far too many --- of our elected officials don't reflect those values. Let's try to fix that in 2014!
(Also scope out a related post on this blog dated 1/23/13:
"Liberalism: As American as Apple Pie").
"Burghers" is probably not the word you wanted where you employed it. If you look it up, you'll find that it reduces down to petite bourgeoisie, middle-class business owners, not products of academia like Ms. Warren, who seems to never have had her own business. I love many academics, but they often don't understand the problems of the business world, even some of the very ones who study such. As to what most people SAY they believe or desire vs. what they actually feel and think, there is a certain disparity--people want to be thought of as good and generous, when in fact they often aren't. Again, "most people"? What about the right down the middle political divide here in the U.S.? We need more purple states, but that is not yet reality, despite your fond hopes.
ReplyDeleteThere are several definitions of the word "burgher", Amber, one of which you pinpointed very succinctly. But there's a more generic definition, too: "a citizen of a town or borough" according to the American Heritage Dictionary. I used the word "burgher" to imply stability. Progressive public servants, include the ones I mentioned are focused on maintaining a stable society that serves everyone's needs and aspirations. The Tea-Party nutcakes, on the other hand, seem intent on dismantling our government, shredding the Social Contract, and time-traveling us back to the Dark Ages. Unfortunately, they seem to be dominating the Republican Party. (For the record, I miss Chuck Percy, too. [One among few Republicans I ever supported]. I doubt that he'd find many kindred spirits within 2013's GOP). Even perceived moderates like our own Senator Mark Kirk vote in synch with his Republican homies like Mitch McConnell, Orrin Hatch, and yep, even Ted Cruz much of the time.
ReplyDeleteNot understanding the problems of the business world? Elizabeth Warren may be an academic, but I believe that she's demonstrated a very keen understanding of the business world. She's demonstrated her acumen repeatedly during hearings as a member of the Senate Banking Committee. She's not anti-business, neither are her fellow progressives. But they fervently believe in curbing corporate abuse.
You imply that "most people's" actions don't jibe with what they say, feel or think. They like to believe that they're more generous than they are. I don't know if that's true or not. But it does seem as if a lot of folks VOTE against their own ideals. I attribute this to conditioning and, more to the point, lack of information. (I've emphasized this in previous posts). Some folks might attribute that to intellectual laziness. Maybe so. But many people are simply working too hard just to survive. Who has the time to be curious?
Sure we need more purple states. But as long as state legislatures can draw the district lines, it ain't gonna happen. California uses a formula for redistricting that eliminates politically-inspired tampering. The rest of the nation should follow their example.
I agree with you about California's formula--if it takes self-serving out of the election process, it should become federal election law.
DeleteI actually met Percy while I was a Republican, liked him too. We still have moderate Republicans in Illinois, should support them when possible. If Kirk votes with Cruz, I am appalled. I will write to him!
I wasn't specific enough (a bane of bad communication!) when talking about academics "vs." small business owners. I've talked to many small business proprietors over the years, never worked in government (except once, as a janitor for Hennepin County in Mpls.), always was employed by private enterprise. Someone like me can understand the usual business owners' day-to-day difficulties better than even Ms. Warren, who I support and admire, by the way, ESPECIALLY for her stand in attempting to bring back Glass-Steagall, which has concerned me since I found out Gramm, Bliley, Leach and Prez Clinton killed it back in ~1999, have blog-posted about it many times.
Finally, back in the day when I was a wife, mother, 40 hr./week worker and
night-time college student, I still kept up pretty well with my intellectual curiosity.