[statecom-discuss] Example of Progressive Democrats bad politics/ ineffectrive strategy

[BillCunningham]

Ron,

I think it will be helpful to break down the differences with the progressive dems into two parts, strategic and programmatic. This is not the only way this could be broken down, but I think it will reach the most people.

The strategic difference is that we try to change the world by building up a new political party which engages equally in electoral and nonelectoral struggle. They seek to win control of the Democrat party and use it as the instrument of change. They have a clearer strategy than we do, because they are following a well-trod path. What they are doing has been done over and over again. Our critique of their strategy might be summed up in Reagan's famous question: Are you better off today than you were twenty years ago? Another question: What makes them think this time will be any different?  And all the critique about the Dems' increasing tendency to merge with the Reps, the disappearance of the historic left-right divide in Western politics, etc....

The strength of their strategy is that it is rooted in the unique US two-party electoral system. As a "third party" we have to follow an "ousider" strategy that emphasizes local communities in both the electoral and action spheres.

The programmatic difference is trickier because, for almost every position we take, there are some Dems (and some Reps and Libs for that matter) who will agree with that position. But when a difficult question comes up, most of them scatter. 

You asked about rent control earlier. Of the 9-member mainly progressive Dem Cambridge City Council, 6 were pro-rent control while it was the law (a law brought about and defended by 6 years of direct action and organizing), but all but one abandoned it immediately after. Jarrett Barrios won't answer questions about it; Avi Green told the press he opposed it; Jesse Gordon never says anything about it. Their program is based on tracking polls, ours is bsed on values.

On the State level they voted for that sell-out health bill. On the national level they support the War and the PATRIOT Act. The Senate vote this spring on the national ID (effective in 2008) was 100-0.

The underlying programmatic difference is that the progressive dems accept the economics of continual growth, investment in technology as key to a sustainable future, a strong, growing state as the bedrock of desirable reform. Those who accept the ten key values do so piecemeal, not holistically. 

The link between strategy and program for them coinsists of the corporate interests that finance them and whom they are bound to support in turn. For us, the link is through our values.... 


-----Original Message-----
>From: Ron Francis <ronwf777 at yahoo.com>
>Sent: Jul 12, 2006 2:55 PM
>To: Discussion List for StateCom members <statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org>
>Subject: Re: [statecom-discuss] Example of Progressive Democrats bad politics	/ ineffectrive strategy
>
>I looked on the WEbsite of the Progressive Democrats and they don't appear to have a platform... I will check this.
>   
>  it is notable that the Democratic party paltform says nothing about electoral reform.
>
>Ron Francis <ronwf777 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>  Please give examples David of differing goals....
>
>Other than Palestine which is the obvious case
>They support single payer and are anti-war as far as I know
>Ron
>
>david rolde wrote:
>GRP differs from the "Progressive Democrats" on more
>than just strategy. Many or most "Progressive
>Democrats" don't want to see the same social changes
>that most of us G-Rs want. Therefore GRP and
>"Progressive Democrats" differ on goals as well as
>strategy. - David
>
>--- Ron Francis wrote:
>
>> Hey GRs,
>> 
>> I will be having a phone discussion with a
>> representative from the Progressive Democrats on
>> July 13th about the different strategies that the
>> Green Rainbow uses and how that compares to the
>> "Progressive Democrat" starategy.
>> 
>> Therefore I am soliciting experiences people have
>> had with "progressive" Democrats or beliefs on why
>> the GR strategy is better that the "progressive"
>> Democrat strategy for social change.
>> 
>> Ron Francis
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>>
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>> 
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Bill Cunningham