Question: Do liberals and progressives have a future?

 

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  Alan L. Maki

  Great question, Les!
  Liberals and progressives have a very bleak future without a robust left. The reason for this is because the left is always the catalyst for change, ideologically and politically as far as taking initiatives in solving problems.
  Liberals are usually pretty much in agreement as far as outlook with progressives and the left but they are slow to act (and often retreat from struggles before the maximum benefits are won.
  Progressivism is the point at which liberals and the left agree to act together.
  An example... the linguist George Lakoff ("Don't Think of an Elephant") is a liberal... he makes a big deal about properly framing issues around "progressive policy directives" but he then goes on to warn: Don't ever propose specific solutions to problems. This is very typical of liberals.
  Now, in our country we have a real problem because those on the left have failed to articulate progressive policy directives (while the liberals have) and since leftists haven't brought forward policy directives, they obviously can't bring forward solutions.
  One reason for this is that the left is completely enthralled with Obama, still. This is demonstrated in the conclusion to an analysis of the most recent Midterm Elections, where a guy named Sam Webb who no one ever heard of, the head of the Communist Party USA, states:
  "The Republicans will bask in the glow of their victory for a while, but don't be surprised when many who voted for them become disillusioned with their policies. And on this ground will emerge a people's coalition that is bigger and stronger than the one that elected Obama in 2008.
  Nothing is more important at this moment. On the emergence of such a movement rests the success of the Obama presidency now and in 2012; on it rests a way out of this economic crisis that is worker and people friendly; on it rests the kind of country we will be in the 21st century - a country that is decent, inclusive, sustainable, peaceful and just, or a country that stoops to what is worst in our culture and history."
  Now, with the left stuck in this kind of mindset thinking that everything hinges on Obama who is most likely a one-term president without so much as articulating the problems of the working people and providing suggested solutions, how is this country going to move forward without a catalyst?
  Unless the left can come up with something better than what is being offered by this Obama loving Communist, chances are we will just continue to hear some faint criticisms here and there from liberals but their words will not be met with action.
  The "action" I would have in mind goes like this:
  We need things like health care and child care... stop the war and spend to create national public programs for both which would create around 15,000,000 jobs paid for by ending these wars and a good hefty tax on the rich.
  This is probably something the left could bring to liberals resulting in progressive actions in the streets and at the polls. Doing something this, liberals and progressives together with their leftists friends, have a bright future.