About
It is our intention to appeal to those with whom we enjoy solidarity. We would like to appeal to logic, reason, a sense of humanity along with the fellowship of all of us as American citizens to come together to promote Progressive policy. If after careful consideration we agree to disagree-so be it. The effort is an honest one.
With solid majorities and a Democratic executive in 2008 Progressives should have been nearly as effective and powerful as the previous Bush administration. But Obama’s cabinet appointments were telling. Suddenly the Democrats were held hostage by a the minority party from which America was running.
In the face of overwhelming public support for single payer or a public option for health care reform, the Democratic head of the committee entrusted with the most power over the proceedings banished any discussion of these publicly desired options from the debate. Further inaction of this new “Hope and Change” administration did anything but change to any significant amount many of the most egregious of the right wing Corporatists policies from previous years. Financial reform and regulations touted as success are in fact toothless and a slap in the face to poor and middle class Americans.
The attack from this administration has been aimed not at those who created the global disaster but those least culpable, the greatest suffering and the most to lose. Social programs had no reason to be jeopardized in any way, least of all by an allegedly Democratic President.
It is clear now that both parties are merely puppets of the same monied interests. The Democrats are in essence paid to be ineffectual bumblers and well meaning wimps by the same corporate powers that own the republican party. If there is going to be any hope for a change it will have to be found in more than showing up to vote every four years. We have to prepare the ground for a new planting. We have to weed out decades of entrenched Madison Avenue propaganda intended to serve one end–the expansion of corporate power over the People. The action must come from outside the establishment venues and must be prepared to meet with torrents of corporate cash in opposition.
The Progressive Underground’s mission is to elevate Progressivism and to define the goals and philosophies we strive for in such a way as to be concise, honest and comprehensive. We firmly believe that a sane Progressive tact is the best way forward for twenty-first century America and that the majority of Americans are actually socially Progressive/Liberal and marginally economically conservative. Our voices are muted by the fact that Progresivism promotes social and economic justice and these two points are anathema to predatory capitalism as proven by turn of the century Progressive movement against industrial and corporate exploitation of American workers.
We believe in and promote a mixed market economy, one in which private enterprise is encouraged and nurtured to promote innovation and progress but where American Citizens are seen as a family and public governance a way to come together to achieve what individually we could not. As a family we pitch in together toward Democratically defined goals and programs and protect our valuable resources both tangible and intangible.
Please Join Us.
Frank Page
Chief Editor, The Progressive Underground
