I am a progressive

Almost a decade ago I got a message from an admired relative who very politely and honestly wanted a better understanding of how I disagree with many of our shared loved ones. When I ran across the old exchange yesterday I decided to update it as a post on my blog -- leaving out the references to specific beloved relatives.

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In a nutshell I am a progressive. 

I like to think I am progressive in the tradition of Lincoln, TR, FDR, Truman, Ike, JFK, LBJ, Carter, Clinton, Obama, and Biden. I believe that the Preamble is the best one-sentence statement of my ideals for what government should be about. I believe the ideal is a balance of individual liberty and the common welfare. I believe that maximum liberty exists somewhere in the middle of the socialist/capitalist spectrum. Too far to the socialist end and we lose a vibrant, innovative economy and stifle liberty of imagination and entrepreneurship. Too far on the capitalist end and we are subject to the tyranny of the barons of big business. I believe a highly progressive system is the fairest form of taxation. Since 1981 I believe we have been moving too far toward the oligarchic extreme.

The middle class grew and flourished during the period of strong unions and highly progressive tax rates in the middle of the 1900s. That was when, in my opinion, we came closest -- imperfectly even then -- to the goal of "all boats rising". For a couple of decades it was entirely normal for the family of a factory worker or store clerk or office employee to own their own home and live a middle class lifestyle, often on one salary, and to expect their children to do as well or better.

In short, I suspect the progressive movement (TR, Taft, Wilson, FDR and the unions) saved America from the extremes of socialism and even communism and allowed for the flourishing of American business AND Americans in general during the twentieth century. Great improvements were made to infrastructure and government programs that benefitted everyone. Think of the Interstate Highway System or the Tennessee Valley projects or the GI Bill or (going back further) the Erie Canal, or the postal service, (to name a few) that benefitted industry and business and just ordinary citizens greatly while providing good work for millions.

The Reagan revolution of 1981 crippled unions and lowered progressive tax rates benefiting the wealthy at the expense of the middle classes. Those policies produced, in my opinion, the extreme concentration of wealth that has now reached Gilded Age levels, causing the Middle Classes to stagnate at best. It reaffirmed the error of the “trickle-down” theory of economics.

I am NOT anti-business. I have been an entrepreneur twice in my life and treasured the opportunity to try to make a profit from my ideas and my labor. But I also realize that all of us benefit from the freedom, infrastructure, and regulations that "WE the People" have covenanted together to create as a society. I owe a big part of my profits to support that joint effort.

On social issues I am libertarian. I believe there needs to be an important societal reason to limit individual freedom. Therefore:

• Despite the fact that I personally abhor the idea of abortion except in the case of rape or incest or an endangered mother, I believe we should leave that decision to the pregnant woman. 

• My homosexual friends, relatives, and students seem to be, at least to the same degree as their heterosexual contemporaries, happy and stable and contributing members of society. I see no legitimate societal reason to criminalize their ‘pursuit of happiness' or limit their freedom to marry. 

• I grew up in segregation and have seen cruel and unkind treatment of folks because of race.  I still see my black students and friends facing discrimination. I despise racial prejudice and intolerance.

• I believe that our society is much too diverse for us to allow mixture of religion in government. When I think of my Jewish, Sihk, Muslim, and atheist friends, relatives, and students, I do not want them mistreated because of their (or their parents) religious belief or non-belief.

I have tremendous respect for many of my conservative friends, students, relatives. Some have been my heroes since I was a child. Many are smart, kind, and prinicipled. I am very uncomfortable to be in such disagreement with some of them, but I am. The primary reason I started my blog was to be able to express my political opinions without acrimony.

I hope this gives a better understanding of my views.