Mega-sized campaign mailers from San Diego’s current crop of would-be reformers reach practically to the ceiling. I’m sure it’s a boon to the US Postal Service but I feel punch drunk from the senseless beatings so many of our “change-makers” are inflicting on one another.
The bloodshed is really puzzling, since all of our good-guys identify themselves with the same label – Progressive. So here’s a question: what does “progressive” actually mean?
This much I remember from my Urban Planning classes: Way back, starting in the late 1880s and lasting for about three decades till the end of World War I, a social movement arose to confront the negative consequences of the great industrial revolution of the 19th century, and this social movement grew into a political movement, and it became known as “progressivism.”
Progressivism was a big umbrella. Under it, a wide swath of players agitated to reform innumerable societal ills – ruthless business practices, corporate greed, robber barons, government corruption, anti-immigrant venom, anti-black venom, discrimination against women, class warfare, and other fallout from a Golden Age of unprecedented industrialization and rapid economic growth.
But they did more than agitate. They created reform measures to tackle child labor abuses, sweatshops, factory working conditions, efficiency in municipal governance (San Diego’s city manager system, recently replaced by a strong mayor system, was created at this time), monopolistic corporations, and corrupt political machines.
Their bipartisan efforts led to a federal income tax, voting rights for women, direct election of US senators, federal control of the banking system, the initiative/ referendum/ recall process, unionization, public health standards, anti-trust laws, minimum wages, neighborhood settlement houses, public education – you get the gist.
Fast forward a century for the spectacle of modern-day reformers in San Diego and across the country rallying alongside Occupy Wall Street activists in peaceful rebellion against a resurgence of corporate abuse, bank fraud, mega-money control of elections, income inequality, a rigged economy… could this auger a revival of the historic Progressive Era?
Not likely. Times have changed. Today’s “progressive” movement deviates in significant ways from old-time progressivism.
- Back then, the movement and its achievements were the result of vigorous bipartisan efforts. Nowadays, the movement is exclusively owned by “left-leaning” groups and individuals.
- Back then, progressivism drilled-down on ways to create better-functioning bureaucracies and rebuild government institutions. Nowadays, most energy is directed toward social issues of gender equality, ethnic diversity, economic justice, #MeToo dynamics – with less interest in fine-tuning the (wonky but pivotal) managerial, bureaucratic, and structural components of local and federal government.
- Back then, progressivism took a pragmatic approach to change and reform. Societal problems were dealt with through concrete legislative action. Nowadays – given the cold war freeze between polarized political parties – we get more aspirational and inspirational pronouncements and fewer practical steps to achieve them.
Do you ever wonder, are YOU a real progressive? Test yourself with this cheat sheet of progressive values and goals, garnered from public statements by self-branded progressive groups, spokespeople, and progressive-labeled candidates.
A progressive:
- chooses the “public interest” or “common good” over rampant self-seeking individualism
- is a strong proponent of workplace regulations and a living wage
- undertakes environmental stewardship, promotes renewable energy and other programs to deal with climate change
- promotes equality and civil rights for all citizens without regard for race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, lifestyle choice
- demands police reform regarding minorities
- signs on to policies to increase housing construction in urban areas and believes that densification will lower housing costs, relieve homelessness, and make housing more affordable
- backs marriage rights for gay/lesbian couples
- works to elect more women to office
- supports hand-up programs for struggling families, including paid family leave and Social Security expansion
- defends women’s rights to full, autonomous control of their bodies and supports Planned Parenthood... Wait! there’s more! A progressive:
- agrees with legalizing recreational marijuana
- wants to expand automatic voter registration
- values investment in our country’s infrastructure and opposes international trade agreements that send jobs overseas
- agitates for a single payer healthcare system
- champions free community colleges and expanded preschool programs
- advocates for tighter gun regulations
- pushes for net neutrality for free and open internet
- wishes to increase rights and obligations for Wall Street shareholders to undercut corporate dominance
- is repelled by the influence and control of corporate money, bundlers, super-PACS and TV ads in political campaigns
Don't worry – nobody’s asking a progressive candidate to be a saint. But something’s missing from our progressive litmus test. Where’s the bullet point for personal integrity… honesty… truthfulness… dependability… past performance… ethical core… consistent voting record?
Where are the demerits for vituperativeness? obfuscation? distortion? arm-twisting? coercion? false witness? creating one's past out of whole cloth?
Did you pass the test? I did - but, I admit, not with a perfect score. What about the bevy of local candidates who sport the big-P? I predict they'd all get an A. There’s nary a hair’s breadth of difference in their campaign platforms.
Except, perhaps, when it comes to #19 – campaign money.
Despite plenty of lip service from San Diego's candidates about campaign finance reform, the brutal combat zones in some of our primary races (e.g., District Attorney, County Supervisor D4, Congressional D49 & D50) are fueled by big money from super-PACs and fabulously wealthy donors. Even the San Diego County Democratic Party is tilting the primary scales with heavy bundles of cash for one anointed candidate above all others.
Despite plenty of lip service from San Diego's candidates about campaign finance reform, the brutal combat zones in some of our primary races (e.g., District Attorney, County Supervisor D4, Congressional D49 & D50) are fueled by big money from super-PACs and fabulously wealthy donors. Even the San Diego County Democratic Party is tilting the primary scales with heavy bundles of cash for one anointed candidate above all others.
What’s crazy about this picture is the wild-west mashup of progressive candidates endorsed and financed by odd-fellow combos of unions, PACs, and rich individuals. There are too many hidden agendas.
I have a contrarian friend whose opinions I appreciate. He points out that life in San Diego isn’t as bad as all that, at least not when compared to the near-fascistic forces manipulating today's White House and Congress. True.
Then again, even in a city as placid as San Diego, seasoned veterans of political wars readily recognize the alternate political reality hidden under high stacks of glossy campaign sloganeering and progressive rhetoric.
In this era of extreme partisanship, smug convictions, fierce rivalries, smoldering grudges, and #KnowNothing #MeFirst mindsets, even the good guys are not immune to infection.
San Diego looks good on the outside but:
↠ if we don’t master good governance at the local level
↠ if we don’t challenge those who bear responsibility for what goes wrong in our region
↠ if we keep giving passing grades to mediocre politicians
↠ if we fail to confront our change-agent superheroes when they start behaving like the bad guys, then all progressive bets are off.
↠ if we don’t master good governance at the local level
↠ if we don’t challenge those who bear responsibility for what goes wrong in our region
↠ if we keep giving passing grades to mediocre politicians
↠ if we fail to confront our change-agent superheroes when they start behaving like the bad guys, then all progressive bets are off.
More on these issues, players, and candidates next time…
Progressive agenda
Progressive agenda
