Let my children go

I get frustrated, as I think most progressives do, with the timidity of our politician and leaders. The timidity is often defended as “realism.” The “public” isn't ready for that yet. And while that is probably true for my demographic and Fox viewers of every age, it is not true for the rest of the population. If you are reading this, you already know that Data for Progress has the receipts. Americans are overwhelmingly progressive on nearly every important issue.

And yet, “progressive” politicians are constantly making speeches and commercials reassuring the Baby Boomers that we aren't going to change things too fast.

[...]

We appease the political sensitivities [of] a generation – mine, the boomers – as if it were their future we were talking about. It is not. It is the future for the overwhelmingly progressive generations coming behind us whom we have stymied in every election, in every airing of political priorities and, of every debate about “what’s good” for America.

[...]

There have been encouraging developments in Minnesota: Progressives voting for progressive politicians and those politicians voting for progressive policy priorities! What a concept!

The highlights:

• The Minnesota legislature passed a budget that invests in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
• The legislature also passed bills that protect the environment and promote clean energy.
• In addition, the legislature passed bills that make it easier for people to vote and to register to vote.
• Investing $1.5 billion in early childhood education.
  [...]
• Increasing funding for public schools by $1 billion.
• Expanding access to healthcare by expanding Medicaid and creating a public option for health insurance.
• Investing $1 billion in clean energy and energy efficiency.
• Making it easier for people to vote by expanding early voting and same-day registration.

[...]

In a country where progressives had the US House, Senate, and White House for two years, we achieved precious little to suggest that progressives ruled the country. Minnesota has shown us how it’s done.

[...]

And yet, we tiptoe around these issues like the kids at Thanksgiving not wanting to upset the grandparents by telling them that they’re atheists!

Why be so tentative about universal Health Care? Why be so tentative about aggressive green energy and climate change goals? These are things that need to happen and will happen and the sooner we do it, the happier we will ALL be, and the better a country and world we will leave to our kids!

   cmhmd @ Daily Kos