where progressives network
An Open letter to the Progressive movement
by Davis Fleetwood
share: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgd6KXfPWgo
Dear Progressives, or liberals, or whatever labels you proudly wear or your worldview has occasioned others to foist upon you.
I’m Davis Fleetwood, I am one of you, and I’d like a few moments of your time.
Our movement, if the loose connection of websites and facebook pages and email circles we bounce around on can be called a movement, is failing.
Despite the laudable and truly valiant efforts of groups like Iraq Vets Against the War and Individuals such as Cindy Sheehan, David Swanson Cynthia McKinney, Ralph Nader and even Dennis Kucinich- Single payer healthcare has been marginalized to the fringes and all but removed from the debate, the peace movement is a complete failure, the new energy bill could actually make the environment worse, and we are no closer to a two state solution and justice for Palestine than we were under Ronald Regan.
Consider the following.
Policy is made from the center. All of our efforts in the past have been an effort to move the policy makers to the left.
We should instead focus on moving the entire center to the left.
The right wing has outfoxed us. They have their religious fanatics and their libertarians, and their Glenn Beck enthusiasts. All of those constituencies are dismissed by mainstream media and policy makers, - but their voice is loud enough to be added to the conversation, and the next thing you know the center has moved RIGHT.
Think of it like a cycling team- a few of us need to break from the pack, race out ahead, in hopes of wearing out the other teams cyclists. A few of us need to go WAY left of liberal- I mean cartoonishly left of liberal, and enough of us have to do so in enough different forums with enough conviction and sincerity so that we begin to drag the conversation the whole paradigm, LEFT. In doing so, the center- where policy is made, will follow. I’m that cyclist breaking from the pack.
In support of just such a strategy I invite you on two journeys. First, so that we know where we are going, we need to revisit the past. And I will do so in my “this day in the USA project.” 365 videos in 365 days, re-telling the history of the United States one day at a time. This project will live on a new YouTube channel- subscribes, grab it share it blog it blast it, make it the most subscribed channel this week. Give it credibility.
Certainly, the scholars among you will be able to poke holes in my daily video essays, but my lie’s will tell a greater truth while injecting a much needed sense of humor into our holier than thou disposition.
Looking to the future, I have started the 9/10 Project. The rejoinder to the Glenn Beck 9/12 project - the 9/10 project is interested in post American cartography.
That is right- the 9/10 project is so liberal and progressive as to be an open source brainstorming effort to bring about the peaceful break up of the United States.
Think of it like friends don’t let friends drive drunken campaign on a global scale. Citizens should not let their country lock and load and step on the gas pedal accelerating towards Armageddon.
Do I expect or even want the 9/10 Project to succeed?
No.
But my mistake- our mistake- in the past has always been to fight directly for what we wanted.
If an archer is trying to hit the target and the wind is coming from her left, she must aim accordingly. In aiming for a progressive agenda, the 9/10 project is aiming way to the left of said agenda, with full knowledge of the powerful forces blowing against it.
Got any other ideas? Do share.
Grab this share this blog this and blast this.
share: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgd6KXfPWgo
Dear Progressives, or liberals, or whatever labels you proudly wear or your worldview has occasioned others to foist upon you.
I’m Davis Fleetwood, I am one of you, and I’d like a few moments of your time.
Our movement, if the loose connection of websites and facebook pages and email circles we bounce around on can be called a movement, is failing.
Despite the laudable and truly valiant efforts of groups like Iraq Vets Against the War and Individuals such as Cindy Sheehan, David Swanson Cynthia McKinney, Ralph Nader and even Dennis Kucinich- Single payer healthcare has been marginalized to the fringes and all but removed from the debate, the peace movement is a complete failure, the new energy bill could actually make the environment worse, and we are no closer to a two state solution and justice for Palestine than we were under Ronald Regan.
Consider the following.
Policy is made from the center. All of our efforts in the past have been an effort to move the policy makers to the left.
We should instead focus on moving the entire center to the left.
The right wing has outfoxed us. They have their religious fanatics and their libertarians, and their Glenn Beck enthusiasts. All of those constituencies are dismissed by mainstream media and policy makers, - but their voice is loud enough to be added to the conversation, and the next thing you know the center has moved RIGHT.
Think of it like a cycling team- a few of us need to break from the pack, race out ahead, in hopes of wearing out the other teams cyclists. A few of us need to go WAY left of liberal- I mean cartoonishly left of liberal, and enough of us have to do so in enough different forums with enough conviction and sincerity so that we begin to drag the conversation the whole paradigm, LEFT. In doing so, the center- where policy is made, will follow. I’m that cyclist breaking from the pack.
In support of just such a strategy I invite you on two journeys. First, so that we know where we are going, we need to revisit the past. And I will do so in my “this day in the USA project.” 365 videos in 365 days, re-telling the history of the United States one day at a time. This project will live on a new YouTube channel- subscribes, grab it share it blog it blast it, make it the most subscribed channel this week. Give it credibility.
Certainly, the scholars among you will be able to poke holes in my daily video essays, but my lie’s will tell a greater truth while injecting a much needed sense of humor into our holier than thou disposition.
Looking to the future, I have started the 9/10 Project. The rejoinder to the Glenn Beck 9/12 project - the 9/10 project is interested in post American cartography.
That is right- the 9/10 project is so liberal and progressive as to be an open source brainstorming effort to bring about the peaceful break up of the United States.
Think of it like friends don’t let friends drive drunken campaign on a global scale. Citizens should not let their country lock and load and step on the gas pedal accelerating towards Armageddon.
Do I expect or even want the 9/10 Project to succeed?
No.
But my mistake- our mistake- in the past has always been to fight directly for what we wanted.
If an archer is trying to hit the target and the wind is coming from her left, she must aim accordingly. In aiming for a progressive agenda, the 9/10 project is aiming way to the left of said agenda, with full knowledge of the powerful forces blowing against it.
Got any other ideas? Do share.
Grab this share this blog this and blast this.
Add a Comment
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Comment by mary_sez on July 11, 2009 at 9:53am
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" Our movement, is failing. Despite the laudable and truly valiant efforts of groups, Single payer healthcare has been marginalized to the fringes and all but removed from the debate" sez u.
our Movement is not failing sez i. maybe to u it Appears to be failing for the very reasons u pointed out but to me what has failed is the states inability to Hear 'we the people'.
they have been dictating to us for so long now they do not real eyes Many of the people r waking from their slumber and they don't like being led through the ring in their nose to the very slaughter of their race.
PEOPLE r listening and they r paying attention.
it is Much more then healthcare that has been stolen, it has beed the very Essence of our beingness that has been robbed. thats over now though Because of places like youtube and face book.
fox news will Never give us accurate news, neither will cnn or any of the other news sources under the restrictions of 'the state'.
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Comment by Beadbud5000 on July 6, 2009 at 4:29pm -
The progressive movement is at times, a misnomer in a lot of ways. Individual's apathy and complacency have much to do with it. This seems to act on a group think level too, if that makes any sense.
Good video.
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Comment by Herbert J. Hoffman on July 6, 2009 at 2:59pm -
Davis,
Your comments are to the point and by and large accurate. The "progressive movement" has been co-opted by the Democratic Party to the extent that its voice and actions are muted. On another point -- for your information Elizabeth and Dennis Kucinich have created a 9/10 project, however I am not up-to-date on its current status. Perhaps you could check with Elizabeth.
Peace,
Herb
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