Thank you for articulating this! I thought about this a lot as a public health grad student - we were all so clearly on side of the political spectrum, I worried deeply we had lost all sight of how to listen to or communicate with those who disagreed. Those worries have only gotten stronger in the years since.
I think more moderate messaging might be just what we need to usher in an era of more progressive policies – while also widening our coalition. We need bold policymaking, but progressives shouldn't treat policies like an all-or-nothing litmus test or use alienating/dismissive rhetoric and moderates shouldn't take too incremental an approach or dismiss progressive policies wholesale as unworkable and unacceptable to the country.
And all of us on the liberal side of the spectrum need to more deeply and open-mindedly listen to those on the conservative side, and reframe our messages to actually persuade by appealing to their values, not ours. Freedom and family and faith and all these other values aren't just conservative territory. We need to reclaim them - I think our policies actually do a better job of protecting all these things, and that's the argument we should make.
Yes, I agree on all, particularly about the open-mindedness. I am reminded of the notion that ideas are not responsible for those who believe in this them. This suggests to me that we should be open to ideas from all sides, without forgetting the values that animate our mission.
Here here! Thank you for naming the political dilemma we are in.
In addition to these good points, there is the problem that since the end of the seventies the progressive left has not been a clear voice for the entire working class.
Putting itself in the corner of an inclusivity, that focuses primarily on the groups you mention, has left the door wide-open for right wing populism.
It is time for a real inclusive voice on the progressive left.
Thank you for articulating this! I thought about this a lot as a public health grad student - we were all so clearly on side of the political spectrum, I worried deeply we had lost all sight of how to listen to or communicate with those who disagreed. Those worries have only gotten stronger in the years since.
I think more moderate messaging might be just what we need to usher in an era of more progressive policies – while also widening our coalition. We need bold policymaking, but progressives shouldn't treat policies like an all-or-nothing litmus test or use alienating/dismissive rhetoric and moderates shouldn't take too incremental an approach or dismiss progressive policies wholesale as unworkable and unacceptable to the country.
And all of us on the liberal side of the spectrum need to more deeply and open-mindedly listen to those on the conservative side, and reframe our messages to actually persuade by appealing to their values, not ours. Freedom and family and faith and all these other values aren't just conservative territory. We need to reclaim them - I think our policies actually do a better job of protecting all these things, and that's the argument we should make.
Yes, I agree on all, particularly about the open-mindedness. I am reminded of the notion that ideas are not responsible for those who believe in this them. This suggests to me that we should be open to ideas from all sides, without forgetting the values that animate our mission.
Here here! Thank you for naming the political dilemma we are in.
In addition to these good points, there is the problem that since the end of the seventies the progressive left has not been a clear voice for the entire working class.
Putting itself in the corner of an inclusivity, that focuses primarily on the groups you mention, has left the door wide-open for right wing populism.
It is time for a real inclusive voice on the progressive left.
Thank you Joan. Yes, I do think This is a dilemma, and also that we should be casting our lot with the cause of inclusion.
Appreciate this opening of a window to let some fresh air into what sometimes feels like a closed room.
Thank you Liz. That is a beautiful metaphor. Here is to fresh air.