What is a Progressive?

Katrina vanden Heuvel on Andrew Cuomo at the Nation:

Cuomo is a contradictory figure. He describes himself as progressive, but spent most of 2011 in a warm embrace with the state’s Republican leaders. His is the progressivism that is good on social issues (marriage equality) and not-so-good on economic fairness.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Economic fairness is THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE from a progressive viewpoint.

In our country money is power.  Political fairness and economic fairness go hand in hand.  The less concerned someone is with how they are going to survive the next month, the more time they have for participating in the political process. Democracy depends on having an involved and informed electorate.  Poverty destroys that.

Ask any unemployed member of the LGBT community which is more important - having a job or being able to marry.  I can guarantee you what most of them would say.

I'm not saying social issues - abortion rights, LGBT rights, etc. - are not important.  All I am saying is that any person who is "business friendly" in the Andrew Cuomo sense is by definition not a progressive.  And its about time real progressives called them out on that.

The Distinction Between an Act of Terrorism and an Act of War

When we do it, it's an act of war.

When they do it, it's terrorism.

OWS = Terrorism

Booman is right: it doesn't take much to reach the conclusion that people engaged in peaceful protest are being treated as potential terrorists by law enforcement authorities.

And based on my own personal observations (yes I have been to an OWS event in NYC) I agree with him that most participants are well aware of the risk that they take.

But I am heartened by the fact that, notwithstanding this recognition, whenever law enforcement has intervened to break up an encampment or a protest, the next day the crowds become larger and larger.

The government can't arrest everybody but the one percent - can it?

It's Been Awhile...

Those of you who know me personally know that I have been experiencing some economic problems of late.  About a month ago I took on some temporary work that has helped alleviate the situation, but the hours are long and I find myself getting home every evening too tired to even contemplate turning on the computer.  My apologies - I hope things will improve in the near future....