The Space Coast Progressives devote a web page to the definition of a progressive.
Progressives put "We, the People" first, before profits and special interests, and believe the common good is necessary for individual well-being. Progressives meet life's challenges cooperatively, democratically, holistically and nonviolently with solutions that maximize liberty, imagination, leadership, justice, sustainability and respect for all.
The single word that leaps out from this definition is holistically.
Meaning, "Relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts."
I haven't witnessed much holistic behavior demonstrated among my fellow progressives these past several days. Rather, I've noted more emotionally-driven idealistic behavior , my way or the highway sort of thinking, the political dissection of the Senate health care bill into all or nothing by those same persons who gather together under the umbrella of progressivism.
These past few years, I've grabbed on to the word holistically like a life preserver. In my opinion--and for the cause I advocate--holistic change will be accomplished only via working within the present unusually severe system to effect change as a whole.
As noted by Paul Krugman (Pass the Bill, NYT, 12/17/2009) , these changes stand to be accomplished by the Senate bill (as it reads today).
At its core, the bill would do two things. First, it would prohibit discrimination by insurance companies on the basis of medical condition or history: Americans could no longer be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition, or have their insurance canceled when they get sick. Second, the bill would provide substantial financial aid to those who don’t get insurance through their employers, as well as tax breaks for small employers that do provide insurance.
That's a holistic systems change, progressive in nature, working toward individual well-being.
C.S. Lewis once said, "We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive."
Which road are you on, progressives?
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"But let’s all take a deep breath, and consider just how much good this bill would do, if passed — and how much better it would be than anything that seemed possible just a few years ago. With all its flaws, the Senate health bill would be the biggest expansion of the social safety net since Medicare, greatly improving the lives of millions. Getting this bill would be much, much better than watching health care reform fail."
--Paul Krugman
--Paul Krugman
