All progressives, even progressive moderates such as myself, share the desire to carve out a better life for those who are less fortunate. In fact we all share many of the objectives of the far left. The main difference is in how we set out to accomplish those goals. The key to the moderate progressive strategy is acceptance of political reality.

Democrats and progressive independents make up a minority of the US electorate. Those on the far left make up a minority of Democrats and progressive independents, a minority of a minority then.  Together we must convince the independents in the middle, those who might vote for either Democrats or Republicans, to vote for Democratic candidates on a national level who will implement needed reforms.

Those voters who decide elections in key states in this country have an aversion to the politics of both the far left and far right.  Therefore, to be successful in moving towards our objectives we need to nominate Democratic candidates who can capture the support of those voters who decide elections on a national scale, especially in those states and Congressional districts that usually decide who controls the White House and the two houses of Congress.

Regardless of our personal feelings on the matter, it is political reality that candidates who support so called ”radical” progressive measures are not acceptable to the voters who decide which party controls the levers of power in Washington and who appoints and confirms members of the Supreme Court, and consequently whether liberal or conservative views will prevail on a national level.  

Consequently the Democrat electorate usually nominates moderate progressives for President and for Congress in key swing states and districts.  Those on the far left often prefer candidates who more closely represent their more aggressive progressive views so they are tempted to vote for fringe candidates such those of the Green Party.  However, those who understand political reality resist that urge because they know that even together all Democrats and progressive independents represent a minority of voters and we must stick together in order to elect candidates who will get things done in Washington.  

Of course, there will be a small number of progressives for whom being true their presently unattainable political ideals is more important than getting of anything practical nature done.  Like those of the far right, their political views are set in stone and they view those who are more moderate in their political views with the same animosity as their political enemies.  Fortunately they are only a tiny sliver of the electorate.  On the other hand, by not voting for Democratic candidates they occasionally manage to hand the reins of the government to those who are most antagonistic towards their views and objectives.  

This political situation may not last for ever.  Younger voters are more liberal than usual and remarkably, at least for now, seem to be resisting the normal tendency to grow more conservative as they grow older.  So there is hope for a future when the younger generations become more reliable voters.  However, until then we must deal with the political realities as they now exist.

Cajun (Rick Guilbeau)