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At the Iowa Progressive Network/DFA Conference in Iowa City over the weekend, there was a lot of discussion about how the vast majority of people think money has too much influence in politics. Yet some were dismissing clean elections as a fringe issue that wouldn't be popular among moderate voters. This is just one example of where progressive issues are really mainstream issues.
The Campaign for America's Future (PDF of the report) for has a report out that shows conservative America is a myth and the majority of Americans believe in a progressive agenda. Here are some highlights from the report...
On Health Care: 69 percent of Americans think it is the responsibility of the federal government to make sure all Americans have access to health coverage; 76 percent find access to health care more important than maintaining the Bush tax cuts; three in five would be willing to have their own taxes increased to achieve universal coverage.Advancing the progressive agenda forward requires a little backbone and better messaging. Democrats need to stop apologizing for their positions. If they stand strong the American people will follow because the American people agree on the vast majority of these issues.
On Energy Policy: 52 percent of Americans believe "the best way for the U.S. to reduce its reliance on foreign oil" is to "have the government invest in alternative energy sources"; 64 percent are willing to pay a higher energy tax to pay for renewable energy research; 68 percent of the public thinks U.S. energy policy is better solved by conservation than production.
On the Economy: 77 percent of Americans believe Congress should increase the minimum wage; 66 percent believe "upper-income people" pay too little in taxes; 53 percent feel the Bush administration's tax cuts have failed because they have increased the deficit and caused cuts in government programs.
On Government's Role: 69 percent of Americans believe the government "should care for those who can't care for themselves." Twice as many people (43 percent to 20 percent) want "government to provide many more services even if it means an increase in spending" as want government to provide fewer services "in order to reduce spending."
On Immigration: 62 percent of Americans believe undocumented immigrants should be given a chance to "keep their jobs and eventually apply for legal status." 49 percent believe the best way to reduce illegal immigration from Mexico is to penalize employers, not more border control.
4 comments:
What about questions on gun control, abortion, gay marriage, fiscal responsibility, border control, military, etc? Just because you've got barely a majority of people to go along with potentially skewed questions doesn't mean that Conservatism is a myth. I certainly don't think my beliefs are a myth.
A lot of liberals like to think that neo-conservatives and true conservatives are the same thing. This is not the case.
Your beliefs aren't a myth. The myth is that your beliefs are conservative.
A post by Radloff isprired me to write this post back 0n February 17th.
http://commoniowan.blogspot.com/2007/02/need-for-saner-policy.html
I wrote...
"When it comes to abortion, no one is for abortion. The goal shouldn't be to ban abortion, but to tackle the causes of abortion by investing in sexual education and reducing poverty. When it comes to government spending, people don't like money being wasted on social warfare or being wasted by the Pentagon. When it comes gun control, I understand people like to hunt. However, you don't need a machine gun to go shoot a couple pheasants. When it comes to health care, it is clear to a majority of Americans that it is morally wrong that 40 million Americans don't have health care."
As a liberal, I would like to know where the Main Street Conservatives are and why did they let the neocons and Religous Right hijack their party?
But what you wrote on February 17 is not conservative, either. It is opening the door for further government intrusion into people's lives.
One of the biggest differences between a conservative and a liberal is their view on the use of government. Liberals see the government as a nanny, someone to help them when they get a bloody nose. Conservatives view government as a necessary evil; sure, we need the basics of justice, defense, roads, police and fire protection, but once we're past that, leave everyone to their own freedom.
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