Finding Progressives No Picnic

Maria Allwine and I attended the Progressive Picnic this past weekend. This was an event put on by the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance. On their website they say they are for: "...equal rights ... freedom, fairness and opportunity for all."
Sounds great doesn't it? Maria and I thought so too, so we decided to attend and meet with other like-minded legislators and citizens from around Montgomery County. I was a little suspicious seeing the guest list had only Democrats listed, but, I thought, what the heck, there aren't that many Progressive Republicans and no Greens in elected office (yet); I had thought that there must be some Progressives in Montgomery County that were not Democrats, maybe they just didn't have the name recognition of the elected officials and that's why they weren't listed.
Arriving, I found a small but enthusiastic gathering and Maria and I talked with several people. I was glad to have the chance to talk with the representatives of Peace Action Montgomery and had the opportunity to meet State Senator Jamie Raskin.
There was plenty of food, including veggie dogs and burgers; in fact, there seemed to be more vegetarian fare than of the porcine and bovine variety. A welcome change.
Then the speeches began. I must say it was refreshing, coming as I do from a very conservative Frederick County, to hear such Progressive words from each of the speakers. One Latina legislator roared that Maryland will never pass an anti-immigration law like Arizona's, to rousing applause. Others called for universal health care, a living wage, affordable housing, and aid to people with disabilities, the unemployed, and other calls for expanding social programs. It was quite the spectacle.
Jamie Raskin spoke to thunderous applause and approval as he talked about his efforts to move forward the Progressive agenda. He even, graciously acknowledged the presence of Maria and myself and talked of the Green Party as an ally in the Progressive movement.
Not all attendees shared his sentiments about the Greens; many, if not most being committed, rabid, die-hard Democrats. There was one, he may have been the organizer of the event who even brought up the 2000 election - again!
"My God", as someone commented, "That was 10 years ago!". Odd, thinking about it, that Progressives would live in the past, just like Republicans.
In talking with people after the food and speeches it became clear that there was little, if any progressivism beyond the speeches, cheering, and veggie-burgers. At base, they were just Democrats - totally committed to the Obama, O'Malley agenda for a 'better Maryland'; more jobs, more roads, more building, more businesses...well, just more. And worse than that: just more of the same. For example, there was no talk of nor support for a Single-Payer health care system, just more money for insurance companies.
Again, being in Frederick County, I wasn't used to hearing people talk about this being a 'Blue' state, let alone calling for it to become even 'bluer'! In a way they seemed to be fracturing their own party. The rhetoric, if not the actual implementation was clearly to the left of mainstream Democratic policy and thought. This may have just been a natural consequence of being in an already liberal county, but it was difficult for me to see how they could reconcile their speeches with their support for people who clearly do not share their Progressive bias.
How can you call for radical social change and support O'Malley?
The only way, it seems is by the old process of rationalization and the incremental change theory. And one gets incremental change by voting for the least-of-the-worst candidates.
The fact that one can see how poorly that theory has worked, just looking at the last 35 to 40 years does not, apparently affect its support. Like those who deny the science of Global Warming or the predatory nature of Capitalist greed, no amount of facts or data can shake the belief.
So, here is my message to the (Democratic) Progressives who might take a peek at this post:
Continue to be bold; your message, as I heard it last Saturday is mostly on target and the change you call for is most urgently needed. In fact, to a great extent, the change you call for is the same as what we Greens have been calling for since our inception.
Greens are not to be shunned, feared, ignored, or sabotaged; we should be embraced by Progressives everywhere as another voice for sane, humane, social, economic, and military policy.
Greens should not be looked at as competitors but as allies in the struggle for social and economic justice.
Greens are defined by Progressive values and our commitment to them is unwavering. Other Progressives, whether Democratic or not should support not the least-worst of their own party but the most-best of the party that best represents Progressive ideals.
Teabag partiers support the candidates that most represent their own warped views regardless of whether or not the Republican agenda is furthered.
Democrats need to take that a step further and support the most Progressive candidate in any election, even if that person is not a Democrat.
That will accomplish 2 very important goals: Democratic candidates in liberal districts will be MORE Progressive, and Greens will be elected to local, state, and national office.
In order to move this nation toward a more democratic politics we need to move elected representatives to be more Progressive so that we will get: public campaign funding, elimination of restrictions on forming political parties, and open, fair, and representative elections (IRV and Proportional Representation).
Without these changes democracy has no chance of breaking out in this country.
Only by Progressives supporting Progressives can these changes come about.
The Democrats must move beyond fracturing their own party ( as the Right has done to theirs) and embrace the change we all want to see.
We all must take the dare and vote FOR our hopes rather than against our fears.