http://www.inthesetimes.com/archives/tags/progressive/ In These Times features award-winning investigative reporting about corporate malfeasance and government wrongdoing, insightful analysis of national and international affairs, and sharp cultural criticism about events and ideas that matter. en-us Expression Engine jessica@inthesetimes.com seamus@inthesetimes.com Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3854/keep_the_heat_on_obama/ In 1992, when Bill Clinton won the Democratic nomination, Washington progressives -- the leaders of unions, think tanks and advocacy groups -- fell over themselves to rally around the man from Hope. Part of this support was, no doubt, to make sure that he got elected -- after 12 dark years of Presidents Reagan and Bush. Washington's notable liberals also decided to act as FOBs (Friends of Bill) so as to ingratiate themselves to the future administration. Once at the left hand of power, the reasoning went, they could use their influence for good. So the progressive community closed ranks around their "friend" -- or the man who was a friend of their friends. Friends like Derek Shearer, an In… election 2008 politics progressivism Rachel Jefferson Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3883/an_unconventional_convention/ When I first heard about the Democratic convention coming to my hometown of Denver, I wasn't all that excited. For many reasons, in fact, I was pretty unhappy with the whole idea. As a transplant who moved from the overpopulated East Coast to the more manageable Rocky Mountain West, I was not looking forward to huge crowds taking over what is usually a pretty quiet town. As a D.C.-hater who fled Washington's career-climbers, I was annoyed that Beltway parasites would be infesting my backyard. And as an activist who has spent a career attacking -- and trying to halt -- the influence of money on politicians, I was nauseated that a corporate-funded bonanza draped in Democratic Party bunting would take… democratic convention 2008 progressive politics Rachel Jefferson Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3908/united_we_fail/ This election year, the bandwagon to fix the healthcare system barrels along. On board is a motley crew of self-styled reformers, the agents of change. But not all change is created equal. And nowhere is this truer than with healthcare reform. We've been here before, in 1994, when the Clintons' attempts to cure a sick healthcare system came a cropper. In an interview with The Harvard University Gazette, Theda Skocpol -- author of Boomerang, a 1996 book that analyzed why those reform efforts were unsuccessful -- said, "As usual, everyone failed to anticipate the conservative ideological crusade against health reforms -- yet such crusades have happened every time the issue has come up in U.S. politics." Let's look at some… health care elections reform Rachel Jefferson Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:00:01 -0500 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3911/mapping_the_road_less_traveled/ Progressives need a book that demonstrates to idealistic young people that they can pay the rent and transform society. The book would also nudge older people into activism and address the responsibilities of adulthood. Sadly, Practical Idealists is not this book. A self-exploration manual, Practical Idealists: Changing the World and Getting Paid (Global Equity Initiative, Harvard University, October) draws on interviews with more than 40 people of varying professions who "opt for social change careers that reflect their values," write the authors. At a scant 156 pages, this slim volume fans out in all the right directions -- with the best of intentions -- but with a reach that sorely exceeds its grasp. One of the book's strengths is that… progressive activism books Rachel Jefferson Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:34:00 -0500 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3958/internationalism_and_the_progressive_movement/ One of the finest traditions of the American left has been its historic commitment to solidarity with the oppressed and poverty-stricken peoples of the world. In the last few years, however, the progressive movement has become far too insular. As a result, we have too often neglected our internationalist responsibilities–especially when it comes to confronting the ravages of world poverty. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 18 million people die each year due to poverty-related causes. This staggering figure represents about one third of all deaths that occur throughout the world on an annual basis. And these are deaths that could be easily prevented through better nutrition, safe drinking water, and adequate vaccines, antibiotics and other medicines. As Robert… poverty progressive movement internationalism Rachel Jefferson Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0600 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/4038/we_have_much_to_celebrate/ Next year, President Barack Obama and the solidly Democratic Congress can pass legislation that provides universal healthcare, establishes a sustainable energy program, reforms labor laws and restores environmental safeguards. In addition, the current economic crisis gives progressives an opportunity to pursue institutional reforms that have previously been off the table. We have nationalized elements of our financial system, but its institutions remain unresponsive to the needs of the American people. How can we hold the banks that we now own accountable? What adjustments can we make in our economic model so that the tremendous productivity of American workers will translate into higher wages and better lives? We can also put on the agenda issues that were ignored during the presidential… election 2008 political agenda progressives Rachel Jefferson Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:00:01 -0600 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/4063/illinois_schools_on_uneven_field/ CHICAGO -- When the Chicago Cubs hosted Game 1 of their opening round playoff series on Oct. 1, more than 40,000 fans packed Wrigley Field. Outside the ballpark, another group was also trying to make history. Roughly 1,500 parents, students, teachers and activists protested for state educational reforms. Crowded around the foot of a flatbed truck, the rally was the latest in an educational reform movement, led by Democratic State Sen. James L. Meeks, a pastor at Salem Baptist Church on Chicago's South Side. For six years, Meeks has tried to pressure Illinois lawmakers to address the disparity between dollars spent per child in wealthy suburban Chicago and the dollars spent in the inner city and downstate. "We do not… education Illinois schools reform movement Rachel Jefferson Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:00:00 -0600 http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/4259/past_the_point_of_no_return/ Why did Barack Obama choose to come all the way to Denver, Colorado to sign the economic recovery package this week? Did he throw a dart at a map? Was he courting western swing states? Or did he just want a junket to a metropolis that Americans tell pollsters is the most desirable in the nation? My amateur guess is none of the above -- I'm betting the choice (perhaps subconsciously) reflected Obama's affinity for geographic symbolism. This is the presidential candidate who launched his campaign at the site of Abraham Lincoln's historic "house divided" speech and who delivered his own famous address on race at Philadelphia's Constitution Center. So it's a safe wager that the president had a metaphor… obama economy reform Rachel Jefferson