I agree. Well said. It has occurred to me recently that Washington State is a prime candidate for fighting for and getting free healthcare, M4All, for everyone in the state. We have liberals on the West coast and conservatives in the East. They are all struggling with medical and dental bills. Healthcare as a Left vs Right issue is a myth. We all need it, except the wealthy. In Canada, healthcare started in a single province. The US Congress in entirely corrupt. The wealthy own it, and, coincidentally, they also own the healthcare system. But they don’t entirely own the WA State legislature. This, in my opinion, is doable. It would also be a great opening for fighting for democracy, which is also not a Right vs Left issue.
I’m definitely suggesting it’s time to abandon the Left vs Right identifier. It’s being used to weaken and manipulate both constituencies. Being Progressive should be about strengthening, creating, a real democracy that is responsive to the actual human beings living in a particular place. This will require taxing rich parasites out of existence, in my opinion.
i see the point, but advise not to forget the history (in the us among others) of what used to be 'left vs right' (there's lots of things to learn from).
Since the Iraq War I’ve come to truly recognize the use of propaganda within the USA to support incredible abuse, murder, torture, cultural destruction, with an underlying and merciless racism. This was done by my country with complete impunity. Historically these horrors were also done in the 1800’s in the Philippines, Cuba, Mexico. And have continued nonstop up to the present, now in the Middle East. That same propaganda apparatus has been used to define the USA as a fount of fairness and democracy. We are exceptional! Yet We, the People, have an extraordinary Labor History! Of Communists, Socialists, and a few Anarchists, fighting the Pinkertons (and their death squads), and occasionally the National Guard. Labor fought, won, and eventually lost. Cuz capital rules over all. The lesson learned? Half measures don’t work. Labor and the Poor must crush the wealthy. Once and for all. We must break their power. Real democracy has become a survival necessity. The Climate Crisis alone requires, demands, real democracy.
I agree. Well said. It has occurred to me recently that Washington State is a prime candidate for fighting for and getting free healthcare, M4All, for everyone in the state. We have liberals on the West coast and conservatives in the East. They are all struggling with medical and dental bills. Healthcare as a Left vs Right issue is a myth. We all need it, except the wealthy. In Canada, healthcare started in a single province. The US Congress in entirely corrupt. The wealthy own it, and, coincidentally, they also own the healthcare system. But they don’t entirely own the WA State legislature. This, in my opinion, is doable. It would also be a great opening for fighting for democracy, which is also not a Right vs Left issue.
I’m definitely suggesting it’s time to abandon the Left vs Right identifier. It’s being used to weaken and manipulate both constituencies. Being Progressive should be about strengthening, creating, a real democracy that is responsive to the actual human beings living in a particular place. This will require taxing rich parasites out of existence, in my opinion.
i see the point, but advise not to forget the history (in the us among others) of what used to be 'left vs right' (there's lots of things to learn from).
Since the Iraq War I’ve come to truly recognize the use of propaganda within the USA to support incredible abuse, murder, torture, cultural destruction, with an underlying and merciless racism. This was done by my country with complete impunity. Historically these horrors were also done in the 1800’s in the Philippines, Cuba, Mexico. And have continued nonstop up to the present, now in the Middle East. That same propaganda apparatus has been used to define the USA as a fount of fairness and democracy. We are exceptional! Yet We, the People, have an extraordinary Labor History! Of Communists, Socialists, and a few Anarchists, fighting the Pinkertons (and their death squads), and occasionally the National Guard. Labor fought, won, and eventually lost. Cuz capital rules over all. The lesson learned? Half measures don’t work. Labor and the Poor must crush the wealthy. Once and for all. We must break their power. Real democracy has become a survival necessity. The Climate Crisis alone requires, demands, real democracy.
I like your optimism!
I don’t think of it as optimism. It’s what we need to do.