Republicans and Conservatives have a talking point that is neither true in reality or practice. They love to define Progressives as those people seeking handouts or the spending of other people’s money. Well, it’s not a valid talking point most of the times. But it is true when it comes to supporting those who are promoting the Progressive mantra. Here is a reality we must work on, my dear Progressives.
Last week I had two devoted Conservative Republicans on my Politics Done Right program. They were a lovely couple and contributed financially to the show without hesitation. I had met them two days prior at a Deliberative Dialogue Panel organized by Dr. John J. Theis, the Director of Civic Engagement at Lonestar College-Kingwood. We had 10 Democrats, and 10 Republicans come together in this conservative town to discuss issues that both divide and unite.
There was much to take away from the panel. What I found most intriguing was the passion on the Right, the Conservative Republican side, to support their cause financially. Most Republicans and Democrats on the panel are politically engaged At the same time these are everyday Americans. A woman told me she had a $5,000 morning. I asked her what she meant. She said she spent her time in the morning making calls, raising money for the Republican cause. She made it clear they will do all they can to minimize their losses in 2018. Her husband then came to me and said, “But did she tell you how much she raised for Republican Primary Candidate X?” he asked. “She raised $40,000.” My jaw dropped. This is one woman in our neighborhood of many, working their buts off to fundraise for candidates and organizations that support their conservative cause.
This is just the grassroots wing of the Conservative Machine. This does not include the multibillionaire Koch Brothers and the Mercer family and the cadre of Conservatives that represent the Republican Politicians’ puppet masters. I spoke to an internet broadcaster in the mix. It was clear he was well funded from sources cloaked as advertisers.
Progressives complain a lot about the Corporate Democrat, the Establishment Democrat. They say these guys are just as bad as the Establishment Republicans, after-all they serve the same masters. But could it be true that they, the Corporate Democrats, have no choice?
America is a big country with huge diversities even within parties. As such, many voices are not only needed, but many voices must be supported. When people believe they have a voice they participate, they engage.
The Republican Party, a party with policies most Americans don’t particularly like, are much more successful as a political entity. Even with the expected Blue Wave, it is clear they will maintain more overall power than Democrats. They’ve nurtured every wing of their party and ensured that it is well funded either by their grassroots or the corporatocracy.
It is easy to say that Republicans have more money. In the aggregate that is not true. The difference is they have the media penetration that allows them to leverage contributions from the poor, the middle-class and the rich. They have the Evangelicals who are money machines that use devotion to God to pilfer their poor and middle-class even as the rich use them as a tax shelter. Then there are the different organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and other military organizations who believe Conservative contribution is existential.
Those of us on the Left have been unsuccessful in making that existential case. Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Many Progressives claim they do not support their organizations because ultimately they are on the take to the Democratic Establishment who is a subsidiary of the corporatocracy. They are partially correct. But the only way to change that is to show that if the alliance to the corporatocracy is broken that political financial viability is maintained by millions of Progressive donors.
Bernie Sanders proved that was possible with a message that resonated as real, because it was real, to poor and middle-class America. But Bernie did not win, and Progressives have reverted to form. If Progressives are to maintain a credible and successful movement they must engage and provide a narrative that gives the poor and the middle-class a reason to support not only candidates but the resources their candidates need to get their message to larger audiences. That means supporting every Progressive Website, Progressive online program, and Progressive On-Air program that are genuinely working for the cause.
Progressives, do you want to get rid of the Establishment Democrat moniker? We must start by supporting the resources that will give real Progressives exposure. These aren’t the mainstream media and established news site. They ignore all but candidates sanctioned by the corporatocracy. Ask Bernie if you doubt that. It is in our hands. We either support and encourage others to support Progressive resources or we maintain the status quo that is driving us all into indentured servitude.