I was chastised today by a blog reader who made a comment to my post yesterday regarding Glenn Beck’s recent rally in Florida:
This reader, a self described progressive Democrat, said I was dead wrong; progressives love this country as much as we (conservatives) “say we do”.
I hope today, to set the record straight; to clarify my comments and to expound a little on what Progressivism really is.
I said Democrats as well as Republicans love this country, but to make no mistake, Progressives want to see the downfall of this great country.
I stand by this statement.
Progressivism, by definition is a plan of reform, egalitarian style. You’ve heard the term “Share the wealth”? That is egalitarianism, leveling the playing field, which is at the heart of progressivism.
Progressives believe that we should all be equal; and cite the Declaration of Independence as proof:
“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal…”
What they are missing, is the word “created”. We ARE all CREATED equal; we have the same rights across the board as the next guy. We have the same opportunities as the next guy.
What we DO with that gift of equality is what sets us apart; makes each of us unique. It’s also what makes us rich or poor, bond or free, contributing or criminal.
Progressivism is lock-step with Communism; it’s one in the same and it’s all about control.
Think about the health care “reform” that will save us from the greedy insurance providers; think about Cap and Trade that will save us from those rising temperatures and incandescent lightbulbs (which we found out yesterday is one of the biggest hoaxes perpetuated on mankind-yes, even bigger than the balloon boy hoax.).
The progressives have taken over our banks and our industry, now they want our health care and our lifestyles.
It isn’t possible to legislate charity or goodwill; it isn’t possible to legislate wealth for the masses, but these things are what Democrats have been after for generations. Progressives want to take it a step further, and not only legislate, but regulate every aspect of our lives; they want to control us.
Progressives want to stifle free speech; stifle dissent. They want to control what you hear and what you read. Cass Sunstein and Arianna Huffington have said so in the last few days. I’ve watched the video and read the transcripts, so don’t try to tell me it’s not being debated.
So, JeanB, I can accept that you are a Democrat, and I’m sure I’d even enjoy a lively discussion with you.
If you are a fiscally responsible Democrat, whose policies are constitutionally sound, I’d even consider voting for you, but do you really want to be a Progressive? Do you really think controlling the population is a good plan? A Godly plan? Do you really want to align yourself with those who would overthrow the Constitution?
Nancy Pelosi herself said in a recent press release that objections to the MANDATE to make you buy into the government health care plan are “nonsensical”, that “the power of congress to regulate health care is essentially unlimited”. That’s Communism. That’s the old USSR.
Are you sure you want to be part of THAT?
Honestly, I don’t think that’s part of the America that either of us love.
December 17, 2009
I have a few problems with your interpretation of the language “share the wealth” and “level the playing field.” Though these can be argued as progressive values, to equate them with eglaterianism is a stretch. “share the wealth” does not mean “share the wealth” equally, I’d argue that it instead suggests a redistribution of how wealth is currently being spread to members at different skills levels who collaboratively produce or provide commodities. Certainly an intelligent and hardworking individual — hardwork and intelligence seem to go hand in hand (especially if we consider intelligence as being able to see the world in a clear, practical and unprejudice way)– deserves to earn more money than a less skilled and less hardworking colleague, however the amount made by both should not allow for a difference in lifestyle that puts one in a gaudily ornate mansion with all the trimmings, and the other in a one bedroom apartment who is barely able to afford things like an equal opportunity to education and healthcare. As to your remark on “level the playing field”, all you did was restate that it was “at the heart of progressivism.” I’de argue that “level the playing field” means let people with less opportunity and advantage, be it a private business or a child from a poor and uneducated family, have the means to let them compete — a core aspect of capitalism and individualism, not socialism.