The Coming Progressive Era

[Rajiv]

The Coming Progressive Era

Sometimes, being condemned to repeat history is not such a bad thing.

Welcome to 1932, redux. Almost all the elements are there, fortunately. And not a moment too soon.

In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt and a dire national emergency combined to wrestle the republic away from the death-grip in which the Republican oligarchy of the time was holding it, and in doing so dramatically expanded outward the envelope of progressive government in America, as well as establishing a progressive governing coalition that lasted four decades and more.

Many of the same conditions apply today. Not all, to be sure, but then there are also additional factors pointing in the same direction which were not present in Roosevelt’s day.

[GRG55]

Re: The Coming Progressive Era

The Coming Progressive Era

Well, this is quite a condemnation of American (and British) political leadership; GOP and Dems alike. Pre-dating even the Pax Romana, politics was always the dirtiest of games. The author bemoans how that ancient truism manifests in current day America, without offering much by way of either explanation, or solution.

As an outsider looking in, it would have been useful if he had deigned to follow through on some of his more salient observations:

• On legislating from the Supreme Court bench; is this because politicians shirk their responsibility to legislate, or is something else going on?
• Having gained control of both Congress and the Senate in 2006, what possible motive would the Democrats have to, seemingly deliberately, "squander away what little trust the voters gave them"?
• Is Wall Street really "abandoning the GOP" or is it simply acting in its own self-interest, as usual?
• ...

Maybe the author is as bereft of ideas and solutions as those he deplores? Reading this felt like the Maitre d' dropped the menu on the table and disappeared, never to return. I'm still hungry.