The Progressive Manifesto Part II

If compassion is the fundamental pillar that Progressivism rests on, then realism is the ground that the pillar stands on. This is the second inspiration for modern Progressivism, and it is quite possibly the most important part of our philosophy.

Markets that are always in a state of combativeness between each other can never coexist; indeed, it is realism itself that shows us that straight capitalism, unregulated capitalism, in theory and in practice, is a self consuming beast. If we attempt to all live on top of a system that thrives on a gross inequality of the distribution of the means for production, we will fall. This was shown in the financial meltdown of 2008. It was not the regulation of the markets that tore down our economy. No, my brothers and sisters, it was this unregulated, unfettered system that made bad loans to risky debtors and packaged them off into the market.

It is also true that a nation under the powers of the capitalist system can never be a true democracy. The "democratic traditions" that this nation was founded on were, at some point, watered down and became, simply, the illusions of populism and equality. We are made to believe that our representatives are responsive to our demands, but a simple analysis of the facts of our system can prove something much darker. How can a state that has allowed the money of big business and lobbyists to enter its government truly call itself a state governed by the People? How can a government so infiltrated by the agents of the wealthy and most prosperous declare itself to be government of the People? In short, how can two philosophies that are eternally in conflict- democracy, which depends on an egalitarian society of one vote per one person, and capitalism, which depends on a culture of inequality- be the two philosophies that govern a nation?

The simple answer is that they cannot. Democracy and capitalism cannot coexist. Therefore, one always must win out. All too often, realists can tell which system beats the other. While I am sure the majority of our representatives enter their first campaign with a sense of dignity and pride, they are soon twisted one way and turned the other until, as far as we can see, they are molded into the perfect corporate puppet.

Soon, one will have to give way to the other.

We, the People, are here to make sure that the winners are us, not the corporate puppets.