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2012 is not a time for progressives to retreat
Alexander J. Cotoia
As a member of the Democratic Party State Central Committee, I’m often asked to defend the actions, or increasingly, inactions of my Democratic compatriots. My answer to critics is that I’m a progressive first and a Democrat second.
This distinction highlights an important problem with the current crop of Democratic politicians in Washington, with a few notable exceptions. Progressives are tired of the liberal lethargy that seemed to characterize the first few years of this presidential administration, when the thirst for legislative victory too often meant sacrificed principles and lost opportunities. Neither the president nor his Democratic allies in Congress can afford to perpetuate this trend.
As Democrats, we shouldn’t and can’t be afraid to illustrate what’s at stake. An increasing concentration of wealth at the top and diminishing incomes for the rest of us mean economic stagnation. It doesn’t take a Nobel laureate to know that more tax relief for those at the top of the socioeconomic strata won’t remediate the real problem — a failure of consumer confidence and aggregate demand. In an economy driven by consumption, accounting for nearly 60 percent of all economic activity, it’s a fool’s errand to believe that corporate profits can soar as consumer confidences collapses.
Nothing short of a radical reorientation of our economic paradigm is required. The fixation with less government and lower taxes, while a popular political refrain, ignores the reality that trickle-down tactics simply haven’t worked. If anything, the Bush-era policies have contributed to widening inequality and exacerbated a seemingly intractable deficit debacle.
Rather than stimulate economic growth, these generous giveaways have widened the chasm between the poor and the rich. They have also robbed the American people of the ability to redress our budgetary woes with a balanced approach to both revenue and expenditures.
Sensible solutions
2012 presents Democrats with a real opportunity to address these and other problems with plausible, progressive alternatives. The timidity of the Tea Party and the GOP’s draconian dogma simply aren’t real replacements for sensible solutions; solutions like expanding the earned income tax credit for middle class workers, or as former Labor Secretary Bob Reich has proposed, imposing higher marginal rates on the wealthy and eliminating the distinction between capital gains and ordinary income to partially fund wage supplements for cash-strapped workers.
These proposals and others would have the effect of reconstituting a ragged middle class and eliminating a perversity of our tax system that unfairly penalizes the poor and rewards the rich.
Progressives must also stand against calls to dramatically reduce or scale back our investment in public infrastructure. While conservatives love to rail against profligate spending and a burgeoning bureaucracy, non-defense discretionary spending is at a historic low, and the government’s contribution to research and development as a percentage of GDP in 2009 stood at a meager 0.08 percent. These are hardly positive attributes in our current economic climate, when history shows that public investment is an indispensable ingredient in fostering a full and robust recovery.
2012 is not a time for progressives to retreat from their principles. It’s a time for Democratic politicians to give Americans a real alternative. As a Democrat, I’ll continue to support principled progressives who share my belief that a return to President Clinton’s philosophy of “opportunity for all, responsibility from all, in a community of all Americans,” is the best recipe for national unity and shared prosperity.
Cotoia is a paralegal with Holt Mynatt Martinez, P.C. in Las Cruces and a member of the Democratic Party State Central Committee from Doña Ana County. He previously sought the Democratic nomination for the District 7 seat on the Public Education Commission.
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C’mon Alexander…tell me your great plan to pay for all the progressive agenda. Do you really think the “rich” eapecially in New Mexico…about 1/2% of the population can pay for all this crap? I respect your thoughts but…how do the progressives think this can be implementeed…short of expropriation of someone’s property. How about we “ALL” pay our fair share…
Sir I certainly respect your opinion. But paying for it is a problem. Not that I don’t want to pay my fair share…just that I want to know it is being used for the greater good that you have identified…I don’t see the greater good you support to be the most efficient beneficiary of my tax $. But great arguement none the less. The progressive party you support has it’s own agenda….and crappy results …like in education. Come up with some better ideas on how to get rid of the obstructionists in your party… We can talk about the other side too..but your’s first sir.
2012 is not a time for progressives to retreat from their principles. It’s a time for Democratic politicians to give Americans a real alternative.
So what happens if Democratic politicians don’t give Americans a real alternative? Am I supposed to follow my principles and not vote for warmongers or am I supposed to hold my nose and be pragmatic and vote for the lessor of two evils?
How about reforming our broken education system? Many in your party are not very “progressive.”
Well stated, Mr. Cotoia. As an Independent who voted for Obama, I haven’t been very satisfied with his leadership and determination. Nevertheless, I cringe at the thought of Republicans winning in 2012 with them being led around by the nose by the Tea Party, surrendering their decisions to “no new tax” pledges, and remaining steadfast against anything Obama proposes just to ensure he’s a one term President.
The Occupy Wall Street demonstrations are just the beginning of an American movement that targets unfairness and injustice in America, and I’m all for that.
The link provided by MikeC to his PAC seems funky. It does not load easily and locks my cursor.
Alexander,
I could not agree more. That is why I have formed Independent Source PAC. http://www.independentsourcepac.org. We are taking the fight to conservatives as an independent expenditure group. We have already begun to chink the armor of the Martinez Administration, particularly the appointing of Hanna Skandera to the education secretary position. Who is pushing an agenda that is all about sending our tax dollars to out of state companies rather than properly fund our schools.
Alex, I agree with your column. Progressives should keep working in elections, vote in elections, and support progressive candidates – when there are any. I do not send any money to DCCC or the other national Democratic organizations. I only support local and state candidates. However, there are a few good progressives in national offices and, surprise, surprise, they are Democrats or Independents. I want to encourage you, Alex, to remain active in local and state politics. We need your youth, your energy and your idealism – a commodity in short supply.
Bravo Mr. Cotoia, finally a left wing Democrat who admits he is a “progressive” first and a Democrat second. And a progressive/liberal who doesn’t shy away from in-your-face positions and opinions that truly draw a bright line between his side of the party and mine. People can choose more easily when the distinctions are clear and present. Thanks for showing them, we will see what the majority of voters think come Nov. 2012.