Progressives? Who are they?

Progressives? Who are they?

These days there is a lot of talk about some people who are “Progressives.” In my life politics comes and goes. Being Canadian, I get a break from politics in between elections. There are Federal elections which are a big deal, Provincial elections every four years, Municipal elections which are not partisan and long breaks between them. Most of my life I listened to the news, scanned the advertisements, and on a given day, went out to cast my ballot. Mostly I made some effort to see which politician I assumed would improve the lives of those close to me and avoided talking politics and religion in polite company. It is much more explosive in our neighbouring country to the south They seem to always have some elections and campaigns going on.

For some reason Canadian news devotes more time to USA politics than to our own. Perhaps because whatever happens in the US has more influence upon our lives than our own. The elephant in the room. Initially, I questioned why we are so engrossed in another country’s politics until I understood. What happens in the US often determines the lives of people here and all over the world more than any local politics.

Canada and especially Alberta have been suffering thanks to changes in the US for a few years now. For a long time, we were supplying them with oil and gas until they discovered new ways to frack fossil fuels and conveniently forgot our early contribution. Now they want our resources for nothing and cause us some internal conflicts.

We accepted the idea that the use of energy which produces smoke will have to change and gave ourselves a deadline by which to convert. In the meantime, we wish to sell our oil on the world market. Out of nowhere sprung strong opposition blocking our efforts.

Here comes the connection to “progressives.” The US is having presidential elections in November this year and they have a very popular progressive candidate inching up to challenge the very unpopular Trump. The progressive guy says it will be expensive to convert to clean power, but nothing compares to doing nothing.

The Progressive movement rose in the beginning of the Twentieth Century in Canada and the US, comprising of farmers and workers. It laid dormant for a long time until recently. Here it was a part of the Progressive Conservative Party and you may see reminders in little towns where there is UFA and in the workers Co-operative movement. In the US it is surging upwards like never before. The Democratic party is quickly developing a very strong Progressive wing.

Now, in the twenty-first Century when we say Progressive it means the voice of the young people although there are many older folks like me supporting it. In the US a 78-year-old determined old man is leading in the poles to challenge Trump, and his strength are new voters who just turned eighteen. He doesn’t accept donations from corporations and raised more money than those who do. Mostly the average donations to his campaign are $18.00 His message is simple. He wants healthcare like in Canada, free higher education, $15.00 Minimum wage and protection against wrecking the planet. Roughly 80% of Canadians agree with the last.

They asked how he is going to pay for it. The health care will save money as ours does. We pay 47% less for ours. The rest will be saved from not fighting everlasting wars and from taxing Wall Street gains made on investments. Amazon and Walmart will pay income tax, and billionaires will pay the same rates as their workers do.

There are always two sides to every story. One side wants a Paradise for billionaires, which they promise will improve all human conditions. Things are great, is the message, stop complaining. Life expectancy is improving, poverty been decreased, we are OK. The Progressive side wants to tax billionaires and make them less powerful.

If bankers and garbage collectors went on strike, who would you legislate back to work? New York couldn’t survive without trash collection for a week while England hardly noticed a six months strike by bankers. The progressives demand a Wealth Tax and Inheritance tax.

If the Progressive in the US win, it will make a huge difference in Canada. It will shift the whole political debate. Our few Far-Right evangelists may cry, but most of us will be happy.

I give my head a shake. I am in Canada. Aside from some fanatics, most Canadians are level-headed and we are ruled by some very good laws. We have some problems, but we are solving them peacefully and patiently one by one. Mostly we need not do more than just educate those of us who panic and show them that comparing to other countries ours is the envy of most nations.

I predict that we will build the infrastructure to sell our oil at market prices soon, right after we decide to pay something to those who let us take it through their domain. I also foresee our governments bow to our wishes and take steps to prepare the country for a future without oil. We have ten to twenty years.

Aside from the oil issue, we don’t need a Progressive movement like our neighbours. Canada is already more progressive due to efforts that were made by our past generations. The new fight between the billionaires and workers is not as fierce here as it is south.

Psychologists claim that gratitude reduces symptoms caused by stress. I do what I can to Cause improvements, but I begin each day with the saying, “thank you Lord.” We are so fortunate to live in a place like this.

 

Here is a link to my blog: https://thesimpleravenspost.blogspot.ca/  Feel free to check other articles and comment.