On the term 'Progressive'

Given the conservative media's penchant for liberal-bashing, it is interesting to see there is a leftist political label that is overwhelmingly still viewed positively in this nation. What are your thoughts on these poll results? What do you think is the significance of these numbers? What might this mean for the future of 'progressive' causes and 'progressive' political goals?

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on SOPA

Conservative and Liberal bloggers alike are starting to rally against the Stop-Online-Piracy-Act (SOPA), arguing that the legislation would criminalize blogs and pages that even link to websites that engage in online piracy. What are your thoughts regarding this controversial legislation? Is it violation of freedom of speech? What is the line between freedom of speech and violation of property/copy wright laws?

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Rejection of the payroll tax cut bill

Republic-lead house voted to reject the Senate-passed bill to extend the payroll tax cut and employment benefits. As a consequence,“160 million Americans will see a tax increase while about 2.2 million long-term unemployed will see their benefits disappear. Medicare payments to physicians also will drop, raising concerns that doctors will limit their care to seniors.” What is your response? How devastating will this be for the economy? What should Progressives to do to support these kinds of bills in the future?

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The implications of the NDAA

“A major component of the criticism against the NDAA is that it labels all of the United States as a "battlefield" in the "War on Terror," thereby treating virtually all American citizens as potential terrorists. But in addition to that, buried deep in the massive paperwork of the bill is a provision that would allow the Pentagon to treat the Internet as a "battlefield" as well, in order to “defend our Nation, Allies and interests.””

What are your thoughts on the implications of the NDAA for future internet freedoms? How would you respond?

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On the NDAA

This article points out three common myths sor misconceptions about the new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As the author of this article points out, the NDAA does in fact codify indefinite detention and expands the scope of War on Terror as defined in the 2001 AUMF. What are your thoughs on this controversial act? What provisions do you think the NDAA should add?

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On Occupy the Ports

The Occupy movement has received a fair amount of flak recently for several West Coast group’s “Occupy the Ports” activities. Occupy protestors argue that closing the ports sends a message to the richest corporations by effectively preventing their business in that area. Opponents of the port protests argue that these protests “hurt the working- and middle-class wage-earners the Occupy movement purports to represent.” What are your thoughts on these protests? What forms of protests would you advocate instead if any?

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New Gingrich on foreign policy

Newt Gingrich seems to be receiving a lot of attention recently both positive and negative from within the GOP. How strong are his chances of receiving the GOP nomination? How would this impact the 2012 election? What kind if harm to foreign policy might result from comments such as those reported in the attached article?

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Investment or taxation and regulation?

In response to the President's speech in Kansas about the need for economic growth Fareed Zakaria in this article argues that "the big shift in the United States over the past two decades is not a rise in regulations and taxation but a decline in investment - in physical and human capital. And investment is the crucial locomotive of long-term growth." What are your thoughts on this?

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Sanders on Citizen's United

Speaking of the Supreme Court's Citizens united decision, Senator Bernie Sanders states, "The ruling has radically changed the nature of our democracy. It has further tilted the balance of the power toward the rich and the powerful at a time when the wealthiest people in this country already never had it so good. History will record that the Citizens United decision is one of the worst in the history of our country. " The Senator also proposes that we should amend the Constitution to ban corporate personhood. Do you agree that the Constitution should be amended to this end? Or do you think alternative measures should be taken?

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Thoughts on Pres Obama's support for the Plan B restrictions

This decision to continue limiting access of Plan B to girls under 17 seems to be rather controversial even among liberals. President Obama went on record supporting the decision. Many progressives are railing against both the decision and the President's support of it, decrying it as a political move. What are your thoughts on this legislation? Was this the right decision?

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Secretary Clinton's LGBT speech

What do you think of Secretary Clinton's speech on Gay Rights Abroad? How significant is it that she gave this speech in front of an international audience?

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"Liberals" and issues of faith

Governor Perry in his newest campaign ad claims that "Liberals" say "Faith is a sign of Weakness." What is the purpose of this rhetoric? How would you respond to Governor Perry? Is religion likely to be an important issue in the 2012 election?

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Is Newt Gingrich a threat?

Newt Gingrich is now the main attraction of the side show that is the Republican primary. Why is Gingrich gaining so much attention? Is he a serious threat to become President?

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Healthcare and morality

This article raises the important question of why aren't medications for AIDS made affordable? But perhaps the issue at stake is less about healthcare and more about conservative morality and its role in healthcare. AIDS is often associated with behaviors deemed highly immoral by most conservative Christians such as homosexuality and drug use. To what extent is the lack of affordability for AIDS treatment and perhaps birth control related to opposition or at least resistance from proponents conservative Christian morality? What can or should be done to make these services more readily available?

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How can President Obama re-energize the Progressive base?

Why are the President's poll numbers so low? Is he on track to become a one-term President? What, if anything, can he do to re-energize his Progressive base?

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On government subsidized birth control

Although the administration included a “conscience clause” to the new rule allowing “religious institutions that offer insurance to their employees the choice of whether or not to cover contraception services, ” some Republicans and religious groups claim it’s religious persecution against Christians. Do you think these subsidies violate freedom of religion? Do you think that the government should subsidize birth control?

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What to do about student loan debt

Excessive student loan debt is a prominent grievance among college students and occupy protestors. Why is student loan debt on the rise? What, if anything, should be done to alleviate student loan debt?

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Small Business Saturday

“Small Business Saturday”, the small business response to Black Friday, is making headlines across the country yesterday and today as stores report greater numbers of customers this year than last year (it’s first year). Even President Obama and his family were seen patronizing local businesses yesterday. How important is this as a strategy to boost the economy? Should Progressives fully advocate holiday shopping at small businesses?

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Occupy's protests of President Obama

Occupy protesters confronted the President at his recent speech in New Hampshire. What is your reaction? Does the President deserve to be targeted by the Occupy protesters? Or, was this a poor decision by some the OWS members?


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Failure of the debt panel

Why did the debt panel fail? Who is to blame? What steps should Progressive leaders now take?

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The effects of "National Bank Transfer Day"

“During “Bank Transfer Day” earlier this month, 40,000 Americans moved their money from the nation’s biggest banks to credit unions...[and] about 650,000 Americans joined credit unions in October, which is more people than in all of 2010 combined. According to cg42, a consulting firm that does work for the biggest banks, “the nation’s 10 biggest banks could stand to lose as much as $185 billion in deposits in the next year due to customer defections.””

While over the years various activist groups have encouraged people vote with their money in this kind of way, this is the first large-scale successful movement. Do you think this will affect future banking policies? In what way? What other similar measures might we take?

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Combatting the language of "Chemical abortions"

Michelle Bachmann critiqued the Affordable Care Act saying that it finances and enables what she refers to as “chemical abortions.” Bachmann’s critique refers specifically to hormonal forms of birth control that *do not* disrupt a pregnancy that has already begun, but rather mostly work by inhibiting ovulation. Along with recent attempts to pass “Personhood Amendments” in several states, it seems clear that the new method Conservatives are trying to prevent abortion seems to be the eventual ban of all hormonal forms of birth control. What can we as Progressives do to combat this new language of “chemical abortions” and secure the rights of women to be sexually active?

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Iowa Thankgsiving Family Forum

In the Iowa Thanksgiving Family Forum, GOP presidental candidates (minus Romney and Huntmsman) are expected to debate social issues. This forum is hosted by “a new evangelical group trying to leave its mark on the campaign in a state where influential social conservatives have struggled to rally behind an alternative to Romney.” How important do you think debates like this will be for determining the GOP Presidential candidate? How significant a role do you think social issues will play in the 2012 elections?

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Is President Obama's healthcare unconstitutional?

Mitt Romney believes the Supreme Court will declare the President's health care legislation to be unconstitutional? Do you think the court is likely to move in this direction? Is the current legislation constitutional?

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What should #Occupy do next?

Today is the two month anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. What has Occupy accomplished so far? What are the next steps for protestors?

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The role of Progressive activists in supporting local unions

After a resounding victory in Ohio, pro-union activists are now hoping to get rid of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker who eliminated the collective bargaining rights of his state's public employees. Should Progressives nation-wide be more active in efforts to recall and replace Walker? If so, in what capacity?


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The Supreme Court and President Obama's healthcare law

The Supreme Court will review the constitutionality of the President's health-care law. Do you think that the court should uphold present legislation? Could their ruling impact the 2012 election? What is at stake in this case?


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The creation of a new Progressive movement?

This article's author predicts that we are on the cusp of new age of American Progressive activism. One in which we "should aim for three things. The first is a revival of crucial public services, especially education, training, public investment and environmental protection. The second is the end of a climate of impunity that encouraged nearly every Wall Street firm to commit financial fraud. The third is to re-establish the supremacy of people votes over dollar votes in Washington." Do Progressives have history on our side? Are these goals feasible?

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On Keynesian economics

John Maynard Keynes is an influential figure in Progressive economic theory to say the least. This article discusses the connections between Keynesian economics and the grievances of Occupy protesters. Are Keynes' ideas still relevant?

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Russ Feingold on 2012 elections

In a speech in Oregon, former U.S. State Senator Russ Feingold argues against corporate dominance of the US political system. Feingold urged his audience to “work to re-elect President Obama, giving him a chance to fill the next Supreme Court vacancy with “a fair-minded lawyer” who would vote to overturn Citizens United.” Do you agree with Feingold that overturning Citizens United should be the focus of the 2012 elections? Do you agree with Feingold that the best strategy to overturn this decision is to re-elect the President who in turn could appoint a more “fair-minded lawyer””?


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Occupy and Unions

"Union leaders, who were initially cautious in embracing the Occupy movement, have in recent weeks showered the protesters with help — tents, air mattresses, propane heaters and tons of food. The protesters, for their part, have joined in union marches and picket lines across the nation."

Should Occupy protestors and union members work together? If so, what are some common goals and strategies that they could work towards?

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Ohio's defeat of anti-union legislation

Voters in Ohio have defeated GOP/Tea Party efforts to restrict collective bargaining rights in their state. What do you think of these results? Does what happened in Ohio have national ramifications?


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The role of education in social mobility

Fareed Zakaria’s recent article highlights the declining social mobility in the US, which he attributes to the decline in the US educational system. Zakaria argues that even Steve Jobs, in addition to his talent, succeeded in part because of his educational environment. At the time of his attendance, the California public school system was the best in the country. Zakaria points out now that the CA school systems are crumbling and the state spends twice as much on prisons as on education. Do you agree with Zakaria’s claims about the role of education in social mobility? What do you think can be done to fix the educational system?


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On National Bank Transfer Day

Yesterday was Occupy-inspired ‘National Bank Transfer Day.’ Consumers who had accounts with big banks, specially Bank of America were encouraged to switch to smaller banks. Reportedly more than 650,000 people have opened new credit union accounts over the past month in preparation for this. Reports of increase in credit union accounts have starred in local news stations across the country over the past day. What are your thoughts on the efficacy of these types of bank-targeted protests? What are other ways that citizens can ‘vote with their money’ to create political change on this kind of scale? What do you think the long-term effects of these types of protests will be?

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OWS and the Democrats

Should the Occupy protestors and the Democratic Party work together? If so, how and in what capacity? If not, why?


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Should OWS and other 'Occupiers' remain a general movement or target specific political policies?

Inspired by Dr. Cornell West’s actions last month, Move to Amend is organizing “Occupy the Courts” to to protest outside of the US Court District January 20th 2012 for the purpose of demanding the overturn of Citizens United. The overturning of Citizens United is something many if not most of the Occupy protestors would support. But this calls to question a larger issue—what role do you think OWS and the other Occupy movements should have in promoting specific political issues such as this one? Should these movements continue to focus on taking over large public spaces such as Zucotti Park or should they focus on more targeted “Occupations” such as at the Courts?

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Bernier Sanders on the Federal Reserve

In this article, Senator Bernie Sanders raises several questions about the Federal Reserve:

"How can we structurally reform the Fed to make our nation's central bank a more democratic institution responsive to the needs of ordinary Americans, end conflicts of interest, and increase transparency? ...At a time when the United States has the most inequitable distribution of wealth and income of any major country, and the greatest gap between the very rich and everyone else since 1928, what policies can be established at the Federal Reserve which reduces income and wealth inequality in the U.S?"

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Russ Feingold on OWS

In this interview with Keith Olbermann, former Senator Russ Feingold argues that the OWS movements have the potential to "make the Tea Party look like a tea party" and that the movement is a strong challenge to the "unholy alliance" between government, corporations, and the media. Do you agree with Senator Feingold's assessment of OWS?

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Should Progressive activists work to help repeal Kasich's anti-union legislation?

On November 8, voters in Ohio will determine whether or not to veto Governor Kasich's legislation which weakens the collective bargaining rights of public sector unions in the state. Does next Tuesday's vote have national implications? Should Progressive activists nation-wide become active in efforts to repeal Kasich's anti-union legislation?

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Raise the taxes

Most members of the GOP/Tea Party argue that we should lower the deficit without raising taxes. They claim, moreover, that more taxes would cripple our economy. In this article, Ben Stein argues that raising taxes to deal with the deficit is the only "adult thing to do." And citing higher tax rates under both Eisenhower and Reagan, he claims, "It is a complete myth that our economy will collapse if we raise taxes" Do you agree with these points?


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Do government regulations strangle the economy?

Republicans/the Tea Party accuse government regulations of strangling our economy. Do you agree? Could the opposite be true as the below article suggests? Should the President support more efficient regulations on Wall Street and a break up of banks that are too big to fail?


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on "It's the Inequality, Stupid"

Income inequality continues to be a growing concern among many Progressives. The below article contains a series of charts highlighting increasing disparity between wealthy and non-wealthy Americans. What conclusions can we draw from these charts? How do we account for these numbers? Should policy makers reverse these trends? If so, how?

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Should OWS take an active role in encouraging thvoter registration?

A member of our community sent the administrators of this site the following question: "So how can we encourage the Occupy movement to also become a voter registration movement? That will take away any criticism that their demonstrations are not accomplishing anything." What do you think? Should the Occupy movement be transformed into a voter registration movement? Could the Occupy movement thereby become a force to be reckoned with in the 2012 elections?

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The fate of Obama's healthcare bill

Polls indicate that the President's healthcare law is growing more unpopular. Why is this? Did the President make a mistake by pushing for this law? Are these reforms ultimately good for the nation?

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Is unrestrained free-market capitalism a smoke screen for class warfare against the poor and middle classes?

"The CBO numbers teach some basic lessons. First, the last 30 years of ideological preaching about the superiority of private, deregulated, market-driven capitalism served to enable and mask one of the largest and fastest upward redistributions of income in modern history"

What is responsible for the every growing income inequality in this country? Is the ideology of unrestrained free-market capitalism ultimately a smoke screen for class warfare against the poor and middle class?

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In unaffordability of college education

A college education has long been part of the American dream. Now, with the cost of attending college soaring, is this this dream dead? Is a college degree still worth it? What steps, if any, should be taken to make higher education more affordable?

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Do you agree with Michael Moore that President Obama's first term is 'disappointing'?

Michael Moore describes the President's first term as heartbreaking. Do you agree? Why or why not?

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How to fix the housing market?

The housing market continues to stunt our economic growth. And Conservatives continue to blame Democrat leaders and Progressive policies going back to President Carter for the 2008 crash and its aftermath. This article from the huffington post offers poignant counter-arguments. Who or what is to blame for the poor housing market? What steps can we take to fix it?


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Is the GOP punishing America for electing Obama?

Colorfully and quite provocatively, the author of this piece argues,

Colorfully and quite provocatively, the author of this piece argues, “By now, it is hardly a secret that Republicans have taken every step to subvert the economy to portray President Obama as an ineffective leader. … There is absolutely nothing Republicans have done since President Obama’s inauguration that helps the American people, and in fact, they have used every means possible to cause pain and suffering for 98% of the population.”

What are your thoughts on these and other statements made in the article? Do you agree with the author?

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Rammifications of the "life begins at conception" amendment

GOP candidates Romney and Huckabee have offered support in their campaigns for what would be a “life begins at conception” amendment. In this video Rachel Maddow, and one very bright Iowa voter, deftly detail potential problems with this. Since hormonal birth control (including the pill, the nuvaring, and IUDs) operates in part by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg (and not necessarily by preventing fertilization in the first place), this amendment would open the door to a ban on all hormonal forms of birth control. Additionally, miscarriage could then be considered a criminal offense requiring a court investigation. What are your thoughts?

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The role of vocational training in high schools

In a plan in Gov Walker’s special session on jobs, Wisconsin High Schools would be allowed to drop English and Math requirements to set up vocational-only diplomas, which would “carry the same weight as regular high school degrees” Proponents argue it would allow for specific job training. Opponents argue it would create a two-tiered educational system. How would you respond to this plan? What types of problems might arise from these kinds of systems? What role should vocational training take in high schools?

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Reflections on President Bill Clinton's suggestions for fixing the economy

Among President Bill Clinton’s suggestions for fixing the economy and create jobs include “adopt[ing] strategies designed to unleash the massive amount of capital that is accumulated but not being invested”, “resolution of the home mortgage crisis” and bringing back manufacturing and increasing exports. What are your thoughts on these and the other ideas presented in this summary of Fortune’s interview with President Clinton?

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Thoughts on Rick Perry's flat tax?

Republican Rick Perry is set to propose a flat tax. What is your opinion about implementing a flat tax?

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Do safety regulations help or impair job creation?

This article by Ralph Nader addresses the role of businesses and safety regulations in job creation. While business owners (and the GOP) often argue that safety regulations cuts into efficiency and profits making it more difficult to create jobs, as Nader states,

“About 20 years ago, professor Nicholas Ashford of MIT testified before Congress in great detail about how and where safety regulations create jobs and make the economy more efficient in avoiding the costs of preventable injuries and disease.”

What are your thoughts on these arguments?

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Should Occupy protestors work with the President and the Democrats?

The Occupy movements have been gaining attention and momentum. Yet, protest organizers and the Democrat leaders don't seem to be embracing one another. Why is this? Should Occupy protestors work with the President and the Democrats? If so, how can a productive and efficient coalition be formed?


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What advice would Dr.King give to current progressive movements?

Today a dedication was held at Martin Luther King Jr's monument in DC. In this article, his son writes of his enduring legacy. What advice would Dr.King give to current progressive movements? What can today's Progressive activists learn from the Civil Rights movements of King's time?

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Global Occupation - What should be done next?

“Taking a cue from the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York, protesters across the world took to the streets Saturday to demonstrate against the banks and what they say is corporate greed. Organizers of the global protests said there would be demonstrations in 951 cities in 82 countries.”

Occupy Madrid, which first inspired the OWS protests, had 300,000 attendees. Internationally, London, Toronto, Sydney, Rome and others held camp-outs in support. This is in addition to the thousands of participants at each of the 10 major Occupy protest sites across the US many more elsewhere. What does the level of national and global support mean for OWS? Now that there is national and international support, what should OWS do next to create political change?

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Bill Blinton's speech on Occupy Wall Street

Former President Clinton stated,

" “So all I would say to the people in the Occupy Wall Street crowd [is]...They need to be for something specific and not just against something because if you’re just against something, somebody else will fill the vacuum you create.”

Do you think that Occupy is simply a short-term blip on the radar? Or can protestors , as President Clinton suggests, articulate and rally behind specific policies and reforms?

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What would you say to a Wall Street CEO?

Before the Occupy Wall Street protests, the focus of the 98/99% was to lobby politicians to fix taxes so that the rich pay their fair share. Dialogue or conversation with Wall Street CEOs was not demanded. But since OWS protests are appealing directly to Wall Street CEOs, it’s clear that we now ask for something like dialogue or negotiation directly with CEOs. While responses from Wall Street have more typically consisted of derision, mockery, dismissal, or even antagonism, notably, on Wednesday Citi CEO Vikram Pandit said, “trust has been broken between financial institutions and citizens” and that he’d be happy to talk to the Occupy Wall Street protestors “anytime they want.” -- What kind of realistic dialogue would you like to see between the people and CEO such as Vikram Pandit? If you had ½ an hour with a Wall Street CEO (conversation only!!!), what would you say/ask?

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on the repeal of Topeka, Kansas' domestic violence law

“Tuesday, the City Council of Topeka, Kan., voted to repeal the local law that makes domestic violence a crime. The vote is being called a cost-cutting measure, as neither the City Council nor the district attorney wants to foot the bill to prosecute the cases.”

Beyond the more obvious concerns that this will allow perpetrators of domestic violence to remain on the streets, some argue that is another example of budget cuts that target women and children. What are your thoughts on this measure? Do states have the right to decide what type of violence constitutes prosecutable violence? Or this there some external standard they have to uphold? To what extent can budget concerns be allowed to affect cases of deciding what is prosecutable crime?

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The panic of the corporatocracy

“The [Occupy Wall Street] protests have already elicited a remarkably hysterical reaction from Wall Street, the super-rich in general, and politicians and pundits who reliably serve the interests of the wealthiest hundredth of a percent. And this reaction tells you something important — namely, that the extremists threatening American values are what F.D.R. called “economic royalists,” not the people camping in Zuccotti Park.”

What are your thoughts on Wall Street’s responses to the OWS protests? Do these attempts of various GOP politicians and talking heads to denounce OWS demonstrate panic or concern on the part of the corporatocracy? What does this mean for the future of OWS?


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Have the 'Economic Royalists' from the FDR era returned?

“What [these ‘economic royalists’] really complain of is that we seek to take away their power. Our allegiance to American institutions requires the overthrow of this kind of power. In vain they seek to hide behind the Flag and the Constitution. In their blindness they forget what the Flag and the Constitution stand for. Now, as always, they stand for democracy, not tyranny; for freedom, not subjection; and against a dictatorship by mob rule and the over-privileged alike"

Do you think, as the author of the article argues, that this FDR quote from 1936 is applicable to today’s Tea Party? How can this comparison help us today to defend the values & institutions we hold dear?

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Censorship of Occupy Wall Street

It’s clear that corporate-controlled media sources had been doing everything in their power to not cover OWS. But more disturbingly, in cyberspace, there has also been censorship. Many suspect that Twitter blocked it from ‘trending’ in the US. More disturbingly, for a while, Yahoo mail’s spam and malware filters blocked all emails containing the phrase or URLs pointing to sites with the phrase. How can we ensure our freedom of speech isn’t filtered across cyberspace? What can we do to prevent the next politically sensitive topic from reaching this level of censorship? Or are we destined to become like China?

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Unemployment gap among young workers and minorities

The most recent jobs report found that:

“Young workers and minorities have been particularly hard hit by the economic crisis. Unemployment in September was 17.4% among workers age 16-24. Among workers under 25 not enrolled in school, unemployment averaged 21.6% for those with a high school degree & 9.6% for those with a college degree. Unemployment in September was 16% for African-American workers and 11.3% for Hispanic workers.”

What can we do to bridge the unemployment gap between the races and age groups? Do these numbers indicate problems with the availability of education, discrimination against race or age in companies’ hiring practices or some other cause?

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How to fix the problem of shortage of teachers?

While many Americans struggle to find jobs, some school systems are facing another problem altogether. In Milwaukee, they're struggling to find certified teachers to fill vacancies in high schools, especially in the maths and sciences. How do we rectify this problem? How can we support education so as to attract more people to the profession of teaching?

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Thoughts On 'Is Soaking the Rich...Dangerous??'

The Tax Policy Center's Howard Gleckman argues that there are some downsides to the tax hike on the rich. Gleckman's chief concern seems to be that the surtax will torpedo any realistic effort at long-term tax reform. He argues “With rates this high, the political pressure to protect tax preferences will be enormous.” As MotherJones reports, “Gleckman's complaint here is that the surtax, while good politics, spells trouble for long-term tax policy.” What are your thoughts? What is the best long-term plan? Immediate tax hikes on the wealthy which immediately benefit the country but make reforming the faulty tax laws more difficult? or working to reform the tax code itself to eliminate the loopholes in place?

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How should Progressives respond to Herman Cain?

Why is Herman Cain a rising star in the GOP/tea-party movement? Should Progressives see him as a serious threat? How would you respond to his recent claims that the Wall Street protesters are "Un-American"?

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President Obama’s news conference and Occupy Wall street

President Obama and other Democratic leaders were sharply criticized last year for their lack of support of the Wisconsin Union protests. During yesterday’s news conference, President Obama seemed to speak in (slight) favor of the movement, stating that the OWS movement demonstrates how frustrated the American people are with the current economic situation and their demand for accountability. (See p.4-5 of transcript). What are your thoughts on the President’s responses at the news conference? What role would you like to see the President taking in these wildly spreading protests?

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"From Wisconsin to Wall Street, an Economic Reckoning"

"Both the defense of unions [in Wisconsin] and Occupy Wall Street, which is broader in its definition of the problem, are responding to two or three decades of increasing economic inequality and, until fairly recently, the inability of progressives to address those things."

With the rise in participation by labor union groups, many news media have started to comment on the similarities between the two movements. What are your thoughts on these comparisons? Why didn’t the Madison protests produce change? How can this be rectified with the Occupy Wall Street protests? What do you see being the future of Occupy Wall Street? What other progressive causes and groups might find a home with this group?

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Can the left get its own 'tea party'?

The author of this article states:

"What's been missing in the Obama presidency is the productive interaction with outside groups that Franklin Roosevelt enjoyed with the labor movement and Lyndon B. Johnson with the civil rights movement. Both pushed FDR and LBJ in more progressive directions while also lending them support against their conservative adversaries."

Have grassroots progressive movements and the Obama administration worked together effectively? If not, why? Do you think the left needs its own 'tea party'?


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President Obama's HRC Dinner speech

President Obama in his speech at the HRC dinner Saturday, said

“Now, ultimately, these debates we’re having are about more than just politics …This is a contest of values. ..This is a fundamental debate about who we are as a nation… I don’t believe -- we don’t believe -- in a small America, where we let our roads crumble, we let our schools fall apart, where we stand by while teachers are laid off and science labs are shut down, and kids are dropping out…”

What are your thoughts this rhetoric of “big America” vs. “small America”? Does this speech indicate any new directions for his policies? Other thoughts or comments?

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Occupy Wall Street

What are your thoughts on the first official statement from Occupy Wall Street? Do you agree with the missive? What do you think about the methods of protesting used so far? What would you suggest be the next step?

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President's handling of our national security and foreign policy

This article's author claims:

"Obama has turned around the global perception of the United States as a “go-it-alone” superpower, a concept born out of our regrettable unprovoked foray into Iraq. He worked with NATO to help facilitate the eradication of Libya’s dictatorial government while keeping U.S. boots off the ground in that nation. He took a less active and more diplomatic approach when dissidents pushed for democratic change in Egypt and Tunisia."

Do you agree? What do you think of the President's handling of our national security and foreign policy?


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#OccupyWallStreet

Largely organized through Twitter and other social media, the #OccupyWallStreet movement has attracted thousands of supporters to literally ‘occupy’ Wall Street for the past 13 days straight in protest of economic conditions in the US. This movement was modeled off the protests in Egypt at at Tahrir Square. Despite their numbers, the movement has received very little media coverage. Do you think movements like these are effective? Why is it receiving so little media coverage?



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Why is the death penalty still popular in America?

Following the execution of Troy Davis in Georgia, many are once again questioning our nation's tolerance of the death penalty. Why is the death penalty still popular in America? Should reforming or even ending the death penalty be a priority for Progressive activists?

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Electoral Racism and Double-Standards

In this controversial piece, Melissa Harris-Perry argues that despite the seemingly contradictory evidence of the 2004 Illinois Senate race and the 2008 Presidential election, there still remains significant electoral racism in this country. Further she argues that this racism has grown over the past few years. What do you think of this and the other arguments presented in this article? Do "white liberals hold African-American leaders to a higher standard than their white counterparts"?

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Bill Clinton interview with CNN

The never ending gridlock in Washington continues to have a devastating impact on our weak economy. Thus most Americans are fed up with Washington. However, former President Clinton points out :

"It's interesting for me to see the voters sit around and condemn the politicians that they elected, who are doing what they promised to do during the election..[voters] need to take a little ownership here. Every one of these people got into power because they were voted for."

Do you agree that voters need to "take ownership"of what is going on in Washington?


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Elizabeth Warren's comments on 'class warfare' debate

What are your thoughts on Elizabeth Warren's response to 'class warfare'? Are these effective counter-arguments to the current conservative sound bites?

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Krugman on class warfare

“The budget office's numbers show that the federal tax burden has fallen for all income classes …But that burden has fallen much more, as a percentage of income, for the wealthy. Partly this reflects big cuts in top income tax rates, but, beyond that, there has been a major shift of taxation away from wealth and toward work: Tax rates on corporate profits, capital gains and dividends have all fallen, while the payroll tax - the main tax paid by most workers - has gone up.”

What are your thoughts? Who is waging war against whom?

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FEMA renewal delays

The far right in Congress is holding up disaster relief in several states, insisting that budget cuts should offset any and all FEMA aid. What do you think of this position? How should Progressives respond?

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Class Warfare debate

Our last discussion focused on the the manipulation of language in American politics. One the phrases that the GOP/Tea Party and media outlets such as Fox news like to throw around is "Class Warfare." The President is now being accused of class warfare because he expects wealthy Americans to help pay off our debt. How would you respond to these accusations of "class warfare"? What are some effective ways of countering this rhetoric?

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The language wars

The right is waging a war against healthcare & social security based in the manipulation of language-- and they are winning. Social Security is labeled a "Ponzi scheme"; Planned Parenthood is labeled "the LensCrafters of big abortion" dismissing all other women's health services. We need new language to fight back and protect the rights we hold dear. Bumper sticker phrases to shout at protests & hand to our elected representatives. What new language, new tools should Progressives try next?


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The effects of misinformation fed by politicians

When politicians use this kind of misinformation [as Bachman's comments on papillomavirus] what are the consequences? Why does this type of rhetoric seem to be more and more common? How can we elevate the political discourse in this country?


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Women's access to healthcare and family planning

VA Board of Health yesterday passed regs requiring abortion clinics be treated as hospitals by complying with costly infrastructural requirements, thus forcing many of the 22 Planned Parenthood clinics to close. This is not just a social issue about women’s reproductive rights—this is about women's healthcare and a woman’s right to family planning access. Many women will be left without access to birth control, PAP smears, cervical cancer screenings, etc. What should Progressives do to respond?

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'What should the White House do? Panic! '

After losing two special elections in heavily Democratic districts, strategist James Carville argues the White House should panic: "As I watch the Republican debates, I realize that we are on the brink of a crazy person running our nation... and shudder at the thought of one of these global-warming-denying... Social-Security-cutting...Wall-Street-protecting Republicans running my country." Do you agree? What, if anything, can Progressives do to prevent a right-wing take over of Washington?


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What can Progressives do to support gay rights?

NC Senate voted to allow voters to decide whether the state Constitution should ban same-sex marriage. NC is currently the only state in the Southeast without a ban in the constitution. While the majority of political attention remains focused on the economy and social security, measures like these continue to be passed relatively unnoticed. What can Progressives do to support gay rights? Is there anything we can learn from the success of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" that could help us?

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Would Hillary Clinton make a successful Vice-President?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced recently that she was not interested in challenging President Obama for Presidency in 2012. But she hasn't yet said anything about Vice-Presidency. Would she make a successful Vice-President? Would an Obama-Clinton ticket be stronger now than an Obama-Biden ticket?


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How to remodel the US school system?

“…Many good jobs still exist… but they require 'more education or technical skills.'…our school systems are failing to prepare our children either for immediate employment in growth fields where they can build long-lasting careers, or for post-secondary educational success.”

How large of a contributor to unemployment in this country is lack of access to quality education? How should we as the author suggests, remodel our schools to better prepare our children for the jobs that currently exist?
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Supporting healthcare for 9/11 first responders

Ten years after the 9/11 attacks, studies are showing that the heroic first responders are suffering from increasing health problems as a result of their rescue efforts. Yet elected leaders in Washington (overwhelmingly Republicans) have resisted efforts to provide adequate federally funded health care coverage to the 9/11 first responders. What is the basis of this opposition? How should Progressives respond?

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On President Obama's Job Creation speech

What did you think of the President's speech on jobs creation last night? Do you think the American Jobs Act will help improve the economy? What would you say in response to the reporters President Obama alleged to, who are asking "What will this speech mean for the President?"

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On US's Global Competitiveness rating

Given the impact our economic crisis has had on our competitiveness in the world's most competitive economies, what should be done to rectify this? What should Progressives say in response to Conservatives who argue that capitalism and other conservative economic strategies were responsible for the US's rise to economic power in the first place? What would an economy based in Progressive values look like?

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Labor Day or "Capital Day"?

"Let’s get it over with and rename the holiday “Capital Day.” We may still celebrate Labor Day, but our culture has given up on honoring workers as the real creators of wealth..."

The author of this article contends that the American media and American citizens no longer value the interests and contributions of our nation's workers. Do you agree? Why is this the case? Is there anyway to reverse this trend?

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How should President Obama respond to recent poll numbers?

"New job figures... have stoked fears the U.S. economy could slide back into recession. Obama's ability to reignite the economy could determine whether he keeps his own job in the White House after 2012."

For the first time in the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, Obama lost out to a generic Republican candidate by 44 percent to 40 percent. Should re-election remain a focus? And if so how should the President proceed?


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What strategies for job creation should President Obama try next?

This Labor Day falls after a report stating a net zero gain of jobs in the past month. Do you think that the President's recent policies are making it difficult for business to create new jobs? How else can we encourage businesses to create more jobs? What strategies should President Obama try next?

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Elizabeth Warren as mouthpiece for the labor movement?

After the the sharp blows labor rights has received over the past year around the country (Wisconsin, Indiana, etc) it's clear additional political support is necessary. What are your thoughts on Elizabeth Warren as a potential mouthpiece for the labor movement? How else might Elizabeth Warren benefit the Progressive movement?

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President Obama's jobs package

"President Obama is preparing a September jobs package..to prime the economy and crank up employment...[which] will call on Congress to extend current payroll tax cuts and jobless benefits, spend money for new construction projects and offer incentives to businesses to hire more workers..."

What do you think of the President's new plan to fix the economy? What other changes should be made to produce more jobs?

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Reflections on forms of protest in the United States

Anna Hazare is said to be India's next Gandhi, employing fasting as a tool to protest corruption in the government. What is it about fasting that makes it such an effective form of protest in India? Do you think fasting could be an effective means of protest in the US? What other methods of protest should we try?

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President Obama's immigration reform

"The Obama administration announced its intention to review...the nation's deportation process, as well as to institute new guidelines going forward with the goal of distinguishing between those who pose threats to public safety from those who are merely in the country illegally..."

What do you think of the President's proposals to reform the immigration system? Would would a Progressive immigration reform entail?

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How to fix America's broken educational system?

What do you think are the best ways to fix America's broken education system? More funding is necessary of course, but in what ways do you think money should be spent so as to best improve a student's education? How should standardized test be used?

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How do we defend the funding of public health options and family planning?

Given the continuous reduction of funding for family planning and other public health programs for low-income families, what should we as Progressives do to help? What types of arguments can we use to defend the necessity of public health options and family planning funding?

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The changing role of social media and internet-based news in politics

Given the role internet-based news sources and social media sites have played over the past few years in politics, should we start taking seriously unknown politicians such as Rick Perry, who quickly dominate search engines and social media sites? What role(s) do you see social media and internet-based news sites occupying in the realm of politics over the next couple of years?

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Will Mitt Romney pose a threat to President Obama in 2012?

Do you agree with the author of this article that Romney's 'flip-flopping' will be a problem for voters? Do you think Mitt Romney would pose a threat to Pres Obama in the 2012 election?

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Should Pres Obama have played a more active role in the Wisconsin recall elections?

"Had Obama gone to Wisconsin and campaigned for Democrats... seeking to unseat six of Walker's right-wing state Senate allies... Democrats might have turned a narrow defeat into a spectacular unprecedented victory."

This article argues that the Wisconsin recall elections could have yielded very different results had the President played a more active role. Do you agree?

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How will the current anti-incumbent trend impact 2012 elections?

"A CNN poll this week showed, for the first time in its history, that most Americans think their own representatives do not deserve reelection."

Given this anti-incumbent trend, how do you foresee this affecting the 2012 elections?

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Thoughts on the recent Wisconsin recall election results?

What are your thoughts on the results of the recent Wisconsin recall elections? What are the next steps for Progressive movements?

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On the restrictions of graduate student loans

Under both the Boehner and Reid plans, no new subsidized loans would be issued to graduate students after July 1, 2012. The savings would be used to help fund the undergraduate Pell Grant program. Given that graduate students are notoriously underfunded and graduate school is necessary in order to produce the teachers that instruct the booming college populations, what are your thoughts on this measure?

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On the failed attempts to re-authorize the FAA

What are the long- and short-term problems that might arise from the FAA re-authorization delay? What in your opinion are the primary issues at stake?

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Privacy concerns over new mobile technology?

"With new mobile gadgetry, suspects will no longer have to be taken to police stations for their fingerprints and irises to be scanned and recorded."-- What are the potential legal issues at stake? In your opinion does this new technology violate a citizen's right to privacy?

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Senator Sanders on why Americans are angry

"Congress is now on a path to do exactly what the American people don't want. Americans want shared sacrifice in deficit reduction. Congress is on track to give them the exact opposite: major cuts in the most important programs that the middle class needs and wants, and no sacrifice from the wealthy and the powerful."

Do you agree with Sen. Bernie Sander's assessment of why Americans are angry with Washington?

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On Krugman's critique of President Obama's debt ceiling compromise

“It will damage an already depressed economy; it will probably make America's long-run deficit problem worse... most important, by demonstrating that raw extortion works and carries no political cost, it will take America a long way down the road to banana-republic status” - Paul Krugman

Do you agree with Krugman's critique ? Or did the President put together the best plan he could given the current situation?

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On the ideological differences driving the debate over the debt ceiling

What are the ideological differences driving the debate over the debt ceiling? How do the Democrat and Republican proposals contrast? Can the plans be reconciled?

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Are Republicans out of touch with the pulse of the nation?

Is the author of this article right in saying concerning the debt ceiling debate that "Republicans are out of touch with the pulse of the nation, which wants a fair and balanced deficit deal."? Do you agree, as the author argues, that these actions will convince more voters to swing to Democratic in the next cycle of elections?

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On the new rules governing excessive student debt

This group claims that the new rules governing excessive student debt will result in massive disincentives on private sector schools that currently seek to educate low-income, minority, and other traditionally underserved student populations. What are your thoughts on the validity of this claim? How can student loan debt best be managed ®ulated given the soaring tuition costs & increased demand for student loans?

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For all previous PTT posts

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