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The PTT is an online forum for progressives to openly discuss, debate, and analyze progressive issues. Through our conversations we hope to develop intellectual resources for grassroots activism, build a nationwide community of progressive intellectuals, craft strong and effective counter-arguments to right-wing discourse, debate political strategies and re-frame public debates using progressive language. Browse archives of our posts here or join the discussion through our Facebook page. Don't Think it, #ThinkTankIt !

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

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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Thursday, August 25, 2011

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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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

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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Friday, August 19, 2011

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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Wednesday, August 17, 2011

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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Friday, August 12, 2011

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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Thursday, August 11, 2011

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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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

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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Monday, August 8, 2011

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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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

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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Monday, August 1, 2011

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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