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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