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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