The progressive shift

[Quantum Windbag]

Finally, someone is saying it.

For an example of this new worldview, look at the budget produced by the Congressional Progressive Caucus last week. These Democrats try to boost economic growth with a gigantic $2.1 trillion increase in government spending — including a $450 billion public works initiative, a similar-size infrastructure program and $179 billion so states, too, can hire more government workers.
Now, of course, liberals have always believed in Keynesian countercyclical deficit spending. But that was borrowing to brake against a downturn when certain conditions prevail: when the economy is shrinking; when debt levels are low; when there are plenty of shovel-ready projects waiting to be enacted; when there is a large and growing gap between the economy’s current output and what it is capable of producing.
Today, House progressives are calling for a huge increase in government taxing and spending when none of those conditions apply. Today, progressives are calling on government to be the growth engine in all circumstances. In this phase of the recovery, just as the economy is finally beginning to take off, these Democrats want to take an astounding $4.2 trillion out of the private sector and put it into government where they believe it can be used more efficiently.

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/19/opinion/brooks-the-progressive-shift.html?_r=1&

And, no, people that think like this are not the voice of moderation.

 

[Agit8r]

I feel obliged to note that the progressive caucus is the left wing of the party

 

[DiamondDave]

I feel obliged to note that the progressive caucus is the left wing of the party

But the modern left, not just the far left wing.. still spouts that they believe more government spending is better than having more money in the hands of the people.. that government knows how better to spend and what is needed to be provided

 

[Bfgrn]

Sign Sans Signified: The Debt Ceiling Debate in Plain English

"The debt explosion has resulted not from big spending by the Democrats, but instead the Republican Party's embrace, about three decades ago, of the insidious doctrine that deficits don't matter if they result from tax cuts."
David Stockman - Director of the Office of Management and Budget for U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

"Grover Norquist has no plan to pay this debt down. His plan says you continue to add to the debt..."
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.)

 

[Agit8r]

But the modern left, not just the far left wing.. still spouts that they believe more government spending is better than having more money in the hands of the people.. that government knows how better to spend and what is needed to be provided

That is not what they say. You could argue that they are not being honest, but the larger centrist wing does not say any such thing.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

I feel obliged to note that the progressive caucus is the left wing of the party

I feel obliged to counter note that Nancy Pelosi is a member of the Progressive Caucus.

Just saying.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

But the modern left, not just the far left wing.. still spouts that they believe more government spending is better than having more money in the hands of the people.. that government knows how better to spend and what is needed to be provided

That is not what they say. You could argue that they are not being honest, but the larger centrist wing does not say any such thing.

I think you are a misinformed about the current structure of the Democratic Party.

 

[Agit8r]

But the modern left, not just the far left wing.. still spouts that they believe more government spending is better than having more money in the hands of the people.. that government knows how better to spend and what is needed to be provided

That is not what they say. You could argue that they are not being honest, but the larger centrist wing does not say any such thing.

I think you are a misinformed about the current structure of the Democratic Party.

of 200 House Democrats, 74 belong to the Progressive Caucus.

of the Senate, only independent Bernie Sanders belongs to the caucus.

Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members

 

[Quantum Windbag]

That is not what they say. You could argue that they are not being honest, but the larger centrist wing does not say any such thing.

I think you are a misinformed about the current structure of the Democratic Party.

of 200 House Democrats, 74 belong to the Progressive Caucus.

of the Senate, only independent Bernie Sanders belongs to the caucus.

Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members

And Nancy Pelosi, the only former Speaker of the House to retain a leadership position after their party lost a national election, is a member of the Progressive Caucus. That, believe it or not, shows that the Progressive Caucus is the power in your party.

 

[LoneLaugher]

I think you are a misinformed about the current structure of the Democratic Party.

of 200 House Democrats, 74 belong to the Progressive Caucus.

of the Senate, only independent Bernie Sanders belongs to the caucus.

Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members

And Nancy Pelosi, the only former Speaker of the House to retain a leadership position after their party lost a national election, is a member of the Progressive Caucus. That, believe it or not, shows that the Progressive Caucus is the power in your party.

No it does not.

 

[Dugdale_Jukes]

Finally, someone is saying it.

For an example of this new worldview, look at the budget produced by the Congressional Progressive Caucus last week. These Democrats try to boost economic growth with a gigantic $2.1 trillion increase in government spending — including a $450 billion public works initiative, a similar-size infrastructure program and $179 billion so states, too, can hire more government workers.
Now, of course, liberals have always believed in Keynesian countercyclical deficit spending. But that was borrowing to brake against a downturn when certain conditions prevail: when the economy is shrinking; when debt levels are low; when there are plenty of shovel-ready projects waiting to be enacted; when there is a large and growing gap between the economy’s current output and what it is capable of producing.
Today, House progressives are calling for a huge increase in government taxing and spending when none of those conditions apply. Today, progressives are calling on government to be the growth engine in all circumstances. In this phase of the recovery, just as the economy is finally beginning to take off, these Democrats want to take an astounding $4.2 trillion out of the private sector and put it into government where they believe it can be used more efficiently.

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/19/opinion/brooks-the-progressive-shift.html?_r=1&

And, no, people that think like this are not the voice of moderation.

Here is why what passes for liberals today can occasionally prosper in US politics:

Nutballs.
​

As long as there are halfwits too stupid to know their own interests, people smart enough to sense danger will organize against them.

Probably the most interesting part of the whole tent show is the labels. Reagan was about as conservative as Boy George and Clinton was about as liberal as Torquemada.

It's hilarious. Except to people who need jobs and remember when blue collar Americans were middle class.

 

[Agit8r]

I think you are a misinformed about the current structure of the Democratic Party.

of 200 House Democrats, 74 belong to the Progressive Caucus.

of the Senate, only independent Bernie Sanders belongs to the caucus.

Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members

And Nancy Pelosi, the only former Speaker of the House to retain a leadership position after their party lost a national election, is a member of the Progressive Caucus. That, believe it or not, shows that the Progressive Caucus is the power in your party.

She is not listed as a member of the caucus.

 

[LoneLaugher]

of 200 House Democrats, 74 belong to the Progressive Caucus.

of the Senate, only independent Bernie Sanders belongs to the caucus.

Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members

And Nancy Pelosi, the only former Speaker of the House to retain a leadership position after their party lost a national election, is a member of the Progressive Caucus. That, believe it or not, shows that the Progressive Caucus is the power in your party.

She is not listed as a member of the caucus.

Say what?

 

[Agit8r]

And Nancy Pelosi, the only former Speaker of the House to retain a leadership position after their party lost a national election, is a member of the Progressive Caucus. That, believe it or not, shows that the Progressive Caucus is the power in your party.

She is not listed as a member of the caucus.

Say what?

just stating the facts (see link above)

 

[Quantum Windbag]

of 200 House Democrats, 74 belong to the Progressive Caucus.

of the Senate, only independent Bernie Sanders belongs to the caucus.

Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members

And Nancy Pelosi, the only former Speaker of the House to retain a leadership position after their party lost a national election, is a member of the Progressive Caucus. That, believe it or not, shows that the Progressive Caucus is the power in your party.

No it does not.

Let me guess, it actually proves they have no power at all.

 

[Seawytch]

How did the CBO score their budget?

 

[Quantum Windbag]

of 200 House Democrats, 74 belong to the Progressive Caucus.

of the Senate, only independent Bernie Sanders belongs to the caucus.

Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members

And Nancy Pelosi, the only former Speaker of the House to retain a leadership position after their party lost a national election, is a member of the Progressive Caucus. That, believe it or not, shows that the Progressive Caucus is the power in your party.

She is not listed as a member of the caucus.

Really? I wonder why. Maybe it is because she is officially the leader of the Democratic Party in the House.

She certainly was a member for years.

Representatives Ron Dellums (D-CA), Lane Evans (D-IL), Thomas Andrews (D-ME), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Additional House Members joined soon thereafter, including Major Owens (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), David Bonior (D-MI), Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Patsy Mink (D-HI), George Miller (D-CA), Pete Stark (D-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Then-U.S. Representative Bernie Sanders was the convener and first CPC Chairman. Bill Goold served as Staff Coordinator for the Progressive Caucus in its early years until 1998.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Progressive_Caucus#History

 

[Seawytch]

So that makes the Boehner the leader of the Tea Bag caucus?

 

[Agit8r]

And Nancy Pelosi, the only former Speaker of the House to retain a leadership position after their party lost a national election, is a member of the Progressive Caucus. That, believe it or not, shows that the Progressive Caucus is the power in your party.

She is not listed as a member of the caucus.

Really? I wonder why. Maybe it is because she is officially the leader of the Democratic Party in the House.

She certainly was a member for years.

Representatives Ron Dellums (D-CA), Lane Evans (D-IL), Thomas Andrews (D-ME), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Additional House Members joined soon thereafter, including Major Owens (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), David Bonior (D-MI), Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Patsy Mink (D-HI), George Miller (D-CA), Pete Stark (D-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Then-U.S. Representative Bernie Sanders was the convener and first CPC Chairman. Bill Goold served as Staff Coordinator for the Progressive Caucus in its early years until 1998.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Progressive_Caucus#History

fair enough. we'll count her as a progressive sympathizer. Still, the previous generalization about the party lacks considerable nuance.