Progressives shouldn't confuse a party with a movement

Parties are loyal to their own power regardless of policy agenda, writes columnist David Sirota. Movements, however, are loyal to their own policy agenda regardless of which party champions it.

Though the 2006 and 2008 elections were billed as progressive movement successes, the story behind them highlights a longer-term failure. During those contests, most leaders of Washington's major labor, environmental, antiwar and anti-poverty groups spent millions of dollars on a party endeavor — specifically, on electing a Democratic president and Democratic Congress. In the process, many groups subverted their own movement agendas in the name of ... Full Story »

Posted by Dwight Rousu
Tags Help
Member Tags: Progressive Movement
Editorial Help
Posted by: Posted by Dwight Rousu - Sep 8, 2009 - 12:31 AM PDT
Content Type: Article
Edit Lock: This story can be edited
Edited by: Dwight Rousu - Sep 8, 2009 - 12:31 AM PDT

To:


Separate email addresses with commas.
25 recipients max.

Note:

Reviews

Show All | Notes | Comments | Quotes | Links
Member_photo_thumb
4.4
by Dwight Rousu - Sep. 8, 2009

Sirota creates an insightful look at the distinction between a political party and a political movement.

In this vacuum, movement building has been left to underfunded (but stunningly successful) projects like Firedoglake.com, Democracy for America, the Progressive Change ... More »

See Full Review » (13 answers)
P9110066_thumb
4.1
by Patricia Blochowiak - Sep. 8, 2009
See Full Review » (17 answers)
Silhouette_sml
4.5
by Tanya J. Maurer - Sep. 9, 2009
See Full Review » (11 answers)

Comments on this story Help (BETA)

NT Rating | My Rating

Ratings

4.3

Good
from 3 reviews (35% confidence)
Quality
4.3
Facts
1.0
Fairness
1.0
Information
3.3
Insight
5.0
Style
5.0
Accuracy
3.0
Balance
1.0
Context
4.0
Depth
4.0
Enterprise
5.0
Expertise
3.3
Originality
4.7
Relevance
5.0
Transparency
2.0
Responsibility
5.0
Popularity
4.1
Recommendation
5.0
Credibility
3.3
# Reviews
1.5
# Views
5.0
# Likes
1.0
# Emails
1.0
More
How our ratings work »
(See these related stories.)

Links Help

No links yet. Please review this story to add some!