On the 118th Congress and Why the Progressive Movement is the Solution to America’s Political Crisis
In solidarity,
Alan Minsky for the PDA National Team
This is a moment for progressives to shine. In contemporary American politics, progressives are a near-perfect inversion of the Trump disciples who have effectively shut down the U.S. House of Representatives this week. Mainstream media consistently misrepresents the progressive agenda, frequently drawing false equivalences between radicals on the right and the left. This is hogwash. Progressives are America’s strongest advocates for democracy, civil rights, justice, a fair economy, universal healthcare, safe and prosperous communities, and a healthy planet—for the society the vast majority of Americans want.
The Reactionary Republicans, who have shut down the most democratic institution in the federal government, “The People’s House,” are political nihilists. Their endgame is to discredit, damage, and ultimately destroy our democratic republic’s capacity to empower every citizen so they cannot be exploited and ruled over by the rich and powerful (aka the patrons of the reactionaries). Fortunately, their political opposites are on the rise. A newly elected group of Progressive Democrats, passionately committed to the people and the planet, will enter Congress once the nihilists end their temper tantrum.
We’re now two days past when the 118th Congress was scheduled to commence in both Houses. Instead, we have yet another unprecedented disruption at the heart of our political system, courtesy of the Republican Party. Fortunately, there’s also cause to celebrate at the same location, thanks to Progressive Democrats. A new group of brilliant young progressives will be sworn into Congress once the House re-opens!
Tuesday was supposed to be the first day of the New Congress in both chambers. No sooner had the Republicans arrived on Capitol Hill to assume formal leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, than chaos ensued. In essence, they picked up right where they left off the last time they controlled an elected branch of the U.S. government—in January 2021. The only thing surprising to me was that the national punditry acted surprised.
For the first time in 100 years, the top candidate from the majority party was not elected Speaker of the House on the first ballot. After Wednesday, he had failed to gain enough votes to become speaker on six ballots. Once again, the radical reactionaries in the Republican Party have manufactured a political crisis.
Join with us at PDA in getting word out to the American people that there is a vibrant political movement in the country, made up of people just like them, that is the antidote to these reactionary nihilists—it’s called the progressive movement.
Thanks so much for anything you can do.
As a hardcore progressive, I see this standoff as a nuanced and troubling dilemma. First, there’s schadenfreude, savoring the self-made discomfort of one’s adversaries. But I’m also envious. Imagine if Congressional progressives had the political discipline to stick together and wield power — instead of making demands and then folding like a house of cards, almost always. That’s one reason we don’t yet have universal healthcare, among other necessities. (Memo to progressives: we must learn from our adversaries without becoming like them.)