The religion of progressivism: The state is God to all progressives
71Old fashion Bunker wisdom; some comedy relief
Progressivism destroys great societies
Some people on the right and even those who are independent wonder how people from the left can still defend Obama or other democrat leaders in spite of the bad news. This I think can be explained by saying that progressivism is not only a political ideology, it is for some a religion. That is to say that for those who deeply believe in this ideology nothing will come between them and their beliefs. I compare it to my faith which is Christianity and the fact that nothing will come between my Faith and myself to include death. Those who believe that progressivism is the best and fairest answer to society`s ills will stop at nothing to defend it. In this post I want to make some comparisons to prove my theory.
Our constitution and the bill of rights is not compatible with the progressive ideology. The progressive ideology has no room for individualism. In fact progressivism has to eliminate the validity of individualism to survive. The progressive ideology needs its followers to believe in the State or the Party as the owner of all property and wealth and to be the fair arbitrator of equality to the people. The progressive ideology cannot tolerate the individual or individual rights. This is because the individual wants to fend for himself and rely on himself to own private property and build his own wealth. The individual minded , liberty loving person does not mind giving to charity or even paying into a tax system to help with government’s proper role. The individual minded, liberty minded person detests one man, one party, or a group of men in a party taking his private wealth at the point of a federal gun.
The progressive wants no private wealth because he believes this leads to inequality and greed. The progressive believes that all of society’s ills are a form of inequality, race, or greed. He believes that the capitalist system is unfair and uncompassionate but never looks to see if his own system has the same sins. The progressive thinks that his system will provide a fair and equitable distribution of the world’s wealth and that all men deserve their fair share. I have to admit that is does sound companionate……does it not? The progressive has been out numbered in our country for so long that they are very angry and frustrated that we don`t see the simplicity of his world view. He sees anyone who believes in individualism as evil, greedy, racist, and uneducated.
When you see movements like the Black Panther Party get a pass on election intimidation which was plainly on video tape you wonder why? The tea party has been branded as a racist movement by the left without any video of any such action. One can turn on the news or the internet and find story after story of the tea party being racist because that is the left wing template. The media is full of academics who are progressives. Journalism is no longer reporting what you see or hear it is a template of stories designed to promote the ideology of the progressive. The black panthers cannot be racist because they are of the progressive religion. The Black Panther party is just as racists as the clan ever was.
The Republican Party has made some horrible political decisions which are for the most part centered on crony capitalism; crony capitalism is dangerous because it is an enemy to competition. Crony capitalism creates unfair advantages for big corporations which in turn give kickbacks to the legislators who helped them. When the republicans had power they took no action to move the conservative agenda forward. They had no leadership and the moderate republicans (who were in the minority) sided with the democrats to defeat the conservative agenda. The democrats are fighters for sure, they are fearless in their legislative fights but they are dead wrong on what makes an economy work. I say this to point out that I am no fan of the weak spineless Republicans because I am a conservative first and a republican last. I detest moderate republicans almost as much as a democrat. Moderate republicans are progressives, George W. Bush was a progressive……John McCain is a progressive.
Next point to look at is the deficit; do you not remember when the democrats screamed about the deficit all throughout the Bush years? Why was that? And why do they support deficit spending now? It is simple…….it is because George Bush was not spending money on social programs the way the democrats wanted him to. Obama is following the religion of progressivism by spending all we have on social programs of one form or another. To the progressive spending money on social programs is the only proper way to spend money because the money is not private property to them it is state property. When I speak of these beliefs I am not talking about the average liberal who votes for democrats because they hate the Christian right or because it is hip slick and cool. I am speaking about the ones who are sold out to socialism, which are followers of Saul Alinsky and Marks.
If you take the time to study Karl Marks and Saul Alinsky you will read for yourself (not my words) that “The ends justifies the means”. That is to say that no matter what you have to do, say, or cover up to reach the progressive goal it is right to do so. The morality of progressivism is this; whatever it takes to advance progressivism is moral. The reason they believe this is because they believe it is the most compassionate system and the most fair which in turn makes it morally superior and just.
I want to finish this by saying as I did in an earlier post this week that the progressive ideal sounds good but here is why it is not. It is very simple to understand if you look at it from a logical rather than emotional view. Capitalism is not perfect; it has flaws which can be addressed by our laws. It needs some regulation to function in a compassionate manor. The most powerful thing about capitalism is that the market place is the great equalizer. In other words the people who buy and sell even if they are corrupt will be voted on by the almighty dollar. If you have prices which are too high or if you are a liar or corrupt word will get out and customers will go to your competitor. In the end the consumer wins every time and the corrupt business will change its ways or disappear.
Socialism, the utopian ideal of the progressive religion, has no competition. It is products and services brought to you by the state. The state may give everyone free health care, a home, a job, a car or whatever else but if you have a complaint about it …who do you go to? Have you ever wished the DOT had a competitor that you could go to for your license when the line was two miles long and the lady behind the counter treated you like cattle. This is why our great society has grown to be so wealthy and strong even though we are the youngest country. Progressive states allow just enough capitalistic enterprise to take place to support the state and its minions. In a communist state the workers produce products and do services which the state regulates and distributes completely. These workers are paid by the government minus cost of living. Yes they all are equal, they all have an apartment, a bicycle and healthcare.
Finally , in a progressive system you still have the class structure. In their system you have the ruling class which is usually the Party officials and you have the people. The ruling class decides what you do for a living based on what`s good for the state. They decide what products and services are good for the state. They decide who gets to live and die in the hospital based on cost to the state. Everything is based on the religion of the state and party which serves the state. Once again the reason this is moral and just in their eyes is because it is for the good of all the comrades and equality. One man’s life is not worth two in their eyes so if one man is sick and needs a heart transplant and two others are younger and still able to work the money is better spent on the two.
The last thing to point out is this, the leaders and party officials in these progressive utopia`s never live under the same rules as the people they rule because after all, they are the only ones smart enough to lead. I will take my chances with the freedom to be an individual just like my father’s before me. I would rather live in a system where the constitution protects the individual from the state and party leaders . I want to live without fear of men who want to own me and tell me how to live my life, what to eat, and what`s politically correct to say. If we don`t stop the progressive movement now and the power of the state and party which believes in the state…….we will have to spill blood someday to get our freedom back.
A talk on Saul Alinsky and Cloward- Piven strategy
Is progressive politics destroying our magnificent society?
See results without votingCommentsLoading...
Thank you Lanetodd, I hope you will come again.Scott
Awesome hub, see clowardandpiven.com
BTW EYM, check out this blog post I think it will make your blood boil, Scott
EYM, I finally figured you out. You have no balls. You never take a stance either way its always in the middle so you always appear smarter or above it all. I really do like you as I have seen you have a gentle spirit under all the arguments, but for goodness sake , grow a set will ya.
Wake up gents...It's not just the democratic part that you have to worry about this with. If you don't get that, you're headed for the same thing you see, just with a (R) behind the name. Anytime leadership (especially in politics) is not service, we get in trouble. All of them need term limits. "Career Politicians" should be an oxymoron. They should serve and then go back to the public that they served.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Tom. Elitists make us all cringe with anger.
Terrific hub. I think if you take the word progressive and replace it with elitist you get a similar if not more accurate representation of what is wrong with the political class in the US today. Too many in politics are breed from early on to go into politics. It is this elitist attitude that rankles me the most. When you combine elitism with secularism it is the dangerous combination we now face with the Democrat party. Great hub keep up the good work.
Our founding Fathers were the progressives of their time but praise God it does not resemble anything like what passes for progressive thought today. If that was the case we would have no USA.
Too bad. I was looking forward to working into how your theology meshed with your politics. Your take on it was pretty interesting...the greed associated with appropriating someone else's wealth vs. the expectation and mandate of biblical charity (WeHoldTheseTruths and I discussed something similar and I learned a lot about how the two mesh with him).
Maybe you'll change your mind later on. I'll be around.
Elder.
@elder, Brother, I wish you well. I am just not interested in arguing points with you. I write trying to reach the independent middle, not the die hard left.
@swb78 "The last thing to point out is this, the leaders and party officials in these progressive utopia`s never live under the same rules as the people they rule because after all, they are the only ones smart enough to lead. I will take my chances with the freedom to be an individual just like my father’s before me."
In EYM's case, the issue is not "smart enough" to rule it's "moral enough" to rule. The thing about the claims of being smart is easily disputed by facts and outcomes - it takes little in the area of being a genius to be able to tell that Obama, for instance, is utterly clueless about business and economics.
And so long come the moral crusaders instead of the "we're smarter", who campaign on "we're more moral and more righteous". And, you can't dispute them, because to disagree with them, is to be evil. To oppose their wonderful and righteous and good intentions is only because you're evil. Thus, outcome, facts, history, and reality matters none, only their own self-measured worthiness to RULE. Not to be careful and responsible servants and stewards of the public's money and will, but to be righteous controllers of the world.
@EYM, we NEVER discussed the CAUSE of the Civil War, AT ALL. My comments on the economic state of the South were to comment upon the economic strength of the South and were related to it's exploitation based economy vs the productivity based economy of the North.
@WeHoldTheseTruths-We had a short dialog on the causes of the civil war and your summation above was a part of its cause. The north (or federal government) mandated that the south not trade directly European nations which it sought to do. They felt that the north hurt their profits with tariffs it charged their buyers, as a markup. What you say is correct, just isn't the whole picture.
@swb78-You assume a lot for someone that follows folks around and initiates a discussion with nothing more on his mind than sticking my thoughts into...what'd you call it..."A dark work"...and then hitting delete. Interesting.
swb78, about the issue of slavery and the south. At the time of the Civil War, the economy of the south was very weak, compared to the North. The output, especially in durable goods was a tiny fraction of that of the north. The South was based on textiles and agriculture, leaving it dependent upon exports for money to buy weaponry and hard currency for other things. The confederate currency was worth nil, and for the duration of the civil war, the south grew poorer and poorer. As I told EYM on the subject, an economy which turns its human capital into the equivalent of a mule pulling a cart - the lowest possible valuation and productivity of a human being. Thus, the South was poor and economy extremely weak.
But, the South didn't realize that their own commitment to slavery was the very cause of their economic weakness. Trade embargoes by the north against the South were devastatingly crippling, since it was entirely dependent upon import and export for durable goods, including military hardware.
EYM took offense at the facts of history, rather than learning from them. It's politics before knowledge.
@WEHOLD,
I found your assessment of EYM to be spot on and actually quit comical as well. I wonder what it must be like to wake up every day to a country shrouded in conspiracy and filled with hate and covetousness. Elder lives in a dark work created by race warlords who brainwashed his young mind that America and white people are the devil himself.
As to spiritual and moral superiority, I have seen this guys posts all over the place. He only has a couple hubs here but spends most of his time arguing with people. From here on out I`m hitting delete. Thanks my friend.
Elder, I would only correct you by saying that slaves did not "build" this country. Americans built this country and slave labor helped and they unfortunately had no choice. They did, however, receive some benefit for there efforts. To exaggerate the history and facts by giving all the credit to slave labor is just untrue.
I need you to understand that I am just one of millions of white people who don`t condone the past but are sick of hearing blacks throw it in our faces. Slavery was a normal thing across the globe in those days, at least the emancipation movement was alive and well in the new Republic.
The founders knew the issue would have to be resolved, and it would have been resolved sooner if not for white southern Democrats. The race lords who came after Martin Luther King, have done your people a horrible disservice.There are a number of black men whom I have the utmost respect for and would vote for in a minute. Walter williams is one, Allen Keys, Hermon Cain, Thomas Sowell. These great men have dropped the shroud of race and self pity to become a success, then the blacks criticize them and call them Uncle Toms. What a disgrace it is to treat these men that way.
@SWB78 I think you're missing a little information that makes you and ElderYoungMan talk past each other. One, is that he firmly believes that if you have been successful, it has been DELIVERED TO YOU. Not that anything you did earned it, but that a "system" made it happen for you, by screwing over the poor and specific minorities.
You see, once you believe this, there's no way to discuss the economy. Because he believes that bit about you not deserving what you earn, the larger issue with EYM, is that correction of the theft is a larger issue than getting the economy on track - which he earnestly believes will be done by liberal politicians, using government power. Thus, EYM is forever stuck on the point that we must destroy the investor and wealthy and large business class, by taking away what they stole, and taking from them all influence and even their Constitutional rights, to prevent them from simply "stealing" all the success again.
(if you don't believe me, just read the posts he's made to me in various hubs, and his own hubs, where he clearly states all of the above)
More disturbingly, EYM claims his politics is based on spiritual enlightenment, meaning that disagreement is not an intellectual exercise about judgement, observation, and analysis, but a spiritual and moral defect... On your part.
Once you understand this, then his posts aren't so apparently off-topic, it's just that his response to them is about matters which he earnestly believes are the root, but in reality, are unrelated.
Bottom line here guy, you don't really want to have a discussion about an actual topic. I say that because I took the time to read you position before saying one word to you. Our beliefs on certain things are virtually identical. What I'm looking for is common ground. If you'd read my post "Thoroughly" you'd have seen that I have no expectation that this country will ever make reparation to the slaves that built it (yes I said it). But trying to run that right wing "republican-think" on how to discredit an argument is just tired. You CAN'T change my mind on how I feel about our shared history, regardless of how angry you get. So if the point is discussion, I suggest moving on to the next topic since we both understand that neither person will be moved.
Otherwise, I have no time to argue with a person that's just out for a fight. "Do I sound radical and extreme? So what.....it is time we call things like we see them and I don`t care who it offends. Nice speaking with you elder, please come again." This line pretty much sums it up. Oh, BTW, you shouldn't be in such a hurry to spill blood up top. I know it seems like the thing to do, but you may want to sit and think about it a bit.
Elder, I am self employed as a freelance writer. I have also been the owner of three businesses over 25 years. I know your game here, you have wrote very few Hubs but your comments can be found all over the HubPages arguing your tired old left wing rants that nobody cares about. I am sorry Elder, but frankly ...your boring and you add no real value to any current issue or conversation.
You and others like you are out numbered and will never-thank God- have your way. You are in the minority and always will be. As for Africans......they don`t want your type either, so you have one and only one clear choice. Stop acting like a two year old who can`t have his way and start acting like a man. Try to join the ranks of the adult population and grow up.
No one and I do mean NO ONE cares about your tired old racist rants. No one cares about your wounded whining positions on slavery. furthermore, no one cares about your opinions of corporate America or your boring left wing rants. Have a niece life, Scott
Who asked "You" for anything? Nobody needs one thing from "You". You probably don't have all that much anyway. Here is the answer to your question "NO". As long is this country maintains racial bias, don't ever expect stop hearing about slavery, the effects of such, the economic impact of such..etc, etc. Again, if the capital markets were free markets, who'd care? I have started and operate 3 successful business lines, even in this biased environment. But they aren't and you admitted that yourself. Is there anything else of substance you want to talk about or did you want me to come over here so you can talk about "African Americans"? You sound like a person with some issues, like a dude that got beat up by some thugs or something. That doesn't make you radical or extreme. Again, the answer to your question is N.O. When you dream up something else you'd like to discuss, we can do that. Meanwhile, go punch the clock....We wouldn't want you angry at an "African American" for getting you fired when you shouldn't be using the internet.
Elder, come on man... don`t give me that racial bullcrap! I could care less that Obama is black, he is an enemy to my country period. Black or white he is an enemy to American ideals. Reparations? I don`t owe you or any other black man a damn thing! Get off your lazy butt and work for it.
You blacks that think this way need to learn how to forgive and forget. Those who cannot forgive should not expect to be forgiven. You can whine all you want about slavery......no one cares. There are ethnic groups in this world who have suffered far worse and much longer than you African Americans and have asked for nothing in return because they have self respect and dignity. My God will you people EVER quit whining about slavery ....Boo Hoo!
I wouldn't say radical or extreme, just pissed off and fearful about having a President that doesn't look like you. Should America make reparations? Yep. Will America make reparations? Nope. Under today's working climate @ minimum wage, that bill, just for the labor, not the destroyed cities, thefts, murders etc, etc is about 12,000,000,000,000.00 and I'm being nice. Count it as a cash advance and just make the markets free, unmanipulated, uncontrolled markets and through capitalism, I'll build my own black nation..... You need to stop focusing so hard on the President. He's kind of like the manager at a burger king.
I know we have politicians one both sides who are on the take. The problem is most people want to pass laws to fix this??? why do that?? it just hurts everyone else who is actually honest, all we have to do is throw them out of office. The problem is not the politicians or the special interest groups, the problem is an electorate which keeps putting them back in office.
Harry Reid and Pelosi are prime examples on the left and Lindsey Graham on the right. Reid I believe used voter fraud to get re-elected, the polls clearly had him behind.Mob money and Indians put him back in office.
On healthcare, Obama didn`t care about the details, that is the big hoodly wink he played on the people who liked universal health care. He didn`t give a damn about public option; he just wanted something in place that would necessarily shut down private insurance and force people toward a government solution. He truly is an evil man, those who laugh at what seems like an extreme statement are really not seeing the forest for the trees.
Obama lives out black separatist theology, he hates America and wants her to PAY for her unfair past. He is just smarter than other black nationalists like Jackson and Sharpton. Obama dresses better, and sounds like a white guy, he was more marketable to the general public. He is still a black man who wants revenge for the past.
I also believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is a Muslim and a non-citizen. I believe he is fully aware of the radical Islamists who threaten our very existence and does not care. This man Obama is no accident, he is also no idiot, he is a calculating black nationalist who hates this country and our constitution with every fiber in him.
Do I sound radical and extreme? So what.....it is time we call things like we see them and I don`t care who it offends. Nice speaking with you elder, please come again.
Take a look at this hub I wrote on the 2 party system:
//hubpages.com/hub/Something-to-Consider-about-the-2-party-system
Elder out
"Capitalism is not perfect; it has flaws which can be addressed by our laws. It needs some regulation to function in a compassionate manor. The most powerful thing about capitalism is that the market place is the great equalizer. In other words the people who buy and sell even if they are corrupt will be voted on by the almighty dollar. If you have prices which are too high or if you are a liar or corrupt word will get out and customers will go to your competitor. In the end the consumer wins every time and the corrupt business will change its ways or disappear." This is true in a pure system, but we both know that the markets are owned by the billion dollar interests. It's kind of like a mix of capitalism and communism. The capitalist becomes successful then manipulates the production of innovation, in order to maintain marketshare. That's done in two ways. 1.Control of capital and 2.Control of legislation. The system would have corrected itself with the banks if the government was not on the take. If you and I made a contract for that hat you are wearing on your avatar, if I sold you the hat and you didn't pay me, the most I could hope for is to take the contract into a court and sue. The judge would either force you to take off the hat and give it back OR he'd force you to pay for the hat. Contracts outline terms for exchanges of goods or services for money, possibly over a period of time. So in what world can one part to the contract take both the security item (real estate in this example) and then go back to the judge and get a chunk of money also? Our economy is based on the movement of money, not accumulation of high concentrations of wealth in one segment of the populace. We aren't like european nations where ownership is the norm.
Good hub. A couple of points though:
"The Republican Party has made some horrible political decisions which are for the most part centered on crony capitalism; crony capitalism is dangerous because it is an enemy to competition. Crony capitalism creates unfair advantages for big corporations which in turn give kickbacks to the legislators who helped them. When the republicans had power they took no action to move the conservative agenda forward." You and I completely agree on this except a slight variation. I think both sides are sold out to billion dollar interests and the whole government, liberal or conservative, is on the take. Case in point, the bailouts. Whether it was done on what we'd call a conservative agenda (to prop up big business) or a liberal agenda (to form a central state real estate bank) none of this money made it back to the people it was supposed to "Help". So to me, that wreaks of a sold out agenda from both Bush and Obama.
"The democrats are fighters for sure, they are fearless in their legislative fights but they are dead wrong on what makes an economy work." You really think so? I have found the Obama administration to be kinda spineless. Look at the healthcare bill. How do you go from wanting single payer and then negotiating away the middle ground, being the public option...and I stress the word "Option"? Fighters...they seem to fight harder amongst themselves than with the opposition. President Obama actually lost favor with me because of his coddling of conservatives shameless gimmes for billion dollar interests.
Very well said Dee, thank you for your interest in my work. Thank you for visiting my Hub!!Scott
Great summary and well written! It's scary after reading it, because I see America's government has become more Progressive than I like to believe; what with the elite polititians and all the social programs started by F.D.R. I can't help but think too that Progressives are not so honorably motivated. They say they want equallity in wealth, but really they want to own all the power it would take to try to manage a socialist system; and with them in the elitist class living at a level above us commoners!
AJReissig 14 months ago
Great hub! It appears that your views are similar to mine. An individual must be allowed to fail or succeed on his own. That is the basis of what our nation was founded on, and I think we have strayed too far from those beliefs. Keep up with the great hubs!