Why Maine Progressive?

Why?

For too long, is seems the progressive movement has leaned heavily on the notion that if one would just put a broader perspective before self, the answers would become clear and the path to solution be not only logical, but paved with righteousness. It’s easy to figure. You can feel good about your ideology and simply cast aside those of others as ham-handed attempts to fill the pockets of the rich, or punish the protester, out the “unpatriotic” (a topic that we’ll surely discuss at length in the future), or silence those struggling to find their voice among the din of Washington-style left/right policies.

There is a need to delve into the issues and explain how we enact the “progress” of progressivism. Facilitating forward movement for the benefit of our community by asking questions, spurring dialogue, and sharing acquired knowledge is what the Maine Progressive is about.

The political arena is one where information is power, and the ability to share it, capital. Surely it is an individual’s responsibility to make informed decisions when it comes to the direction and operations of their government. The point is not merely a prescribing of responsibility. It is empowerment. It is providing the tools to individuals so we can gain the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions based on how oft-overbroad polices effect us as individuals as well as parts of our larger community. Our neighbors and our communities deserve more.

So, simply provide information and that will translate into government making decisions based on the individual’s needs with an eye focused squarely on equality and our collective progress? Right, if it were that easy. But I’ve heard quoted a proverb, “To know and not to do is not to know.” If set out in a way that strips the issues of smug belittlement and placating pandering, we can digest information and make decisions based on real-life effects of the action, rather than on presumptions fueled by empty rhetoric. It’s past time to work together on gaining the knowledge necessary so we can ask the tough questions and hold our public officials accountable in an informed way.

The Maine Progressive will take a critical look at how our government, be it in Washington, Augusta, Portland, or your neighborhood, acts and the effects of their actions on us as Mainers and participants in our communities. We’ll look at how we can build upon that information and speak with a clear voice to those we elect to represent us in government. Hopefully it’ll be fun. Surely it will be frustrating. But definitely it is necessary.