The Rise of Progressive Realism in U.S. Politics

Conservatism, Globalism, Militarism, Police State, Neo-Con, Big Energy, Media Propaganda and Extreme Debt have been the result of right wing conservative policy over the last few decades in American politics.



Currently the race for the presidency after the extremes of President Bush and his great desire to rid the world of evil-doers have put a strong light on the need to move past conservative policy as it has been practiced.



A country weary of fighting other peoples battles for them and understanding the limits of putting one countries resources into policing the world, the United States stands on a fragile economy that effects the global economy.



It is obvious then that "change" would be the winning theme of the presidencial race.



But real change will take real work and the outcome of the election won't matter much because of how greatly weakened the presidency has become under President Bush.



McCain, Obama, and Clinton are now focused on their poll numbers, their policies have mostly been posted. Each with great strengths and weaknesses, but one thing has already changed - Huckabee is the only right wing republican religious conservative - and he wasn't even close to ousting McCain. Why?



The country has been transitioning from the Rush Limbaugh of conservative dogma to seeing what works and what doesn't over the last 20 years or so. Science and logic with a focus on improving the human condition are at the heart of this new political reality, or progressive realism.



The war against terrorist organizations like Al-Quada is still an ongoing concern as is the oil crisis and global warming. The purpose of NATO is in question after the cold war. Complete nuclear disarmament is still a long way from completion. The land management of the US government with respect to native american lands is a travesty of justice and needs completion. The health care of the average US citizen is approaching unaffordability stressing already stretched paychecks. A people becoming traumatised and drug dependent. A policy of "war" on drug addicts with a focus on incarceration instead of rehabilitation and the rise of South American Drug lords has given the US the distinction of have more of its population jailed than any other country in the world.



The two main conditions coming from conservatism is "fear" and "neglect" and a rise of the wealthy class as prime beneficiaries of the government spending spree. The lack of respectful emigration and work permits has been an ongoing concern from the rest of the world and President Bush tried to convince conservatives of his party and in the Congress that a balanced approach would be prudent, without result.



"Conservatism" became "obstructionism" on family values, homosexual marriage, the right to die, stem cell research, women's right to choose, the teaching of evolution in school, and the separation of church and state.



The age of progressive realism in US politics is dawning.