Progressivism

Progressivism is based on contempt for humanity and concomitant disregard for liberty.  In addition, most progressives have no interest in addressing poverty.  The animating principal of progressivism is that the lives of individuals can be improved through continuously increasing levels of cooperation in all aspects of society, including the economy, coordinated through an ever-expanding state.  In this way, opportunities can be extended to those for whom they would not otherwise be available, and they will be protected from the vicissitudes of chance.

The ever-expanding state is of necessity a threat to individual freedom, and must constrain the operation of market mechanisms by reducing the personal autonomy on which such mechanisms depend.  After all, the state doesn’t expand into a vacuum.  If one believes that individual liberty has value in and of itself and that markets are indispensible to allocating assets efficiently and creating wealth, progressivism is inherently problematic.  Yet, it is reasonable to debate a tradeoff between individualism and societal goals, and between growth and other objective.  However, such debates assume Progressives are acting in good faith, and this is generally not the case. 

More realistically, progressives view the effects of their policies as a means of perpetuating their control.  If those who are dependent, who are at the margins of society, the desperate or nearly so are the most likely to support progressives, progressives will implement policies to ensure this constituency is entrenched and expanded.  As the implementation of progressive policy leads the population to become more dependant on the state for survival and cuts off any alternatives, the power of progressive politicians grows.  Progressives’ power doesn’t grow despite the degraded conditions of their constituents, but rather because of.  They create circumstances in which there is no viable alternative to the degraded status quo.

This dynamic is in evidence wherever progressive policies have been consistently applied, not only in the United States.  For example, lit is largely responsible for Argentina’s century long transition from first to third world.  In the United States, it can be seen to be playing out in California, and has brought down Detroit.  

The 16^th house district in NY is a good example.  It covers most of the South Bronx, and it is the poorest house district in the country.  Although its has improved from it’s absolute nadir, it’s still a pretty desperate place, with nearly 40% at or below poverty line.   In the 1950s, this was a vibrant neighborhood, largely of recent immigrants.  Numerous factors contributed to the precipitous decline since the 1950’s, but a constant has been consistent progressivism.  Rent control contributed to the deterioration of the housing stock.  Their House representation has been among the most progressive in Congress.  It’s been Democrats since 1949, and the history includes progressive icons Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Elizabeth Holtzman, Charles Shchumer and Charlie Rangel.  Today, Jose E. Serrano represents the district.   According to his Wikki page, here’s what Schumer had to say about pork sent to his district: “And let me say this to all the chattering classes that so much focus on those little, tiny, yes porky amendments. The American people really don’t care.”  Serreno said, “I make no excuses about the fact that I earmark dollars to go in the poorest congressional district in the nation” when asked about a piece of pork he sponsored. 

Progressive politicians are as likely to serve the long-term interests of their voters as a drug dealer is to serve the genuine interests of their customers.  They have no interest in their independence.  There could be some, such as Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who genuinely believe in the paternalistic relationship between people and their government which progressivism represents.  However, for most progressives, politics is a racket and  Progressive politics serves the interests of the politicians responsible for them. 

The current Presidential administration saw 75 people to the Federal food stamps program for every job created in its first term. (http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/food-stamp-growth-75x-greater-job-creation_660073.html).  Serrano’s district, the poorest in the US, gave the President greatest margin of victory of any House district in 2008 at 95 – 5%.  No doubt, the margin is similar this time around.  Progressivism causes poverty because poverty is the basis of progressive power.