There are times when I wonder if political orientation isn't, for some of us at least, like race or sexual orientation. Some may choose, to be Republican, or Democrat, Conservative, or Liberal. But I am beginning to suspect that for others we are quite literally born a certain way and are not likely to change.
For me, as I indicated back in an article about my journey in growing politically aware, my ideology was pretty much set in my early teens, when I articulated the belief that "Everyone should be free to go as far as their talent and willingness to work will take them, but no one should be allowed to fall below the level of human dignity."
It took me several more years of searching before I was able to figure out that holding such a belief pretty much puts me right smack in the middle of the Progressive camp.
I would not change being a Progressive for anything. It's quite simply the only political ideology that makes any sense to me. Sometimes I do wonder if I did feel it was a matter of choice how likely I would be to "choose" Progressivism. It seems to me that of all the four best known (to Americans anyway) ideologies it is the one that exacts the highest price from its adherents. All too often though that price goes unarticulated. I think that sometimes this results in people getting into Progressivism having no idea what they are in for, and then once they learn, if it is for them a choice rather than a compulsion, they head for the nearest exit.
So it is in the interest of full disclosure that I am going to attempt to sum up the costs as I've learned of them, that one may have to bear in the course of being a Progressive.
1: Get used to thinking for yourself. Even when you don't want to.
There are times when it would be so much simpler to simply be able to turn to a single trusted source, and be told what the truth is, and what we should do about it. But despite the insistence to the contrary of Rush Limbaugh and FOX News, there is no central authority from which Progressives get their marching orders. While there are some sources that are almost universally trusted by Progressives such as Democracy NOW!, even they are not going to provide you with easy answers. You are still going to have to decide for yourself what you believe and how to act upon those beliefs. Which brings us to...
2: Get used to constantly being told how wrong, foolish, naive, etc you are. By other Progressives.
There may be no more contentious group in America. Far too quick to condemn each other for failing to hew to some unspoken party line, yet refusing to hew to that same line themselves if they feel it's contrary to what they view as Progressive values. While this does give each Progressive a great deal of autonomy it makes getting any kind of real mass movement going more than just a bit challenging.
3: Get used to pretty much ALWAYS having only evil to choose from lesser evil though it may be.
Oh sure there are exceptions. Al Franken is one that springs to mind. But over all, generally none of the candidates for office are going to come even close to being in line with Progressive values except, maybe, if you're lucky, on one or two issues. Often not even then. All too often you will be forced to look at things in terms of what candidate would potentially do the most damage if elected and then try to make sure they don't.
4: Get used to people accusing you of judging them. Even when you really aren't.
Vegan? I can guarantee you that the second you discuss how much healthier you feel since making the switch someone will claim that you are judging their choice to eat meat. Anti-war? Trust me you'll be accused sooner or later of hating soldiers. The list goes on and on. Bottom line anytime you take a stand that is outside of the very narrow confines of what many people understand and can accept, no matter how non-judgementally you try to articulate that stand, some people will insist that you are judging them.
5: Get used to always being outgunned.
One of the biggest challenges that Progressives face is mounting effective campaigns against opponents, both Republican and Democrat who are usually getting a lot of corporate cash. The simple truth is that corporations despise Progressives, and they always will. This leaves us forced to depend on grassroots movements, which while certainly can be effective, require a lot more work, and all too often can easily be robbed of momentum at a moments notice. Meanwhile we will constantly be forced to survive situations that feel like the equivelant of a guy with a bb gun going up against someone in a tank.
6: Get used to there being no end in sight.
I think this one above all the others is what finally hits people hard enough that they just give up on Progressivism. Because there will never come a day (at least not until after first contact) when we get to sit back, put our feet up and bask in the glory of a job well done. If we needed proof of that fact the last few years has given it to us in spades. Nearly everything that Progressives accomplished back in the first half of the twentieth century has been undone, or drastically weakened, in either the last half or the first part of the twenty first.
Frankly I think the rewards of Progressivism far outweigh any price. But at the same time I think that people should know what they are getting into so they can make an informed choice. That to me is one of the most fundamental aspects of what it means to be a Progressive.
Keep The Faith My Brothers And Sisters!