You Didn't Vote For Progression And It Is Now Time To Admit It

“We have to make sure we win first, govern second.” these were the words uttered by Democrat congressman Cedric Richmond on national tv in response to Democrats losing seats in the House of Representatives. I made the point in an earlier the post that this election was in no way an indication that Trump or his base were ending. They just so happened to lose an election.

The quote from congressman Richmond though, which is part of a larger segment he had on Face the Nation is telling to me on just what this election victory meant.

The truth as far as I’m concerned is this, American politics are not changed by voting or laws for that matter. They’re ultimately changed when people force it to bend to their will. Richmond is right however in this respect, the progressive part of the Democratic party is important and if the party doesn’t win then there laws won’t even have a chance of passing.

But when we say progressive what do we mean exactly? Congressman Richmond made the point to make it clear that words matter and the usage of phrases such as “medicaid for all” and “defund the police” are being used by opponents of progressives to hurt Democrats chances of winning elections. Richmond, himself in the same segment makes the very clear point that “defunding the police” as an idea is moreso reimagining how police departments work.

If progressives aren’t actually allowed to bring life to their ideologies to make them become policy than what else are they good for other than bringing out voters during the election who may otherwise stand on the sidelines? Donald Trump needed to leave the Oval office, but his ouster isn’t a move towards progression.

If the idea of progression that comes with the Biden administration is based on the ability to compromise or unite the country and not fight for the betterment of the nation the ultimate goal would’ve been accomplished, getting back to the status quo. Honesty is the first step, and we can be honest about the happiness of not having Trump as the President and the state of not only the nation but the party that the President-elect belongs to.