We need to support local progressives

Phil Steck for Assembly, Joe Seeman for Assembly, Thearse Mccalmon for Senate and Patrick Nelson for Senate are all local progressive campaigns. Here is why they have my support.

What is progressivism? Progressivism is not mere identity politics nor is it a threat to capitalism or libertarianism. Progressivism is not just a meager defense against conservatism. Progressivism is a sincere attempt to resolve the inequalities and immoralities of our time through an inclusive democratic process informed by empirical evidence. More plainly, progressivism is a direct confrontation with our collective problems such as economic inequality, environmental unsustainability, social injustice, police violence, endless wars and corrupt undemocratic governance. Critically, progressivism is a necessary compromise within capitalism — an emergent market solution to the working class struggle.

There are some who dismiss progressives as utopian. According to this claim, progressivism is an exercise in futility, an attempt to get to a non-existent place. This is ostensibly an admission that progressive politics are good but too lofty and unrealistic. To defeat this argument, consider a world governed without the pesky headwinds of progressivism. In this world, accelerating income inequality, unaffordable healthcare, evaporating legal protections, environmental destruction and unending wars push society to the brink of collapse. It seems to me the opposition have it backward. Progressivism is not utopian. The world where we pretend we can continue on without progressive change is the real utopia.

Local progressives Steck, Seeman, Mccalmon and Nelson are the right choices to represent their districts.

Galen Heins

Colonie