PROGRESSIVE AVENUES
A NETWORK TO SUPPORT THE INHERENT RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING PEACE, JUSTICE, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, SHELTER, JOBS, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, SECURITY FROM WANT, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY
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INTRODUCTION TO PROGRESSIVE AVENUES
Chalmers Johnson writes in his book, Nemesis, that U.S. global power (empire) is unsustainable; that the U.S. can no longer raise enough taxes or soldiers; that it is increasingly indebted; and, that it isn’t able to pay for professional troops. He states that there are four possibilities for this country if it continues to pursue empire-building, i.e. continues to build military bases around the world, remains engaged in permanent and perpetual wars, and maintains the current war economy. These four points are worth noting:
1.We can choose to give up the empire;
2.The U.S. military could take over the government and declare a dictatorship, i.e. there will be a military coup;
3.The U.S. will maintain a facade of constitutional government and drift along until financial bankruptcy overtakes it; or,
4.There will be a grassroots movement that arises in the U.S. where the people themselves will restore constitutional government rendering the legislative and judicial branches again no longer “so servile in the presence of the imperial presidency.” (p. 268-269).
There is no question that the United States government caters to the needs of the military dominated economy instead of to the needs of its people. This must stop. It is time to analyze what forces could turn this country around and how it can be done.
Many of us live in constant anger at the political reality that exists in U.S. as well as our colonial, militaristic, evil and cruel actions worldwide. It is not the fear of terrorist acts that worry us; rather, it is the more evident and present reality that the military and corporations control this country. The rich steal from us to fill their own coffers and it is the people who must take the wealth away from them and bring it back under our control.
The purpose of Progressive Avenues is to take a hard look at what the progressive movement is, who it is, what our political work and beliefs are, and to put forth the questions we must ask. Hopefully, we can make true socialistic and democratic progress as the contradictions inherent in capitalism continue to mount inside this pressure cooker.
The purpose of www.progressiveavenues.org is to foster debate and discussion -- to share ideas and organizing tactics. It is to help us as progressives to learn to lead, listen, and create our own institutions and communication systems.
