We're Making Moderate Progress

By Jordanna Gabrielle Thigpen

Truly, what does being progressive mean outside San Francisco? Being progressive means being caring and responsible, with strength. It means promoting freedom and economic opportunity for the majority: working people. It means serving your community with dignity and compassion. It means having trust in the government, and electing leaders who are honest and have integrity, so people can regain faith in the political process.

First of all, most of us are Democrats. Only 15% of San Franciscans are registered Republicans; essentially all voted for Bush II in November 2004. We are mostly all pro-choice, mostly pro-gay marriage, mostly pro-civil rights.

Yet, what's the old adage? If the left had a firing squad, it would be a circle? We are living that adage in this City in vivid color.

On a national level, there's no question we're one of the most liberal cities in America. That's something to be proud of, because our philosophy has helped save civil rights, free speech, the environment, and enhanced the standard of living for millions of people in our working classes.

But we've got a long way to go.

Truly, what does being progressive mean outside San Francisco? Being progressive means being caring and responsible, with strength. It means promoting freedom and economic opportunity for the majority: working people. It means serving your community with dignity and compassion. It means having trust in the government, and electing leaders who are honest and have integrity, so people can regain faith in the political process.

For one thing, being progressive means putting the environment first. Where's the call to promote open space in SOMA and create parks first, before development, so we can build around them and residents have somewhere to go for fresh air while we experience our very own environmental ground zero for the next ten years? Where's the call to ask all recipients of CCSF contracts and grant money to become green businesses before they receive a dime? I don't hear this coming from the "progressive" camp. For example, in District 6 I haven't really heard much talk of the environment at all, with the notable exception of offering a dueling piece of legislation regarding control over private ownership of trees.

Now, some would say that we have to solve larger problems such as homelessness before we worry about building a green city. And it's true - ending chronic homelessness should be our paramount goal. Mayor Newsom has certainly made it a priority. He's adopted the right attitude: we have to work as a team to solve problems. And finally, after years of infighting, things are really getting done. With the tremendous help of Angela Alioto, and the support of community leaders, finally we're seeing some results. Yet, Mayor Newsom is what's known as a "moderate." So maybe being "moderate" here means being hard-working, reasonable and willing to cooperate with others to get the job done.

And you know, overwhelmingly, we're opposed to the war in Iraq. That is progressive, because war is, among other things, a total breakdown of communication, and we want to avoid it at all costs. (Of course, sometimes war is also the result of war profiteering, but that's another discussion.) We must do peace to make peace. We must learn to cooperate and work together and sometimes just agree to disagree without devolving into lunacy. We can be an example for the rest of the country. Don't we want to prove to them that we're right? That our progressive philosophy will lead ultimately to peace, equity, and equality, for the benefit of everyone?

If we all share mostly the same goals, why are we infighting and quibbling over names? Come on, guys. Let's pull together here. Let's just get the dirty work over with. It's not naïve or idealistic to think we can do this! We can all agree on the problems, but we have to trust each other to work on the solutions.

Now that will be truly progressive.