News sources have been saying that many Progressives, out of frustration with the Democrats’ inability to pass progressive legislation, are considering not voting for Democratic candidates for national offices this year. I share their frustration. But it’s obvious that if Progressives don’t turn out for the 2022 elections, Republicans will likely achieve majorities in the House, and possibly the Senate. This would be disastrous for our democracy, and would also result in a tidal wave of regressive and oppressive policy implementation.
The Republican Party is currently the party of voter suppression, election fraud fantasies and paranoia, climate change denial, gun proliferation, police militarization and abortion rights and LGBTQ rights reversals. President Biden isn’t the reason for the current stalemate in passing Progressive legislation nor are Democratic legislators. In fact, the House recently passed a number of Progressive bills. A few examples include: economic incentives for clean energy (H.R. 1512), abortion rights (H.R. 8296), and police reform (H.R. 1280). Invariably, those bills then languished in the Senate due to the Democrats’ razor thin majority and two Democratic conservative senators, as well as the regressive rules of the Senate, such as the filibuster.
Unless the the Democrats hold or increase their majority in the House, and increase their majority in the Senate, the Republicans will continue to thwart the progressive agenda at every turn. If sufficient numbers of Progressives don’t show up to vote this November, we all will have many years to live with the result of their folly. Anyone who shares my concern will do well to do everything they can to help get out the vote for the elections this fall.
Jody Nishman
Haydenville