Thomas S. - Caro, MI

A progressive believes in making America's ideals reality. Progressives have fought for the extension of freedom and equality to everyone in our society from the day the ink first dryed on the Declaration of Independence. Progressives have resisted reactionaries who feared change at every critical juncture in the manifestation of the American dream. The direct election of Senators, the abolition of slavery, the right of women to vote, the overcoming of Jim Crow laws, the protection from our government of all our civil liberties, the right to strike, clean air to breathe, and quality education for all have been a few of our goals. The America conservatives love today was fashioned by progressives. Progressives believe the power of government must be devoted to enhancing the right of each American to a more perfect society, the preservation of individual freedom, justice for all Americans, and the pursuit of happiness--not the consolidation of government power in the hands of any ethnic, racial, or economic subgroup of our society. Progressives are animated by an underlying motive of love, not fear. Love of our most inspiring ideals, love of our country, and love of one another in the spirit of our religious heritages has and always will keep progressives organizing movements, collecting petitions, carrying signs and waiting in line at polling places.