Gail D. - San Diego, CA

Underpinning all of my beliefs, hopes for our nation and the world, and wishes for a better world is a profound caring for others. The far right cares about profits and isolating themselves from the riff raff by preaching that if we don't believe as they do, we don't be saved. But they don't really care about others. They don't care about the millions being murdered and those dying of AIDS in Africa. They couldn't care less about our troops or civilians being murdered in Iraq or the impending deaths of thousands, at least in Iran. They certainly don't care about the hungry and sick children and elders here in our own nation. To be a progressive means to work for issues that will make people's lives better. To really care about others, to make a difference for them. It means protesting the illegal war in Iraq. It means fighting for Social Security. It means voting for those who support abortion rights so women are not forced to bear children who are either unwanted or unplanned and might, therefore, be abused and/or neglected. It means working to ensure our people have food and medical care. With the Republicans, you need only follow the money to understand their agenda. That's the case with progressives too--the money leads to bettering life for others around the world. I'm proud to call myself a progressive.