Response to Reboot Alberta's "What is a Progressive?"

To be a progressive is a time and place sensitive thing; to know it is to be relational and relative to the uniqueness of what is called for in this moment of history. That said, there seem to be certain characteristics which generally differentiate the progressive from the static and the regressive.

The contributions on the topic of "What is a Progressive?" on Reboot Alberta whom have preceded this one have done a good job of relaying some of the 'universals' of a progressive and some particular suggestions regarding different changes to items of governance. Paula Kirman's observations about progressives' differentiating between people and the institutions/special interests that have taken a central role in the today's socio-political balance of power (corporations), is crucial. Likewise, the succinct, clear delineations of Jonathan Teghtmeyer and Sue Huff's articulate exemplifications of how progressives tend to be and act awake towards possibilities, help to generalize what we can strive for as a growing movement.

What follows is my attempt at merging such general qualities with some specific approaches to ecological, economic, and cultural challenges we are faced with as individuals and as a society beginning to experience what history will probably come to see as the collapse of an age and the transition to another.

Here we go...

To be a progressive is to question the validity of society's current terms and trajectories of "progress" and act in consideration of a truer, more integral realization of who and what we are, as individuals and as collectives.

The Progressive:

- turns conventional wisdom up-side down by not taking for granted the means and modes of the dominant paradigm: by consistently questioning the fundamental approaches, institutions, and operational procedures of power, the progressive is free to re-imagine, re-define, re-boot what progress should mean in one's present time-space. For our current situation, this may entail viewing and meeting critically the notions that we are separate from nature and must be material managers at the apex of a phenomenological pyramid. Economic growth as progress indicator, industrial civilization as the 'end of history', technological innovation as panacea – these cherished ideas and a host more are agreements of a consensual reality tunnel which must be examined more thoroughly so that creative responses to their lackings/demise may be brought about.

- seeks the objective; the tao; the design of the kosmos; and, in adhering to the limits of natural process, works to mimic the patterns which have made the biological evolution of life on earth so productive, diverse, and resilient.

- observes tendencies within our shared past and emerging present that hint at the path ahead and is willing to let go of limiting logic, maladaptive organizational methods, and technological 'advancements' which result in seen and unseen externalities.

- practices and refines psycho-spiritual and inter-subjective development techniques so as to remain balanced in the face of excess, ruthlessly truthful when comfortable lies abound, and openly inviting of constructive criticism and alteration within their own continuum of belief and behaviour.

- acknowledges that social change - the succession within the ecosystem that is human civilization - occurs over many generations and that patient experimentation, precautionary planning, and dynamic systems adjustments will create a probability landscape which favours individual and community stability whilst allowing for responsible choices to emergent trends.

- permits possibilities that are, as yet, blurry or entirely undefined to play important roles in the political theatre of today and tomorrow. Likewise, those tendencies which represent danger to the status-quo are not labelled outright as fallacious conspiracies nor is the attempt to avoid them made; contradictions to 'business-as-usual' and portents of crisis are consciously integrated into the deliberations of the active body politic and responded to with equal parts courage and disinterest.

- strives to put the occurrence and happenings of the individual, community, nation, species, and biosphere into an evolutionary cosmology and worldview. In so doing the errors of anthropocentric pursuit, societal manifest destiny, and the hubris of mistaken significance within a progressive's actions and policies may be avoided.

- never forgets or diminishes their capacity to facilitate change as a self-aware, linguistically-inclined social animal. Where others will become stuck in the vortex of social depression, political apathy or the stagnancy of ideological certitude, the progressive remains strong in their capacity to flex their will dynamically. To aim context-rich, precise arguments for intelligent alternatives at the weak-points of entrenched interests and to confront the purveyors of wasteful static patterns through provisions of wise and enriching sacrifice, the progressive allows the reality of tomorrow to make itself through the focused attention of today.