Since the NPA’s founding [1] the 2010 strategy has evolved further:
First, while the NPA is leaving open the possibility of registering as a political party and fielding its own candidate in 2012, consultations with its Steering Committee [2] suggest that endorsing an Independent or third-party candidate is a viable option. Whichever of these routes is finally taken, however, the second "main objective" - attempting to bring the Democrats back to their senses - has been dropped.
It is our firm belief that the Democratic Party is irretrievably compromised from top to bottom of its administrative structure at the national level. This ensures that even a truly Progressive Democrat who succeeds in being elected to federal office will be forced to knuckle under to the party establishment's decidedly conservative sympathies. This is unacceptable. Therefore any candidate seeking the NPA’s endorsement will be required to publicly pledge to uphold the Unified Progressive Platform. [3]
The second change revises the statement that winning is not one of the NPA’s goals for 2012. We now believe winning the General Election is within reach in view of the growing international Progressive awakening - something unforeseen as recently as December of 2010.
That awakening is evidenced by:
- The early 2011 uprisings in the Mideast and our own Midwest
- Increasing withdrawals of support [4] for the Democratic Party by organizations which have perennially supported it
- A movement begun fully a year before the 2012 Iowa caucuses to organize caucus-goers in standing as uncommitted, rather than in support of Barack Obama, and
- The momentous collapse [5] of Canada’s Liberal Party in the May 2011 elections. The Liberals lost "official opposition party" status when the NDP (New Democratic Party), which campaigned on a strongly Progressive platform, swept them from power.
But perhaps most critically, the NPA aspires to create a lasting movement not representing only "the Left," but all Americans who value peace, a good job, a healthy planet, and an end to the privileged treatment our sold-out government now accords corporate elites. Their complicity has perpetuated illegal wars, shipped our manufacturing overseas, despoiled our environment, and stolen money from public coffers in providing corporate welfare to often-criminal enterprises.
We believe that if we model our movement on the success of America's first Progressive Era [6] - a successful public response to the robber barons or 100 years ago - we too restore the public good back to its rightful, topmost place in our society - and this time make the victory permanent.
In 2011 a worldwide movement sprang up calling for the same objectives as the NPA. This suggested to us that we expand our horizons. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) share some of the same goals as set forth in the NPA Platform. Examples follow.
- DESA “Climate Change and Sustainable Development” and NPA Platform # 3 on the environment
- DESA “Public Sector Reform” and NPA Platform #2 on full employment with a living wage, NPA Platform #4 on a Safety Net, NPA Platform # 5 on Medicare for all, NPA Platform # 7 on Civil Rights, NPA Platform # 8 on Election Reform, NPA Platform #9 on limiting Corporate Power, and NPA Platform # 10 on Infrastructure.
- DESA “improve the quality of public service” and NPA Platform #2 on full employment with a living wage, NPA Platform #4 on a Safety Net, NPA Platform # 5 on Medicare for all, NPA Platform # 8 on Election Reform, NPA Platform #9 on limiting Corporate Power, and NPA Platform # 10 on Infrastructure.
- DESA “effective and citizen-oriented public service bases upon the principles of transparency, accountability, and civic participation” and NPA Platform # 1 on peace, NPA Platform # 7 on Civil Rights, NPA Platform # 8 on Election Reform, and NPA Platform #9 on limiting Corporate Power.
- DESA “innovative approaches through public management, particularly through e-government development” and our own experience in developing the platform through the electronic interaction of all stakeholders.
- DESA “Sustainable Economic Development” and NPA Platform #2 on full employment with a living wage, NPA Platform #4 on a Safety Net, NPA Platform # 6 on Fair Trade, NPA Platform #9 on limiting Corporate Power, and NPA Platform # 10 on Infrastructure.
We also share other goals with the United Nations. In 2000 the United Nations established the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set to be achieved in 2015. These eight goals follow.
- To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
- Achieve universal primary education.
- Promote gender equality and empower women.
- Reduce child mortality.
- Improve maternal health.
- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
- Ensure environmental sustainability.
- Develop a Global Partnership for Development.
We share the following Millennium Development Goals. (MDGs)
- MDG 1 – NPA Platform # 1 on peace, NPA Platform #2 on full employment with a living wage, and NPA Platform #4 on a Safety Net
- MDG 2 – NPA Platform # 10 on Infrastructure
- MDG 3 – NPA Platform # 7 on Civil Rights
- MDG 4 – NPA Platform # 5 on Medicare for all
- MDG 5 – NPA Platform # 5 on Medicare for all
- MDG 6 – NPA Platform # 5 on Medicare for all
- MDG 7 – NPA Platform # 3 on the environment
- MDG 8 - NPA Platform # 10 on Infrastructure
Because of these similarities in goals and the world wide movements to enact these goals, the NPA decided to submit documents to the United Nations to become a Non Governmental Organization (NGO).
In May 2011, the New Progressive Alliance filed as a 527 political organization and is now registered as a non-profit 527 political organization. Our mission is to influence the outcome of elections in order to affect the enactment of Progressive policy at every level of government.
Source URL: http://newprogs.org/strategy
Links:
[1] http://newprogs.org/founding
[2] http://newprogs.org/steering-committee
[3] http://newprogs.org/platform
[4] http://www.pffnh.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&homeID=203398
[5] http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/05/02/cv-election-leader-layton.html
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Era
