I'm Writing a Book #1
Update: To Form A More Perfect Union
I’ve decided to write a book. A booklet, really. Its title is going to be: “Why is Progress A Dirty Word.”
Given my new outside work schedule, and energy levels, and desire to get into the street when I can, I think this is a realistic goal, and it is less stressful and time consuming than trying to keep track of the daily bombardment of destruction raining down from the Trump Regime, and forming some coherent response in my weekly articles. On Bluesky I will be posting and reposting the best curated blow-by-blow events impacting everyone. I suggest you follow me there, and look at my profile if you want my hot takes on what’s happening. This doesn’t take as much energy on my part, and I can do this while I’m working: ( https://bsky.app/profile/blueteamradio.bsky.social )
I still have my novel gathering dust that needs some love, but it needs a complete rewrite and I’m not ready for that just yet. Furthermore, the key moment in history is happening right now in these few years leading up to the midterms - which will make, or break America. So, my priorities are clear. As I look back on my life, I think about all the time I wasted in my youth which I could have, perhaps, been the butterfly that could change the direction of things back then - rather than now when my bones are creaking. We never get to choose the form or time of adversity, we only can choose how to respond to it.
As for this book - I will be publishing the outline as I build it for everyone to see (below). I encourage everyone to comment on the outline, and give me advice of both varieties - and suggestions for things I missed in your viewpoint. I will be publishing full chapters and eventually the whole book online to my paid subscribers who I also encourage to be my beta readers. If you want to be a beta reader, you can subscribe at one of the paid levels to see the book before it is published, and help make it better.
The idea of the booklet is to provide a clear understanding of progressivism and debunk the fallacies in opposition to it. In parallel to that, I want to trace the reactionary movement that has spawned a dark view of the enlightenment and democracy - not as something to be emulated - but something to be destroyed, with a resulting return to a Neo-feudal monarchical system powered by technology and corporate power. Finally, recognizing that danger, how can progress stop this fall, and create a more perfect union for us now and for future generations? I want it to be small enough to keep in your pocket, and I’m also thinking it could contain key documents in an appendix, such as the Constitution, Declaration of Independence etc. That’s it in a nutshell. Here is the rough outline I put together today; it needs a lot more detail:
Why is Progress a dirty word?
Introduction
My overview and summary of the book.
Origins of Progressivism in the 19th Century
Progressive Era
Wide Range of Interests and Solid Middle Class Support
Anti-Trust Focus As Abuses Become Public Knowledge:
Corporate Abuses
Public Health – Food and Medicine
Child Labor
Worker Safety and Hours
Pollution of Air and Water
President Theodore Roosevelt & His Shift to the Left
Trust Busting
Protection of Natural Resources
Eyes Wide Open: His Negative Legacy
Progressives in the 20th Century & Reaction to Them
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal
Civil Rights and the Great Society
Ralph Nader
Powell Memorandum & Evolution of Conservative Non-Profits
Neoliberals Come Into Power
1981 Reaganomics
1991 Clinton New Democrats – Branding as Centrist to Progressive – while pandering to corporate and monied interests.
Neofascism as a Reaction To Progress and the Enlightenment in the 21st Century
Project 1981 and Project 2025 – The Heritage Foundation’s Century Long Plan
Dark Enlightenment – A Threat To Democracy and Freedom
Russia
Singapore
Useful Idiots – Dominion Theology, NeoNAZIs, and The Uneducated
21st Century Progressivism – What We Should Do To Evolve America as a People and a Nation – How to Make a More Perfect Union And Heal The Past
What Do We Stand For? This Is Our Line In The Sand
What is Broken? Let’s Fix This First
Money In Politics & The Congressional, Military-Industrial Complex
What is Our Vision For The Future? Let’s Get Started Down The Path
Please comment if you have any feedback:
Those of us with more life experience really need to share a historical context with the younger generations - otherwise it's much easier to rewrite and distort the past in an effort to gaslight ppl in the present! Great work here! Thx
Great to see your passion for tackling big ideas in “Why is Progress A Dirty Word”! The booklet’s focus on progressivism and its enemies is timely, especially with the historical context and actionable vision you’re outlining. Sharing updates on trang mạng cung cấp radio https://radiogratuite.net/ via Bluesky is a smart way to stay connected while managing energy. Excited to follow the outline’s evolution and see how you weave in key documents like the Constitution. Keep us posted!