Holding Democratic politicians accountable for practicing transformational politics

New York State Senator Eric Schneiderman has written a great article in The Nation, "Transforming the Liberal Checklist," calling for progressive politicians to "expand their job descriptions" to include transformational politics, not just transactional politics. Transformational politics changes hearts and minds; it moves the voters closer to your position on issues, instead of compromising to move yourself closer to where voters may be.

The article not only highlights the urgent need for progressives to demand evidence of transformational politics from their elected officials (candidate questionnaires don't cut it), but also proposes possible ways to help reframe the issues of reproductive choice, taxation, health care, and gun control.

Reproductive choice: Is it "a duel between 'prochoice' and 'prolife' extremists--or...an issue of basic human freedom for women denied the power to control their own bodies?

Health care: Does it require a "balance between the free market and socialism--or [is it] an essential investment in our most important national resource and a basic right, without which our commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is meaningless?"

I encourage you to read the article for additional insights and ideas from Schneiderman.

As has been repeatedly stressed on this website, relative to many issues--including the four mentioned above--the modern conservative movement owns the debate and is allowed to set the rhetorical context. I.e., through control of the corporate media they set the rules and are allowed to limit all debates' directions and options in their favor even before progressives have opened their mouths or written a word of legislation. Reversing this situation will take time, money, and great effort...just as it took conservatives time (three decades), money, and great effort to create the situation.

(New York State Senator Schneiderman, right, with New York Lt. Governor, David Paterson. From The New York Times.)