A Progressive Beat
After progressive victories across the nation on Election Day - with winning candidates at the federal, state, and local levels, and on issues ranging from the minimum wage to tax policy - two things are clear: the American public is much more receptive to progressive ideas than suggested by the media, and the conservative movement is in disarray.
So it was disappointing on November 17th to read the New York Times recycling of an old story written time and again about the power of rightwing think tanks: "Policy institutes have been central to a national organizing strategy that has long won the right a reputation for savvy, and state-level versions are growing in number and clout."
Yes, it's true, rightwing think tanks have been effective through their ideological discipline and ample resources. But the progressive community recognizes the importance of defining issues and advancing a policy agenda, too. There is now a network of savvy progressive think tanks working at the state level - and they are winning. So here's a modest proposal: perhaps it's time for the paper of record to create a beat on the progressive movement.
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