Frequently Asked Questions

by: Michael Kwiatkowski

Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 15:51:53 PM EDT

1. What is the purpose of this site?

   Simply put, we're about promoting left-wing causes and candidates, as well as organizing the left into a stronger, more capable movement that can successfully challenge and defeat the far right.  One of the biggest problems faced by the American left is the inability for various reasons to coalesce around a political party or organization that represents its core values.  If we can assist in bringing people together online to communicate ideas, strategies, tactics, and organization, that helps us to achieve our ultimate purpose.

2. So this is a partisan blog, right?

   It is and it isn't.  In a broader sense, it is partisan in that it represents the left wing in America.  Progressive Independence is meant to cater to people across the left wing, from liberals and progressives to full-blown socialists and communists.  In a more specific sense, the site is not partisan in that it does not promote any one political party over, or to the exclusion of, all others.  Some web sites promote only one political party, such as the Democrats, to the point where any who dare suggest that perhaps the left may not be represented by that party are alienated, ostracized, and eventually banned.  We're not about that, because we recognize that the left isn't represented at this stage of American history by any single political organization.  This may one day change, but for now we don't believe in being exclusionary toward our fellow left-wingers.

3. What about right-wing or centrist points of view?  Are they allowed here?

   They are to a limited extent.  Remember, this blog is about organizing the political left, not the political right.  We discuss right-wing ideas and talking points so that we may form better challenges and alternatives thereto, but we don't generally condone promoting them.

   As for the mythical political center, this is a trickier issue, because really, what's the "center?"  Bear in mind that what we perceive as the center is a shifting thing, with ideological trends changing over time from left to right and back again.  Compare it to the pendulum disk in a grandfather clock: that's the "center," such as it is.  That "center" is wherever the disk happens to be as it moves from one ideological demographic to the other.  For example, just four years ago the concept of single-payer, universal health care was successfully branded a "socialist" scheme, a bogeyman to be feared and opposed at all costs.  Now, however, with health care costs soaring and the number of insured decreasing, single-payer doesn't look so scary anymore - especially when we begin to look at how other countries' systems work.

   So what we perceive to be the political center really isn't some wishy-washy, middle of the road thing in which people divide their beliefs into various and contradictory positions on the issues - it's simply what the mainstream set of political and social values happens to be at a given time.  The political left, as of now, is closer to the perceived center than is the far right as the pendulum swings back toward us.

4. Wow, that was interesting, to say the least.  Leaving that aside for now, what about posting content?  What can we submit, and what can't we?

   That's laid out clearly in the site rules, but aside from what's in them, we really don't like to place unreasonable limits on what people may discuss or write.  That being the case, chances are at some point you're going to read opinions and certain words that offend your sensibilities.  It's the price of free speech, after all, so consider this fair warning if you decide to stick around.  Not everyone is going to agree on issues, and some people are going to post just to get others riled up.  Our suggestion is to ignore them and focus on presenting your point of view.  (Unless, of course, you're into flame battles and such - in which case, have at it; just don't expect to get very far around here.)

5. How does the promotion system work?

   We're still working out the kinks, but it works like some of the other daily blog sites such as Free Speech Zone, Progressive Blue, MyDD, and so forth.  Members post entries and receive recommendations from their fellows.  If an administrator or editor feels an entry worthy, it is promoted to front-page status.  As this is a new web site, front-page promotions are the call of the administrators, though this may change in the future.

6. Are people ever banned from here?

   Only if they violate rules 4, 5, or 6 - or if they prove so disruptive to the overall community as to warrant a long vacation.  One actually has to do a great deal to meet the second criteria, however.  The rules were designed to maintain the safety of our members and the spirit of free speech.