After Election 2004, What Now? Winners of The Democracy Center Essay Contest

On Thursday President George W. Bush's will be sworn in for a second term -- not exactly a source of delight for many of our readers. After last November's election we invited our readers around the world to contribute short essays in response to the question: "Elections 2004, What Should Progressives do Next?" The response we received was terrific. Today we bring you the five winners!

We aimed for a diversity of perspectives and that is what we got -- from a progressive advocacy veteran on how to deal with Bush Supreme Court nominations to an invitation from two young Republican conservatives to look for common ground.

Here's the link to read them all.

BUSH AND THE SUPREME COURT: WHAT'S AT STAKE AND WHAT WE CAN DO
By David Cohen, co-chair and co-founder of the Advocacy Institute in Washington and a veteran battler in judicial confirmation fights.

President Bush should be taken at his word. When he says he wants his appointees to the Supreme Court to think the way Justices Scalia and Thomas do we had better believe him. That is short hand for the President keeping his political promises to economic social Darwinists and religious fundamentalists at the same time.

"RETREAT"ING TOWARDS VICTORY: MOVING AHEAD WITH AN OPEN MIND
By Margaret Carolla, a self-described “Yanki” from Missouri who lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Sunday following the elections, I had dinner with three of my best yanki friends in Buenos Aires. What we should do was the subject of the conversation. Over some stunning bottles of Malbec, my world-wise friend Erin pitched her idea. President Clinton famously attends what are called “Renaissance Weekends”, where “accomplished individuals and families from a broad range of disciplines, backgrounds and political, economic and religious convictions came to learn from each other.” Why not do the same?
HEALTH SECURITY FOR ALL AMERICANS: A STRAIGHTFORWARD PLAN
By Joan Eisner of Fall Church, Virginia.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – impossible to achieve without affordable, quality health care. Our next great moral civil rights battle should be to ensure that every American has the right to health care. Let’s keep it simple. No individual or family should have to spend more than 10% of their taxable income on health care. Once that amount has been spent, they are eligible for advance, refundable Federal tax credits to pay their medical bills.

IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM - MAKING COMMON CAUSE WITH PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVES SERVES LIBERAL ENDS BETTER THAN SOUR GRAPES OPPOSITION
By Heather and Benjamin Grizzle, two young, self-described progressive Republicans from Manhattan.

In the aftermath of the GOP’s decisive victory this fall, both conservatives and liberals forget that while the two parties disagree about means, “progressive” ends like greater opportunity for immigrants, minorities, and the poor, a cleaner sustainable environment, and responsibility among the capable, remain a vision for many in both parties. If liberal progressives would thoughtfully understand and make common cause with conservative progressives, a GOP administration could be steered toward its best progressive instincts, rather than cast off to its worst elements.

PROGRESSIVES AND MORAL VALUES: A CATHOLIC ACTIVIST URGES PROGRESSIVES TO KEEP THE FAITH
By Dan Moriarty, Social Justice Minister with, Campus Ministry at Seattle University in Seattle Washington.

Asking voters if we are most concerned about war, poverty, health care, the environment, or moral values was like asking if we are fans of classical, jazz, rock, r&b, folk, country, or good music. From Quaker abolitionists to Vietnamese Buddhist monks, Baptist civil rights leaders to Catholic nuns in Central America, people of faith have so often been the visionary leaders of progressive movements here and abroad.