The Progressive Story of America
The U.S. economy grew steadily through most of the 1990s. However, nearly all of the newly created wealth has gone to the already rich, magnifying market-generated inequalities. President Bush and the Republicans have reduced taxes paid by the rich and services for everyone else, while increasing corporate subsidies. Democrats for the most part have not opposed, but complained and followed. Greater inequality in income and wealth are both cause and effect of greater inequality in political power. Corruption of the political system by wealth is not new in the United States. But neither is the progressive movement, which rose in the late 19th Century and had some influence for much of the 20th. Whether it be in what the late Senator Paul Wellstone termed “the democratic wing of the Democratic Party,” or in the Greens or other political forces, the progressive tradition has been to overcome the dominance of the extreme right.
Speaker
Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers was a renowned journalist, commentator and staunch defender of public broadcasting. He deplored what he called the increasing “show business” nature of much of corporate media. He was the host and producer of many of PBS’s most heralded programs. He was the winner of more than 30 Emmy Awards. He died in June 2025.
Christine Woods –
Bill Moyers’ 2003 speech is an eloquent, powerful and moving indictment of the oligarchy that characterized our political system then, that has only become more entrenched since, particularly in the wake of the Citizens United ruling which sealed the deal in the decades-long process of the usurpation of democracy by corporations. Listen to Mr. Moyers’ speech and be inspired to rise up in anger. It should be played in every college classroom in America.