The Country Is Moving Left

It might not seem so in the middle of a day's news cycle, especially with that news always being about Donald Trump, but 2015 marked a year of change in a progressive direction. And the country is solidly behind this move.

Progressive Victories In 2015

The country is moving in a progressive direction. In November, OurFuture.org's Terrance Heath wrote in Progressive Victories from Maine to Washington Inspire Hope...

"Off-year elections are almost never good for progressives, and 2015 is no exception. But this off-year election held some surprising victories for progressives in Maine, Ohio, Washington and elsewhere that could lay the foundation for more victories to come."

Heath cited Seattle's "Democracy Vouchers" -- "designed to loosen the grip of the 'donor' class"; Ohio's Issue One that banned political gerrymandering; Maine's Question 1 that strengthened the state's system of publicly funding elections. Heath wrote...

"The wins in Seattle, Maine, and Ohio are game-changing victories for democracy. Each represents an impressive effort by state and local activists and coalitions, and will no doubt inspire more Americans to take action. Each shows what people-powered movements can do.

The Democratic primaries reflect this progressive direction. If you were one of the nine people who watched Saturday's near-secret Democratic debate (the debate schedule was set up to try to avoid people tuning in, and the ratings reflect that) you saw a solid, substance-filled progressive discussion of the country's problems offering progressive solutions. If you take a look at CAF's Candidate Scorecard you'll see the Democratic candidates by and large line up with a progressive agenda that would be unheard of in previous election cycles. That's progress.

Speaking of progress, Think Progress cites The 7 Most Important Progressive Victories Of 2015:

1) A growing number of workers are earning more -- thanks to local and state progressive-pushed initiatives to raise the minimum wage and new overtime rules.

2) Same-sex marriage is legal. People can marry who they want now.

3) Health insurance, The Supreme Court didn't back conservative efforts to kill Obamacare.(So now we push on toward a public option or Medicare-for-All.)

4) Some states have been able to push out gerrymandering, and a few places were able to pass measures fighting back against money in politics.

5) The world finally came together to begin to fight climate change. (Even if the timing has been compared to starting your Christmas shopping an hour before the stores close on Christmas Eve,) President Obama has introduced his Clean Power Plan.

6) Successfully replacing No Child Left Behind and historic graduation rates.

7) Historic Iran nuclear deal.

That's Think Progress' list. There are many other good examples of progressive progress in 2015.