Breaking Free Is For Real Progressives

Progressivism is stuck in an ideological straightjacket. This political stance has long been defined by its willingness to challenge norms, push boundaries, and explore new ideas to create a better society. But in recent decades, it has become trapped in an ideological straightjacket—a rigid adherence to symbolic gestures, outdated policies, and uncritical narratives. This rigidity prevents meaningful progress and stifles the movement’s potential to address real issues with honesty and innovation. From addiction and healthcare to immigration and internal migration, the failure to embrace failure has left progressivism stagnant, incapable of evolving or solving the problems it claims to champion.

The Failure to Embrace Failure

True progressivism is, at its core, experimental. It introduces new ideas, tests their effectiveness, and refines or discards them as necessary. Yet, contemporary progressives often cling to failed policies and practices, refusing to admit when something isn’t working.

1. Addiction and Harm Reduction: Programs like needle exchanges and safe injection sites were introduced in the 1990s as compassionate, forward-thinking solutions to addiction. However, decades of implementation reveal little evidence that these programs reduce overdose deaths or address the root causes of addiction. For instance, Philadelphia, a pioneer in harm reduction, now faces some of the nation’s highest overdose rates and a staggering prevalence of HIV/AIDS compared to similarly sized cities.
   
   Instead of reassessing these programs, advocates claim that things would be worse without them—a counterfactual argument that cannot be proven. Meanwhile, opposition to harm reduction is dismissed as conservative or callous, shutting down any possibility of constructive dialogue about better solutions.
2. Transgender Identification and Linguistic Precision: Progressivism’s embrace of symbolic gestures over substantive action is particularly evident in the debate around transgender identification. For example, the insistence on including pronouns in email signatures is meant to signal inclusivity but often feels performative, particularly when adopted by individuals with no gender confusion. This co-opting of marginalized experiences reduces a deeply personal issue to a professional checkbox, alienating many and fostering resentment from ideological opponents.
   
   Moreover, the term “transgender” itself reveals a linguistic contradiction. The prefix “trans-” means “in between” or “across,” yet dominant ideology asserts that transgender individuals are entirely the gender they identify with. This tension between language and ideology undermines clarity and alienates both supporters and critics. Progressivism must embrace linguistic honesty and focus on addressing the needs of individuals rather than defending symbolic constructs.
3. Healthcare and Misleading Narratives: Slogans like “Medicare For All” exemplify progressivism’s reliance on oversimplified language that obscures reality. Medicare is a program for retirees, not the poor—Medicaid serves that function. If the goal is universal healthcare, why not call it “Medicaid For All”? The answer lies in political branding, which prioritizes popularity over precision. This dishonesty erodes trust and distracts from the substantive work required to reform the healthcare system.

Immigration vs. Internal Migration: The Overlooked Crisis

Immigration is a perennial political flashpoint, with progressives and conservatives locked in a binary debate that fails to address the root causes of the issue. Meanwhile, a far less discussed crisis—internal migration—highlights the systemic failures preventing Americans from improving their lives.

1. The Immigration Paradox: Republicans accuse Democrats of supporting illegal immigration to gain cheap labor or future voters, while Democrats frame their approach as compassionate and inclusive. Both narratives miss the deeper issue: U.S. foreign policy. Decades of interventions, coups, and regime-change wars have created refugee crises around the world, with the U.S. often promising asylum as part of its agreements with destabilized regions.
   
   Upon arrival, refugees are treated as political pawns, exploited by both parties for ideological gains and economic labor. This system isn’t compassion—it’s a modern form of indentured servitude.
2. The Internal Migration Crisis: In contrast, American citizens face immense barriers to moving within their own country. Relocating to another state requires significant financial resources, from transportation costs to housing deposits, making it inaccessible for those already struggling. There are no federal programs to support internal migration, leaving citizens trapped in cycles of poverty with no way to access better opportunities.
   
   For example, in states where it is illegal to sleep in a vehicle, homeless individuals attempting to relocate can be arrested, fined, or lose the very vehicle they depend on for survival. Without a permanent address, they cannot secure employment, further compounding their struggles. It is often easier for a refugee to enter the United States from overseas than for an American citizen to start over in a new state—a damning indictment of the system.

Breaking Free from the Ideological Straightjacket

The failures of progressivism stem from its unwillingness to reassess its own ideas and its tendency to prioritize ideological purity over practical solutions. To reclaim its relevance, progressivism must embrace a mindset of honesty, accountability, and innovation.

1. Honesty Over Symbolism: Progressivism must move beyond symbolic politics and embrace intellectual honesty. This means admitting when a policy doesn’t work—whether it’s harm reduction, pronoun declarations, or immigration narratives—and being willing to explore alternative solutions.
2. Focus on Root Causes: Instead of addressing symptoms, progressives should tackle the underlying causes of societal problems. On immigration, this means holding past and current leaders accountable for foreign policies that destabilize nations and create refugee crises. On internal migration, it means advocating for relocation assistance programs and repealing laws that criminalize poverty.
3. Compassion with Accountability: True progress requires balancing compassion with a realistic understanding of agency and responsibility. Addiction, for example, is a complex issue that demands both empathy and accountability. Labeling addiction as a disease without addressing the behavioral choices involved undermines efforts to create effective solutions.
4. Embracing Failure as Progress: Failure is not the enemy of progress—it is its prerequisite. Progressivism must adopt a mindset akin to the scientific method: introduce ideas, test their effectiveness, and adapt based on the results. Without this willingness to embrace failure, progressivism risks becoming stagnationism.

Reclaiming True Progressivism Will Require The Courage To Fail

Progressivism was once defined by its commitment to challenging conventions and imagining new possibilities. To reclaim this legacy, it must break free from the ideological straightjacket that confines it and embrace a philosophy rooted in experimentation, honesty, and accountability. Whether the issue is addiction, healthcare, immigration, or internal migration, progressives must focus not on preserving their ideological purity but on solving problems in ways that work for everyone.

The future of progressivism lies not in defending the past but in creating a movement willing to take risks, learn from failure, and prioritize real solutions over symbolic gestures. Only then can it fulfill its promise as a force for meaningful and lasting change.