Thinking Big: Progressive Ideas for a New Era

This book comes from the Progressive Ideas Network - an alliance of progressive think tanks. The job of these organizations is to think through today's problems and propose solutions according to our progressive values. For example, the first essay is titled, "Building Shared Prosperity." This is about building an economy that works for all of us rather than just making us all work to death to make a few already-wealthy people richer. Progressive values: Do we want to live in a dog-eat-dog world where everyone is in it for themselves and only themselves? This is the conservative vision. OR do we want to live in a world where we take care of each other, watch out for each other, and lift each other up? This is the progressive vision. I recommend this book.

"Thinking Big" not only explores in engaging essays the key progressive issues of our time but also provides context and concrete steps that local, state and federal governments (and progressives themselves) can take to create sustainable progressive change. For those who realize that electing President Obama and Democratic majorities in Congress is just a first (albeit necessary) step toward progressive change, and much work remains to develop and promote progressive values and policies, this book is a must read.

These guys sure have great timing. For people interested in pulling the nation back to the middle , or better yet, even making it the progressive country it really is, this is a great handbook and place to start. Crisp, to the point and needed.