Moore: RI Progressives “Major in the Minors”

Moore: RI Progressives “Major in the Minors”

There’s been some large talk this year about how the state’s progressive Democrats are on the move and poised to make a dent in this year’s elections to the state legislature. Perhaps that’s the case, but thus far, I’d have to say that the focus of their campaigns has been lacking and unpromising. 

After Bernie Sanders scored a decisive, and in my opinion, shocking upset in the state’s presidential primary, a groundswell of so-called “progressive” Democrats have filed papers to run for the state legislature this year. In most instances, they’re facing establishment Democrats. 

Most folks will see that as a good thing. In economics, more choices benefit the consumer—likewise in politics. And it’s always refreshing to see people energetic people getting involved in politics, so long as they’re genuine and well-intentioned. 

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Yet with all that being said, I have to say that thus far, I’ve been disappointed with the focus of the majority of the progressive candidates this year.

A Flawed Focus

Here’s what the state director of the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats told Golocal earlier last month when discussing the progressive agenda:

“I think this year people are just upset with the establishment,” said Bell. “Our goal is to make gains -- if we don't, we'll see an onslaught of extreme right wing policy -- brutal cuts to cities and towns, more tax cuts to rich, even abortion restrictions, NRA backed gun legislation. If we send a message, there's both a lot less chance for extreme right wing politics, and also for laying the groundwork for changing how we do politics in Rhode Island.”

Firstly, of course people are upset with the establishment. But I disagree that the reason is because we’ve seen “an onslaught of extreme right wing policy” in Rhode Island. That statement is almost laughable. Rhode Island was just ranked last in the nation by CNBC for our business climate. Detractors claimed that the scores simply reward states with right wing economic policies. Since we’re ranked dead last, it’s then hard to say we’ve been following right wing policies. 

For those of us who don’t want to make America look like Venezuela, the real source of disgust for the general assembly is due to the ethics, or more precisely, a lack thereof. Whether its representative John Carnevale’s residency issues or former Finance Chairman Ray Gallison’s abrupt resignation due to unspecified legal woes, the general public’s confidence in the legislature is low. And to their credit, most progressives are attacking on that issue.   

Bell then criticizes the state legislature on the state legislature on the issue of guns and abortion—two social issues. 

Minor Issues

When former President Bill Clinton came to Rhode Island in 2010, he complained that during that particular election season, which saw massive gains for Republicans, there was way too much “majoring in the minors and minoring in the majors”. That’s exactly how I feel when I read Bell’s comments.

Of course we need to curb gun violence. But that’s a national issue. We need national legislation to ban high capacity assault rifles. A bill to do that in Rhode Island would be inconsequential since someone could simply buy one across state lines. 

And abortion isn’t under attack in Rhode Island. On the statewide level, those are minor issues. They’re more fit to be addressed on a national level.

But what is under attack is the Rhode Island pension system. When Raimondo became General Treasurer in 2011 she began moving a large portion of the state’s pension fund into high risk, low return hedge funds. Those investments skyrocketed the fees paid to money managers on Wall Street—the Hedge Fund Cowboys (I call the bigshot Wall Street money men this, since they’re almost exclusively men and have a reputation for throwing crazy, raucous parties). 

Wall Street Attacks RI

We’re spending almost $50 million more per year on fees to Wall Street now. Current General Treasurer Seth Magaziner has largely continued this practice. 

Yet I don’t hear the progressive candidates for the general assembly raising the red flags on this issue. And Congress doesn’t care, nor should it, about how we squander our pension money. In other words, it’s a major issue. 
Gone are the days of “Occupy Wall Street”, when the progressives acted like they cared about Wall Street greed.

Did the Hedge Fund Cwboys make some large donations to anti-gun groups or Emily’s List (a pro-choice advocacy organization) that I don’t know about?

I suspect the reason that the progressive candidates have kept their mouth shut about Wall Street’s plundering of our state’s pension fund (which taxpayers will be forced to buttress), is because they’re big fans of Magaziner. That’s probably because he was always in favor of gay marriage, and other social issues that are near and dear to the progressive hearts. 

In any event, the progressive candidates for the General Assembly may fare well in this year’s elections when all is said and done. Be that as it may. But thus far, I’m not impressed. 

Russell Moore has worked on both sides of the desk in Rhode Island politics, both for newspapers and on political campaigns. Send him email at russmoore713@gmail.com. Follow him on twitter @russmoore713.