Some proclaim that America is a conservative-leaning country. Yet the most progressive governing documents in world history were written and adopted here: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

Those documents formed a government unlike any in the history of humankind. It created three coequal branches of government with the Founders’ wisdom that to flourish as a country, and as individuals, we must be able to adapt beyond their beliefs in those times by including the right to amend the Constitution and adopt laws. They knew change would continuously be necessary because of how they were ruled demanded change. We were led by progressives from the start.

Slavery was banned, voting rights were expanded to all, civil rights, child labor laws, worker rights, safety laws, the G.I. Bill, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Endangered Species Act, Obamacare, environmental laws, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid came into being. Those are just a few of the progressive laws that helped all in our country toward forming a more perfect union. 

From the founding of our democracy, progress was made by being progressive, not conservatism. Not one law I mentioned came from being conservative. We became a nation of inclusion, not exclusion, and are better for it. We have strived to broaden our views. History tells of our struggles to get here, and why the entire world came to look upon us to lead. We are still striving despite the struggles, and that desire will never fade away.

Mike Grove
Belgrade Lake