One huge difference between Progressives and Conservatives everywhere (and I mean, in every part of the world that I’m aware of) is the following: the Progressives can’t keep their energies focused on small practical issues and resolve them one at a time. Every attempt at activism always leads to the actual point being lost in a barrage of well-sounding words about justice, freedom, and revolution. As to getting something done? Oh, that’s boring.

The Conservatives, however, are really good at selecting the actual existing legislation they don’t like and chipping at it with the consistency and single-mindedness of hyperactive woodpeckers. Look at what’s happening in the US in terms of abortion. The Republicans can’t do anything about Roe vs Wade at the moment, so they are busy at work introducing bills that gradually limit reproductive rights everywhere in the country. I’m opposed to their goal but I can’t help admiring the consistency of endeavor, the hard work, and the 100% concentration at the goal. This is what I call a work ethic, people. The cause is the one I abhor but just imagine this kind of persistence applied to a positive, progressive goal. How much could be achieved!

And then look at Progressive causes. The Russians came out into the streets to protest unfair elections but then the entire thing dissolved in catchy slogans about everything and nothing at the same time. No alternative candidates came forward, no concrete demands were made, but every participant of the protests had a blast. Then, look at #Occupy protests. Again, lots of very vague – but very pretty – verbiage and no concrete results. And I will not bore you yet again with the story of how the protests against tuition hikes in Quebec are dissolving in protests against all things bad and for all things good. But everybody has a good time. I wish I could be more appreciative of the community bonding aspect of such events. Maybe then the lack of concrete results would not bother me so much.

When I was a union organizer, it was always this way. We’d get together to discuss a concrete issue, yet the conversation would always veer off towards completely unrealistic projects that nobody in their right mind could have a slightest hope of carrying through. And everybody always glared at me and told me I couldn’t “think big” because I kept suggesting that we make a plan and a schedule of our activities.

Call me a pedestrian plodder, but I always get bored when people tell me of their plans to write an amazing book, start a super profitable business, or become a hip hop star. I’m much more impressed by those who have an actual list of chapters and dates for their completion or a detailed business plan. I’m on my summer vacation now, yet I make a list of goals I need to achieve every day and plan what I will do each day in 30-minute increments. I know this makes me sound like a boring person but I achieve results. And yes, the time to write this post was also scheduled in advance.

I’m very grateful to my readers for putting up with my teaching-related whining (that, this year, has gone well into the summer) and also for answering my questions. In return, I want to give you an opportunity to make blogging requests. If there is something you want me to blog about, please mention it in the comment thread. If there is an article or a piece of news you’d like me to comment on, please leave the link.

I haven’t been following the news as closely as usual because while I’m teaching my online course, I’m signed into gmail with my teaching email, which makes it too complicated to go to my regular Google Reader. This means that I’m probably not aware of the most recent news right now. So feel free to inform me what is happening in the world. Especially if you want to see a post on those happenings.

This post is sticky. Scroll down for new posts.