The Point of Progress: Why We Must Add, Not Subtract

If civilization and technology give us the ability to meet everyone’s needs, the moral and logical next step is to ensure no one is left behind. Otherwise, what’s the point of progress?

Before we get started, something happened today.

The raid on John Bolton isn’t justice, but Trump’s revenge weaponizing the FBI to punish critics. Remember Trump pulling protection from Bolton who was under threat because of being a POTUS45 Trump official, vindictively politicizing the POTUS47 administration, clearly. Now Trump is projecting who and what he has been and is, on those who try to point that out about him.

Just as Trump's militarizing our streets to normalize authoritarian rule.

This is the Trump Revenge Administration, paid for with our tax dollars. As BOLTON has said he would do and is doing.

We're watching our DOJ devolve in real time under Donald Trump.

Time to WTFU.

1. The Other Side of the Argument: “I’m Not Rich Enough—and That’s Fine”

Some respond: "Government services cost too much. I don't make enough to justify higher taxes." But consider this:

• If government functions well, the value of services received far exceeds the taxes paid. Public education, infrastructure, healthcare access, and social supports can uplift communities—and taxpayers often gain more than they contribute.

• Economic studies and polling show that most Americans recognize this: even among moderates and Republicans, there's widespread support for government playing a key role in essential areas of life—only when those services are effective and trustworthy Pew Research Center.

2. Republicans: Breaking Government—or “Starving the Beast”?

Some conservatives deliberately promote weaker government as ideology:

• The long-standing conservative strategy called "starve the beast" aims to reduce taxes and thereby limit government’s ability to fund social programs like education, healthcare, and welfare Wikipedia.

• Recent Republican tax initiatives reflect this: major tax cuts for the wealthy, rollback of social support programs, and claims that reduced government revenue will rein in spending—sometimes regardless of outcomes The Guardian+15Joint Economic Committee+15|+15.

• A particularly stark example is the 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which extends tax cuts, reduces Medicaid, and accumulates trillions more in federal debt over the next decade Wikipedia+2TIME+2.

3. Democrats: Well-Intentioned, But Struggling to Deliver?

Critics of governance also target Democrats:

• While Democratic platforms often include ambitious investments in public goods, public confidence in their ability to manage government effectively is declining. A recent poll found that only about a third of Democrats feel optimistic about their party’s future PBS+15The Associated Press+15Times Union+15.

• Commentary across political analysis suggests that while democracies must deliver tangible socioeconomic benefits to maintain legitimacy, struggles to do so can fuel disillusionment and weaken democratic norms Journal of Democracy.

• In short: having intentions only goes so far—effective delivery and follow-through matter.

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Memory’s fuzzy: Tea Party vs. Obama, anti-mandate and Gaza protests vs. Biden—all happened. The difference isn’t whether people protested; it’s how many and why.

The Point of Progress: Why We Must Add, Not Subtract

If civilization and technology give us the ability to meet everyone’s needs, the moral and logical next step is to ensure no one is left behind. Otherwise, what’s the point of progress?

The current conservative orientation—driven by leaders who value power over service—has moved in the opposite direction. Through strategies like “starving the beast,” they push tax cuts and cuts to social programs, weakening government’s ability to support its people WikipediaJoint Economic CommitteeCenter for American ProgressCenter on Budget and Policy PrioritiesReutersU.S. Senate Committee On The Budget. The 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill” is an extreme example, extending tax cuts, reducing Medicaid funding, and increasing federal debt by trillions Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3TIME+3.

On the other hand, Democrats often propose investments in public services, but their effectiveness is increasingly questioned. Many Democrats express growing pessimism about their party’s ability to deliver results—echoing a broader trend: democracies that fail to provide for their citizens risk losing support and stability The Associated Press+1.

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1. “I’m Not Rich Enough”—Why That’s a Misplaced Concern

If your government works, your tax dollars return far more in value than they cost. Education, infrastructure, and social supports aren’t luxuries—they’re enablers of community and economic health. Polls show Americans across political lines value a government that delivers effectively—not just one that exists Pew Research Center.

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2. Adding, Not Subtracting: The Role of Government

The purpose of government is to protect and support its people. The only real question is how much—or, more importantly, how well—we want it to do that. As societies evolve, they should be adding to public services—not retracting them, especially as AI and automation reduce labor needs. This shift can free us to focus on arts, humanities, and human flourishing—not just survival.

If we can produce enough food to feed everyone but allow people to starve, we’ve lost the meaning of civilization.

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3. Progressive, Realistic, and Achievable

• Historically accurate: Many systems we take for granted—public health, education, social safety nets—began as radical ideas that became foundational through government investment.

• Economically sound: As productivity rises, distribution—not production—is the issue.

• Aligned with reality: We have the means and knowledge. The goal is to align our policy and will with our capacity.

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Conclusion: This isn’t utopian—it’s a realistic path grounded in history, economics, and moral clarity. A society worthy of its name invests in its people, adding services, not subtracting them. It’s time for us to choose maturity, cooperation, and the kind of progress that benefits everyone.

Finally? 

Ain't THAT the damn Truth!

Cheers! Sláinte! Na zdravie!

Compiled with aid of ChatGPT