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Home > Visionary Strategies > Family Friendly Policies

Family Friendly Policies

The right-wing ideology that has gained national prominence and credibility in the past few decades manages to enthrall and mislead many Americans. One reason it speaks to people is that many experience personal life as lived through families is in crisis. Many feel that families, one of the few bastions’ of protection from the dangers of the selfishness, materialism and looking out for number one that predominate in the larger world, are themselves under attack.

Liberals and progressives are often puzzled by why more middle income and poor Americans don’t become active supporters of a progressive agenda. They turn their backs on the Green Party, for example, or on progressive candidates in the Democratic Party. If people were primarily motivated by economic issues they’d be rallying overwhelmingly to a Bernie Sanders or to other economic populists. What we’ve learned is this: As long as the focus of activists in the union movement, the women’s movement, civil libertarians, environmentalists, anti-war and anti-nuclear arms movement avoids addressing the way that these issues are linked to the daily life experiences of people inside their families, or remains focused primarily on the economic deprivations people face—the Right will continue to command the allegiance of a sizeable part of the population whose primary concern is with their own family lives. If spiritual progressives can help existing social change movements speak to the concerns of families these movements will be more successful in reaching the American people.

Liberal and progressive forces are in much deeper crisis than they are willing to admit. We believe that at least part of the reason for this development has been the inability of the progressive forces to address the issue of family life in a serious way. Not only does this failure estrange progressives from major sectors of the population that would otherwise be their “natural constituency” (namely, a major sector of American working people), but   also causes many people who believe in progressive politics to drop out of active involvement as they themselves get weighed down by the problems of raising a family and feel little support much less innovative ideas coming from the progressive world.

First step: Join the NSP, Network of Spiritual Progressives, and then tell us which part of this program makes most sense to you and what you are willing to do to help start this project in your own area of the country. Contact Cat@spiritualprogressives.org after you have become a dues paying member of the NSP to get involved.

The crisis in family life is not manufactured by the media—it is real.

The Crisis in Family Life

The crisis in family life is not manufactured by the media—it is real.
Learn more
For four decades the Right has hammered away at the issue of Family...

Family Issue and the Growth of the Right

For four decades the Right has hammered away at the issue of Family...
Learn more
How do we create a society within which long-term commitments to love, intimacy, and security?

What Really Undermines Family Life?

How do we create a society within which long-term commitments to love, intimacy, and security?
Learn more
We do not underestimate the family-destroying consequences of economic insecurity.

Strengthening the Family

We do not underestimate the family-destroying consequences of economic insecurity.
Learn more
It is important to understand that the patriarchal family structure does not function any longer...

Women in Families

It is important to understand that the patriarchal family structure does not function any longer...
Learn more
Support for family life does not mean only support for two-parent families.

"Non-Traditional" Family Forms

Support for family life does not mean only support for two-parent families.
Learn more
It is important to create a social and political climate within which people would feel comfortable.

Family Support Networks

It is important to create a social and political climate within which people would feel comfortable.
Learn more
In any building of a pro-family perspective, there is much to learn from the religious community.

The Contribution of Religion

In any building of a pro-family perspective, there is much to learn from the religious community.
Learn more
We need to create youth organizations that champion the values of love, kindness and generosity.

The Program for Children

We need to create youth organizations that champion the values of love, kindness and generosity.
Learn more
Friends of Families also seeks to support legislation and community education.

Political Education

Friends of Families also seeks to support legislation and community education.
Learn more
  • A New Bottom Line
  • Environmental, Economic and Social Justice
  • Global Peace Plan
  • Israel/Palestine
  • Black Lives Matter
  • Family Friendly Policies
    • The Crisis in Family Life
    • The Family Issue As Key To The Growth of the Right
    • What Really Undermines Family Life?
    • Strengthening the Family
    • Women in Families
    • “Non-Traditional” Family Forms
    • Family Support Networks
    • The Contribution of Religion
    • Political Education
    • The Program for Children
    • The Family Issue as Key to the Growth of the Right
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