Since this seems like it's going to keep coming up, let's do a quick... Something about this idea that Biden isn't *really* the most progressive candidate the Democratic party has ever put forward for the presidency. Not really an explanation, more an interrogation.

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So let's begin with "how are we measuring 'most progressive'?" If we measure it based on policy it's pretty straightforward. Can you name a President with more progressive policies that Biden's platform? If not, he's the most progressive.

/2

If it's based on the assumption Biden will just continue Obama-era policies and ideas, it's still straightforward. Which President had more progressive policies than those enacted by the Obama administration?

If you said "well... FDR..." don't worry, I'll come back to that

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So the final way to compare would be "as compared to the prevalent politics at the time". Which *seems* to be the gut-instinct of many progressives. But how does that work? Comparing FDR to Hoover is well and good, but that would mean comparing Biden to Trump.

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You don't get to compare Biden to the most progressive contemporary figure unless you do the same to FDR and compare him to Huey Long. And FDR's New Deals don't look all that progressive compared to "no one can have more than 300x the average net worth".

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So, finally, let's go back to the idea that FDR's policies were more progressive than today. And the first question is: which policy? Even ignoring the shittiest ones (Japanese internment, redlining, encouragement of racial covenants), I can't name one.

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Minimum wage? Adjusting for inflation FDR's was lower.

Healthcare? Nope, Medicare and Medicaid were under LBJ.

Social Security? It was more limited and less beneficial for recipients.

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I honestly can't name one I'd want to hang my hat on. Taxes were higher, but "high taxes" isn't inherently "progressive". Nor can I really name what in Glass-Steagall was particularly more "progressive" than Dodd-Frank.

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So why does this matter? Mostly because it bugs me. It's a way for progressives to shoot themselves in the foot through the dick by undercutting a candidate whose policies would be more progressive than any president before.

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But how we discuss what "progressive" means is also important in the post-Trump era. In the same way arguments over what "conservative" means will be important for whatever remains of the Republicans.

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