Progress or regress? The midterm elections are about this choice – The Hill

For many, America is often seen as a journey of perfection, the ship of state buoyed by American Exceptionalism ingrained into most of us before our teens.

I see things a little bit differently. For me, its a journey of progress as we work toward the promise of, not a perfect union, but a more perfect union.

See, we are far from faultless. From raising wages and improving infrastructure to combating climate change and protecting voting rights, we have our work cut out for us as a nation and as a people.

But we also have much to be thankful for. After all, this isnt my grandparents America anymore. With few exceptions, their struggles are past and the future is ours to write.

Of course, as with any journey, we come to crossroads along the way, where we must choose between left or right and sometimes, forward or backward i.e., progress or regress. This is one of those moments. Will we choose to go forward or backward? Will we choose us or them?

Now, typically I dont like putting any decision in such terms. Its conceited, reductive, dogmatic and divisive. Unfortunately, right now, its also accurate and as much as I dont like it, it doesnt do any good to ignore this choice. So, lets try to understand it.

On the one hand, theres us, with a record of indisputable accomplishment, with one of the slimmest majorities in our nations history, including:

Got it? Good. Now lets look at them because, in addition to opposing every step forward that we Democrats have made since President Biden took office, members of the GOP have:

Of course, if that werent enough, just look at Florida Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, who, along with some GOP colleagues in the House, voted against disaster relief for their fellow Floridians devastated by the deadliest hurricane to hit America since Kartina. Thats a very them thing to do.

You see, thats what hangs in the balance in the 2022 midterms. Its not a choice between left or right. Its about going forward or turning back. Its about choosing to give in to the worst impulses of our nature or believing in the best.

Thats why, for many of us, this election isnt just an opportunity for community engagement and participation; its an obligation. Some people want to win elections. We cant afford to lose. The stakes are too high to have it any other way.

Antjuan Seawright is a Democratic political strategist, founder and CEO of Blueprint Strategy LLC, a CBS News political contributor, and a senior visiting fellow at Third Way. Follow him on Twitter @antjuansea.

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Progress or regress? The midterm elections are about this choice - The Hill