Another Progressive Era?

The emergence of the tea party movement and protests against Wall Street that have spread at various levels of intensity throughout our country have helped serve as a reminder that people, when pushed hard enough, are willing to step outside their comfort zones and speak out against wrongs they perceive to have been done against them. These movements remind me of several major social trends that occurred in the United States between 1890 - 1917, a time span that has come to be called the progressive era. This era, which contributed greatly to the kind of growth and general acceptance of public relations that we see today, was characterized by the beginnings of technological advancements in communication and a search for consensus among peoples from different backgrounds.

There were other important trends in this era of bygone years that I am seeing signs of today. They are the growth of institutions, the growth of advocacy, and a possible expansion of democracy. Toward the latter part of the nineteenth century, citizens expressed disenchantment at what they perceived as a great centralization of power among a handful of business tycoons, including Rockefeller, Morgan and Carnegie. Today, similar outrage is emerging against various corporations and major banks and their blatant efforts to consolidate their power. As today's protests grow, a great deal of speaking-out is happening from those serving as advocates on behalf of the protesters as well as those supporting the wealthy.

Democracy itself received a real boost in the progressive era. Thanks to the sustained effort by many of our current protestors, the potential for that happening today is great, especially if those involved play their communcation cards correctly. Obviously, movements with many voices do not always put forth coherent, precise messages. That has not yet happened today. But the fact voters are rumbling and making their dissatisfaction known is an indicator that they will not be sitting the upcoming congressional and presidential elections out. This, in itself, will be good for our democracy. I urge the protesters, no matter their political affiliations and despite opposition against them, to continue communicating their unhappiness. It makes me hopeful that a better tomorow is just over the horizon.