It's the question on everyone's lips this time of year:

"So, do you have any New Year's Resolutions?"

You probably do -- I know I have a few. (My #1: Use the car less, the bicycle more.)

We ask the question in an effort to improve ourselves. Annual resolutions may be great for an individual's self-improvement goals, but when it comes to achieving real progress in our communities, our country, and our world, a year is not a very long time.

2009 is all the evidence we need for that. This year, progressives gained a greater foothold in our federal government than we've had for many years. Still, change comes slowly. Guantanamo remains open. Copenhagen was a let-down. And it now looks likely that even if a health care bill passes this year, more reforms will be needed.

This past month has been an emotional roller coaster for me and for progressives everywhere. I'm sure it wasn't easy for you to watch the Administration and Congress escalate the war in Afghanistan and compromise -- no, capitulate -- on health care reform.

How do we fix this? Some of my friends in the movement point the finger at villains like Joe Lieberman and say the answer is to elect "more and better" Democrats. That can't hurt, to be sure. Progressives obviously need an electoral strategy.

But I think that if the dominant ideology in Washington doesn't change, then electing different people won't make much of a difference. Even very idealistic politicians will be forced to adapt to the Beltway's power structure.

This is why we need a more united and more powerful progressive movement -- to change the terms of the debate and shape legislative outcomes. This is what I work for day in and day out at the Commonweal Institute, work that is only possible because of your support.

On all sides, we are seeing renewed attacks against issues that we care deeply about.  We know that you, like other friends of the Commonweal Institute, care about the wider society, too — you share our values of community, caring, justice, and concern for the future.

The attacks are just beginning, but a familiar pattern is emerging.  As in the past, the Right is using race to try to divide our country and halt progressive change. Targeting this strategy toward the presidency is new. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Van Jones, and even President Obama himself are being challenged by baseless political attacks drenched with subtle and not-so-subtle racial overtones. The danger is that the Right will use race to mark the President and his team as dangerous "others" – who are not part of “us,” do not look like “us,” and do not share “our” values, leading to the war cry of the tea-baggers, “I want my country back!” The irony is that these racialized scare tactics – by undermining the presidency as the country faces serious problems – diminish the ability of government to fulfill its fundamental role to support life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans. 

Executive Director Barry Kendall was joined by Commonweal Institute fellows Chris Bowers, Dave Johnson, Jill Richardson, and Nezua at the 2009 Netroots Nation convention from August 13 through 16 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a sponsor of Netroots Nation, the Commonweal Institute is a firm believer in the power of blogs and new media to advance the progressive agenda. Holding to this idea, Commonweal fellows and staff took part in discussions and attended lectures which addressed the emergence of technology as an ally in the fight for progressive change. The conference proved a successful platform for Commonweal, as Kendall and fellows were well received on a total of seven panels ranging in discussion from food policy and economics to environmentalism and media problem solving. In his panel about connecting think tanks to the Netroots, Dr. Kendall offered insight about how policy idea factories can effectively engage and collaborate through blogs and the social web to more effectively advance a progressive agenda.

Senator Al Franken, Duluth, MN City Council Member Tony Cuneo and AZ State Representative Kyrsten Sinema at the Greysolon Plaza in Duluth, August 2, 2009 (Photo: Umayyah Cable)

From August 2 through 5, 2009, the Commonweal Institute, along with lead sponsor the A.H. Zeppa Family Foundation, convened leaders of the progressive movement from all across the country in Duluth, Minnesota for the 2009 Progressive Roundtable.  Senator Al Franken kicked off the proceedings with a free public lecture and discussion attended by almost 300 local residents.

Commonweal Institute Executive Director Barry Kendall and Retreat Director Mirit Cohen with San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 gave all of us here at the Commonweal Institute an opportunity to celebrate the acheivements of Barry Kendall and all of his hard work forging the path for the progressive movement. The New Leaders Council's annual "40 Under 40" Awards honor young, innovative and dedicated progressive leaders throughout the nation, and this year Dr. Kendall was selected as an award recipient! Be sure to check the NLC website to see the impressive list of award winners.

On May 27, Executive Director Barry Kendall led a day-long meeting with 53 members and allies of the Progressive Ideas Network. Titled "Progressive Ideas in Action: Long-Term Thinking in a Short-Term World," the event gathered policy experts and intellectuals from inside and outside DC to look beyond the current policy battles and begin formulating the big ideas that will power progressive advocacy four, six, even ten or more years down the road. At the end of the day, Dr. Kendall offered participants an inspirational rallying cry, written with Institute friend and supporter Greg Colvin. Check it out:

With the goal of providing an opportunity for local and national news outlets to publish opinion and commentary from a progressive political perspective, the Commonweal Institute will produce and distribute weekly op-ed columns starting July 1, 2009.

A new lineup of Commonweal Institute Fellows, public intellectuals who have organically developed large audiences and authority in their fields through their blogs, publications and academic work, will write the columns on a rotating basis.

UPDATE (8/6/09): Columns will be made available for exclusive use by news outlets for a limited time and then released with a Creative Commons attribution license and posted at Commonweal Institute's Uncommon Denominator Blog.

The spark for this program came from a Commonweal Institute supporter seeking an alternative to the conservative and libertarian perspectives regularly featured in their local newspaper’s op-ed page. 

Executive Director Barry Kendall, co-chair of the Progressive Ideas Network, discusses the newest publication from PIN, Thinking Big: Progressive Ideas for a New Era. The book is a collection of succinct essays that outline the current reinvention of the progressive movement in the United States. It is an essential handbook for the progressive agenda.

Major issues discussed in Thinking Big include:

The voices of the Commonweal Institute have been heard on several radio and podcast programs in the last month, speaking up for progressive values and a pragmatic approach to solving problems. Institute Director Dr. Barry Kendall has been making the rounds to promote Thinking Big: Progressive Ideas for a New Era, the latest book from the Progressive Ideas Network. Click here to listen to his interview on Santa Fe Public Radio, or here for his discussion with Institute Fellow Bill Scher on the Liberal Oasis Radio Show.

Also, Commonweal Institute Fellow Dave Johnson was recently a guest on the BBC's "World Have Your Say" program, where he discussed international trade and the importance of protecting workers both at home and abroad. Click here to listen!

Finally, the Progressive Ideas Network recently recorded a series of podcasts to promote Thinking Big. These short interviews with today's leading progressive intellectuals were hosted by Institute Senior Fellow Patrick O'Heffernan. Press the play button below to listen to the first installment, where Dr. Kendall and Roosevelt Institution Director Nate Loewentheil introduce the book and explain why it's so important right now to think big.

For the complete podcast series, check out our Archive page -- and thanks for listening!