If we progressives want to connect with people, it's important for us to talk about our values and what we care about.  Talking about a list of policy positions isn't sufficient --  it's too intellectual.  Yet many progressives aren't accustomed to talking, or even thinking, about what motivates us to support the positions we do. 

Here are examples of four Commonweal Institute folks talking about values:

Katherine Forrest:

Progressive values & her own values, especially truthfulness

Conservative policies and values – fear, rigidity, possibility of change

Metaphors for progressive and conservative Values, acceptance of oneself

Progressive values metaphor – diverse landscape; useful actions of ants & human scavengers

Dave Johnson:

Progressive values – community, an inherent human value; equality

Progressive values definition - what progressive values are, how they are experienced

Conservative idea of justice is based on resentment

Kay Lee:

Failed conservative values – family values

Progressive values – working toward the common good

Contradictions in conservative values – distortions like a “Fun House” mirror
 

Patrick O'Heffernan:

Progressive versus conservative values – nurturance, versus fear and dominance

Conservative values – war, dominance; women as canaries in the mines of democracy

Edwin Rutsch, who is recording many people talking about their progressive values, is the interviewer who recorded these segments and many others during the Netroots Nation conference in Austin, Texas, in July 2008.