Fighting Bob's Legacy

Bob LaFollette entered the 1924 presidential race "to break the combined power of the private monopoly system over the political and economic life of the American people is the one paramount issue." His platform called for government ownership of the railroads and electric utilities, cheap credit for farmers, the outlawing of child labor, stronger laws to support labor unions, more protection of civil liberties, an end to American imperialism in Latin America, and a referendum before any president could again lead the nation into war." A diverse coalition of Progressive Liberal and Leftist groups supported his campaign which ultimately earned him 16.6% of the national vote, though he only carried Wisconsin.

Fighting Bob supported government ownership of railroads and electric utilities in 1924. Over the past 100 years we have watched as Capitalism has exacerbated and accelerated the extreme wealth inequality that we have today. What would his platform be if he saw the current state of our politics? What does "progressive" even mean these days? To reclaim our identity, we must take matters into our own hands by marching unflinchingly Forward into our uncertain future. We can create a better world therefore we must.

What We Stand For

The Wisconsin Progressive Party is united under two principles:

1. All Wisconsinites Welcome (AWW) - The civil rights of all people which include the freedoms of self determination, bodily autonomy, and full inclusion in society must not be compromised on or bargained away.

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2. Put People Over Profits (POP) by seizing the means of basic needs - Meeting our basic needs is the right of all people, which we shall achieve through public ownership of corporate assets. Wisconsinization will return possession of these assets to the people of Wisconsin to remove the profit incentive from providing these necessities. We can provide all Wisconsinites housing, energy, healthy food, healthcare, education, and financial stability regardless of an individual's ability to do labor and generate profit if we simply change our priorities.