We see continuing unemployment and homelessness. We also see an active government- sponsored opposition to the gains made by the civil, human, and women's rights movements of the '60s and 70s, wherein blaming the victims has become policy. Under these conditions, a progressive must know how to observe and understand the conditions and build opposition to these policies, while putting forward a realistic and positive vision of how things can improve. The progressive is open to a variety of ways to combat oppression. Considering the varieties of oppression that exist in our country and world, our resistance must take on many forms, from social to cultural to organizational.
Struggle occurs on many levels, all of which are important in the overall battle.
A progressive not only struggles against systemic oppression, but also tries to move for- ward and build. To effect change, a progressive needs to build a broad, mass-based movement. Many individuals who may not be or may not consider themselves progressive work with a progressive organization or within a progressive movement. All of these people are part of the united front a progressive must work with. It is on this criterion that a progressive builds a true coalition, where everyone's input can be of value and importance.