The Progressive, 409 East Main Street, Madison WI 53703, Tel: 608-257-4626
(editorial) or 800-827-0555 (subs). $30/year for 12 issues.
Founded in 1909 by Robert M. LaFollette Sr., The Progressive has been
edited since 1973 by Erwin Knoll, a former Washington Post reporter. The
previous editor, Morris H. Rubin, lasted 33 years. The "mission" of the
magazine is to "bring about peace, save the environment, end all forms of
discrimination, prevent U.S. intervention abroad, and institute social
justice at home." One way Knoll tried to do this was to strengthen the First
Amendment by attempting to publish "how-to" information on the H-bomb in
1979; this resulted in a six-month prior restraining order from a federal
judge. Another way is to ban all discussion of assassinations or other
conspiracies from his pages; Knoll claims none of them are even plausible.
It's the old story of freedom of the press for those who own the
presses. While The Progressive doesn't have a political line beyond anti-
conspiracism, cultural generosity, and peace and justice, it nevertheless
functions as a closed shop, locked into the old-left heartland. Knoll's
editing can get devious and he can be derisive if you don't agree with his
tiny union of freethinkers. When I asked him to please cancel a free
subscription after such an experience, Knoll's next editorial concluded
that "I'm just glad he didn't demand a refund." So I had to take his two
cents anyway. -- D.Brandt
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