Progressing with old-time Arizona


If you're puzzled as to whether Arizona has traditionally been conservative, or liberal, or Republican or Democrat, you might be surprised to know that it's really been all of those things, combined together, it's been Progressive.

Times change, of course, as do what is considered a popular thing to say, and you really don't hear much about the Progressive Movement. But there was a time when it was so popular that it not only was on the logo of the biggest bank in Arizona, it was on the masthead of the newspaper. "Progressing with Arizona".

Once you understand Progressivism, you get a clearer understanding of what happened to Phoenix, and why it grew so fast, and continues to do so. And there are elements of conservatism there, and also liberalism. So, Republican or Democrat, it really didn't matter. It was all about moving forward.

Progressivism is what inspired Dwight Heard, who owned the Phoenix newspaper, then called the "Republican",  to agitate for things like a gigantic dam, which actually happened, in 1911, to control flooding in the valley, and generate power, to help insure a future for the growing city of Phoenix.

True conservatives, of course, would have preferred everything to stay the same. That's what being conservative means, preserving the status quo, making no changes, maybe even pining away for the good old days. So asking for things to change would have seemed, to our modern eyes, to be very liberal. But it was progressive.

If you know the history of Valley National Bank, you know that their lending policy after Walter Bimson became the president, in 1939, was very liberal. He encouraged giving out loans, often on just a handshake. And that was an example of Progressivism, which helped build the homes and businesses of Phoenix, especially after World War II, in the '40s and '50s. The bank wasn't giving away money, they were investing.

Speaking for myself, I'm a Progressive. I love to see growth, and change, especially in the city that I love. I've seen what a too-liberal lending policy can do to a bank, and an economy, but I have no desire to throw it all away. The people that I will be voting for will be the people who will continue the spirit of Arizona. You won't see the term "Progressive" on a campaign sign, but when you look for it, you'll recognize it.

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Comments

  1. Maryvale ManAugust 11, 2020 at 3:17 AM

    A very informative and interesting article

    ReplyDelete
  2. kirkdooleyAugust 11, 2020 at 9:37 AM

    The problem with Arizona, as I see it, is that before you can drag it kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, you first have to drag it kicking and screaming into the 20th.

    ReplyDelete

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