Promoting the common good, the benevolence of the federal government and usefulness of taxes
Reagan's "revolution" so pulled the country to the right economically that the Democratic Party was pulled along by the early 90s. Democrats are now to the right economically of liberal Republicans of the 70s-- even moderates such as Nixon are to the left of almost every Democrat in national office today. Historically, the trend toward conservatism economically actually began with President Carter who began to dismantle some government regulations. Liberalism/progressivism has only advanced in social politics, as the Democratic party increasingly supports the civil rights of previously outcast groups such as gays and lesbians.
One thing to keep in mind is that Reagan's revolution centered on distrust of the federal government. If the federal government can't be trusted, is corrupt and inefficient, so the argument goes, then government services should be dismantled. Remember Reagan's mantra: the scariest sentence is "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." Many progressives and liberals distrust the federal government as well-- government spying on citizens being only the most blatant example. The distrust of government feeds modern day conservatism through its libertarian roots.
How far to the right is the nation at the moment? Bernie Sanders proposed "revolution" is not even as revolutionary as George McGovern's 1972 platform, at least some of which was borrowed and "triangulated" by Nixon. Democrats routinely clamor for polices that moderate Republicans of the 70's would not have supported, such as "welfare reform."
The key to real progressive reform is to re-establish trust that there is a common good and that common good can be advanced by the actions of a benevolent effective federal government (not excluding private attempts as well). That is the minimum to convince a large swath of citizens that it is worth investing their personal money via taxes in the common good. The question is how best to move the needle.
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