Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to continue funding of the National Endowment of the Arts, against delaying implementation of a national ID number to track the way Americans access medical care, and to continue preferential trade practices with Red China.

There were many other bad votes in Congress last week. But these were prime examples of how Washington just doesn't get it -- that it is out of touch with grass-roots America and, more importantly, with fundamental constitutional principles and basic concepts of American freedom.

There are many explanations for the failures of the 104th and 105th Congress, which came to power with promises of revolutionary change and a reversal of 40 years of bigger and more centralized government. The new leadership bears the brunt of the responsibility. After all, they were the ones who promised things would be different on their watch. They either fooled us about their intentions in the first place, or they failed miserably.

Yet, it is impossible to ignore one other important contributing factor seldom addressed by the press and pundit class.

I'm talking about the seemingly permanent cadre of hard-core leftists in Congress -- people who know what they believe, know what they want and fight for it relentlessly, unlike most of the mushy-headed, unprincipled, compromise-at-any-cost, middle-of-the-road "Demorats" and "Republicons."

Let's call this caucus what it is -- Congress' very own Red Army. They are card-carrying members of the so-called 'Progressive Caucus,' marching the nation inevitably toward its self-proclaimed socialist ideal.

The names and faces change occasionally, but you can see a pretty current roster on the Web site of the Democratic Socialists of America. The caucus is led by avowed Socialist Rep. Bernard Sanders of Vermont, Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia, Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, Rep. Maurice Hinchey of New York, Rep. Major Owens of New York, Rep. Nydia Velazquez of New York, Rep. Lane Evans of Illinois and Rep. Maxine Waters of California. Retired Rep. Ron Dellums was a long-time member of the executive committee and a leading DSA member. His replacement and political protege, Rep. Barbara Lee of California, proudly joins the club in his footsteps.

Unlike most members of Congress, the Progressive Caucus has a purpose, an objective, a goal. It is "organized around the principles of social and economic justice, a non-discriminatory society and national priorities which represent the interests of all people, not just the wealthy and the powerful."

"Our purpose is to present thoughtful, practical solutions to the economic and social problems facing America," says its statement of purpose. "Our people-based agenda extends from job creation to job training, to economic conversion, to single payer health-care reform, to adequate funding for the AIDS crisis, to environmental reform and to women's rights. "Now that the Cold War is over, this nation's budget and overall priorities must reflect that reality. We support further cuts in outdated and unnecessary military spending, a more progressive tax system in which wealthy taxpayers and corporations contribute their fair share, and a substantial increase in social programs designed to meet the needs of low-and-middle-income American families. We believe that these goals fit within an overall commitment to deficit reduction."

To the untrained ear, that may not sound very radical. In fact, I suggest the majority of members of Congress would have little objection to such a mission statement -- which is how and why the Progressive Caucus is able to accomplish so much of its agenda. A politician with no principles is hardly a match for one who does -- even if those principles are bad ones that lead, history shows, to loss of freedom.

Congress' hard-core Red Army Caucus may only number about 60 members. But recent events and votes show there are probably no more than 60 members of Congress truly dedicated uncompromisingly and unswervingly to the principles upon which this nation was founded -- individual rights, limited government, free enterprise and the rule of law under the greatest Constitution ever devised by man.

Next time you wonder why our nation is tumbling down the slippery slope toward socialism, dictatorship and repression, don't forget the active role played by this group of dedicated, professional malcontents and the support they receive from most of the nation's powerful cultural institutions -- the government schools, the government-media complex and the pro-government foundation lobby, not to mention the current White House and much of the judicial branch of government.

The socialists are in this battle for the long haul. They never give up. Can the same be said of elected leaders who pay lip service to freedom?