Progressive is an often misused term.

[LWolf]

To be progressive is to move forward...to progress.

It doesn't determine the direction of progression.

Some use it as a more politically correct version of "liberal," but you don't have to be "liberal" to be "progressive."

Republicans can be progressive; I'd suggest that the Bush administration has been aggressively progressive.

Fascists can be progressive.

RW fundamentalists are progressive.

And blue-dog, corporate, "centrist" democrats are aggressively progressive, if the movement of the Democratic Party is any indication. The DLC is progressive. That's why their think tank is "The Progressive Policy Institute."

Obama is progressive. He's moving forward with his version of "change."

As a matter of fact, everyone who doesn't want stagnation is "progressive," no matter what kind of "progress" on what kind of "change" they are working on.

Since the term can be accurately used to describe progress that has nothing to do with democratic principles or ideals, I think that Democrats should drop the term for something more accurate.

"Liberal," "Left," "Centrist," "Right," are more accurate.

It's time to stop using the word "progressive" as synonymous with the liberal left--it's not.

[jgraz]

1. Sorry, this Wisconsinite is and always will be a proud progressive

Progressivism started in my home state, and it's ALWAYS been identified with the left.

Once you start analyzing the words we use, you're going to run into trouble. Did you know that Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher were Liberals? Look up the true meaning of the word -- it really applies more to laissez-faire capitalists than true left-wingers.

[LWolf]

2. That's true;

about liberals. Perhaps we should just proudly claim to be "the left," and leave it at that.

When you say "progressive," you mean "the left." When others say it, they mean whatever position they are talking about, left or otherwise.

[jgraz]

4. Not sure you're right about that

A lot of people just use progressive as a way to avoid saying "liberal". My high-school civics class (remember THOSE?) talked a lot about liberalism when Unca Ronnie was in office, and we also learned the history of Fightin' Bob La Follette -- still the best senator in the history of the nation. That was the last time I even considered calling myself a "liberal".

[LWolf]

6. A lot of people do.

Then there is the PPI. They don't fit your definition of "progressive," but they can still legitimately be called "progressive."

It's an overused term. When the MSM uses it, they still mean "liberal," by which they mean "left." When centrists use it, that's not what they mean.

When it's used to describe a candidate in an election, I think we have an obligation to be clear about what it means in relation to that candidate.

[Lex]

3. "one believing in . . . social improvement by governmental action"

Main Entry:
progressive
Function:
noun
Date:
1846

1 a: one that is progressive b: one believing in moderate political change and especially social improvement by governmental action

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Progressives

[LWolf]

5. Yes.

I can find many definitions in the dictionary. None of them say "liberal," or "left."

It still fits. Any political action to "improve" is progressive. Nobody has to agree on the definition of "improvement."

[Lilith Velkor]

7. Eggs-fucking-zactly.

It's gotten so I can't even stand people who call themselves "progressive" because that almost always means someone who is pro-choice/pro-gay marriage but hates the poor.

[LWolf]

8. I hear you. n/t