"Progressive"

I have a question. I see the term "progressive" thrown around often in here. I've listened to Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity plenty and have heard them use the term as well, obviously in a derogatory manor.

My question pertains to what this term means to all of you guys. I'm not looking to rebut any answers, just information, as I have a very uneducated guess of an understanding of the word in this context. So, what does it mean? Is it always a negative thing?

FDR wrote:

I have a question. I see the term "progressive" thrown around often in here. I've listened to Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity plenty and have heard them use the term as well, obviously in a derogatory manor.

My question pertains to what this term means to all of you guys. I'm not looking to rebut any answers, just information, as I have a very uneducated guess of an understanding of the word in this context. So, what does it mean? Is it always a negative thing?

To be honest, I have the same question.

Progressives, under MY definition; are people who wish to 'progress' away from the Constitution. This is NOT limited to one party. There are plenty of progressives on both sides of the aisle. The Democrat progressives, at least some of them, are willing to admit they are progressive. Hilliary Clinton and Barry Obama have been referred to themselves as progressives. The only Republican I can think of that has openly called themselves progressive in McCain's daughter. Progressives see the Constitution as dated and nothing of merit, that it is a 'living' document. They are not about real progress, they are instead for progress away from the Founding Principles. GWB was a big time progressive with his signing of NCLB and of course TARP. Obama seems hell-bent on making Bush look like a pretend progressive with his agenda.

Well for me as a native born Wisconsonite- "Progressivism" is linked to Fightin' Bob La Follett.

Here's a quote to give you the flavor of his ilk:

"America is not made, it is in the making. Mere passive citizenship is not enough. Men must be aggressive for what is right if government is to be saved from those who are aggressive for what is wrong."

He wrote, that his goal was the "winning back for the people the complete power over government -- national, state, and municipal -- which has been lost to them." He attacked private greed in the form of corporate monopolies that hoarded power. He championed the public interest, campaigned for social and economic justice. And he urged the United States not to entangle itself in foreign wars.

I also link progressivism to Fightin' Bob's sometimes nemesis - in an era where you could disagree on policy and still respect the person-Teddy Roosevelt. TR coined the term "the square deal" wherein the basic idea was conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection.

Yep, Teddy Roosevelt was a progressive, the first to sit in the oval office. He even formed the Progressive Party. IMHO, he started America down the road to entitlements and unsustainable debt! His face should NOT be along side those great men at Mt Rushmore.

I agree with Pros' definition however as far as I am concerned progressive and liberal are synonyms. Liberals started refering to themselves as progressives after the term liberal became synonymous with evil and came to be viewed as bad by a majority of the populace.

luv2fsh&hnt wrote:

I agree with Pros' definition however as far as I am concerned progressive and liberal are synonyms. Liberals started refering to themselves as progressives after the term liberal became synonymous with evil and came to be viewed as bad by a majority of the populace.

True, but I don't like referring to them as liberals since it was progressives who 'went underground' and started calling themselves liberals. In fact, a 'true' liberal is basically a libertarian. The term was hi-jacked by the progressives.