what IS 'progressivism'?

[Rich Hunt]

I think it's time for another refresher on what 'progressivism' is and where it came from.

Wikipedia's entries are as good as any.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressivism_in_the_United_States

Some of the key themes are:

-distrust of concentrated power in the hands of CORPORATIONS or government
-reform
-civic participation

Going from there, we get an article from Alternet:

http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/23706/

Two key points here:

So what the heck is "progressive"? Those called 'progressives' of the late 19th and early 20th century, including such figures as presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, were renowned for checking the rise of corporate power and abuses and expanding democratic rights domestically. Later, leaders who followed the progressive line on foreign policy created an American nation that was an international leader in an economic, military, and moral sense.

One reason that Americans commonly equate progressivism and liberalism is that progressive thought is often informed by liberal ethics - it's driven by a desire to promote fairness, human well-being and opportunity. CAP intern Andrew Fong puts it this way: "Progressives believe in maximizing human freedom and helping society (and its individual members) achieve their full potential." Fong reminds us that "power, wealth, and information must flow freely rather than be concentrated in the hands of a few so that all citizens have the means to contribute."

It should be clear by now: progressivism is about solving problems, and it's the antithesis of elitism and concentrated power. That means it's about civic participation. It's not so much an ideology as an approach to politics.

Why is this important? Well, it appears that some people have taken to the word 'progressive', which is in DU's charter. I've seen a few people say that they are 'progressive' and not 'liberal'. 'Progressive' is not to be used because you don't like the word 'liberal'. We long-term progressives don't like that. In doing so, you do a disservice to both progressivism and liberalism.

Thanks.

[Zhade]

1. There are such people as liberal progressives, you know.

I'm one such person.

[Rich Hunt]

2. I didn't say there weren't

I said that people were using terminology without discussing what it means.

[foflappy]

3. great post!!

might be a good reminder for some....or a wake up for others.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. Okay, help me out there in Progressive 101

"Distrust of concentrated power in the hands of corporations or governments."

So how would this work, the elimination of large corporations or governments? What would the progressive "nirvana" be? How do we get out from under Microsoft...Dupont...the banks?

What are we suggesting as progressives would be better?

[MH1]

9. Reduce the concentration of power - not eliminate

corporations or governments.

Corporations have excessive power due to co-opting the 14th amendment to apply to all legal persons, not just natural persons. Thom Hartmann has written a lot more about this problem - I can't do the topic justice myself, so I hope you'll you read some Hartmann. The book, "What Would Jefferson Do" is a good start.

Now, as an alternative, we should support small business and entrepreneurship. Real small business, which is not necessarily every business that Congress and the SBA include under that term. A good resource for information there is the Democratic site for the Senate Small Biz committee - http://sbc.senate.gov/democrat/.

Reducing the ability of corporations to get away with crap, and supporting real small businesses, are (I think) the answer to the corporation question.

As for the government, I think we need to minimize intrusion of the government in the lives of individuals. "That government governs best, that governs least", or however it goes - but I think that was referring to "governing" individuals, not groups of people organized in corporations.

That's my view as a "progressive". But then, not all here would agree that I conform to their definition of "progressive". ;-)

[MH1]

5. Well, I believe in progressive change.

That is, change that happens progressively, i.e. not radically; moving society forward, not backward (i.e. left political values, not right).

I used to think that made me a politicial "progressive". However it seems that the term has been co-opted by those who seek radical, upheaving change - not at all "progressive" in the "incremental" meaning of the word. This cooptation may have happened many, many years ago - my knowledge of the history of the term in politics is not that good. I am stating an observation more than a gripe here. (It is what it is. I don't have to like it, but there's no point in ranting about it.)

So I guess I'm a liberal. I still call myself a "progressive" around people who probably think it means what the dictionary says it means. Around places like DU, I tend not to call myself progressive, because I don't want to get lumped in with those who advocate voting out the better guys because they aren't perfect.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. A catch-all term for those left of the "moderates".

Everything from tepid "liberals" to Anarchists.

[ComerPerro]

7. I wouldn't exactly classify anarchists as progressive

I consider anarchy and some forms of libertarianism to be regressive, actually.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Anarchy is not equivalent to Anarchism.

Perhaps you should look up anarchism before finding it "regressive". Unless you're convinced that people like Emma Goldman, Bakunin, Bill Heywood, Leo Tolstoy, Gandhi, Emeliano Zapata, Noam Chomsky, etc, "regressive".

[David Briggs]

8. Own and Vote Corporate Stock

Own as much stock of big business as you possibly can, and vote it in a manner which is most likely to ensure that profit is held no higher than Priority Number Four.