Help What does progesive mean?

[earthpilot162]

I have been in a friendly debate with a co-worker that is demanding that I give him a definition of what "Progressive" means. (He says it is just code for "Commie") I don’t want to look like a fool to this guy so please help me before I go to work on Monday.

[IronLionZion]

1. Progress

open-minded
open to new ideas
getting away from traditional ideas
bleeding heart for helping the less fortunate

[IronLionZion]

4. and equal results, not just equal opportunity

[HFishbine]

8. Disagree

That's Marxism.

[IronLionZion]

10. I meant it leans that way

that's why we want to help the poor and help those without civil rights.
While the conservative approach is "tough shit, they had their chance"

[HFishbine]

12. Then, maybe I agree

Okay. Then I think a progressive would say, "It's not right that a country of such wealth should have children who go hungry. We must make PROGRESS and improve this situation."

The conservative may perhaps say, "It's sad, but it's not the government's reponsibility."

But I think it is the Marxist, not the progressive, who would insist on a solution that not only tried to lift children out of poverty, but tried to assure everybody was at the same level of wealth.

[Terwilliger]

13. You were right the first time, Indy

It's about equal results. Any progressive thought is immediately confronted with the savage inequalities that dominate our society. Progressives want everyone to be available to progress and economic security...the way the system is designed currently, things are getting worse before better. Eventually, our evolved capitalist state will have to face some realities that don't jibe with simple free-market notions. Progressives realize this.

[mzmolly]

22. According to dictionary.com............................

pro·gres·sive ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pr-grsv) adj.

Moving forward; advancing.

Proceeding in steps; continuing steadily by increments: progressive change.

Promoting or favoring progress toward better conditions or new policies, ideas, or methods: a progressive politician; progressive business leadership.

Progressive Of or relating to a Progressive Party: the Progressive platform of 1924.

A person who actively favors or strives for progress toward better conditions, as in society or government.
* I like this one :)

There all fairly vague mind you.

[kentuck]

2. Tell him the definition has changed over time...

and it now means "conservative". Those that now call themselves "conservatives" are in fact, radicals. That should keep him busy for a while.

By he way, per rules of posting, what do you think "progressive" means?

[earthpilot162]

7. Means to me.....

To me progressive means everyone getting his or her fair share in an enlightened and thoughtful way with no person left out.

[newyawker99]

19. Hi earthpilot162!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Kanary]

17. "Radical"

I don't particularly like to get into discussions involving semantics, as it can get quite tangled.

However, I do see the word "Radical" tossed around quite a bit, and would like to give my take on that. It seems that a lot of people use the word "Radical" to mean "extreme".

Actually, the genesis of the word is "Root"....
1. of or from the root or roots; going to the center, foundation, or source of something; fundamental; basic; as, a *radical* principal.
(Webster's New World Dictionary)

As a 60's style rebel ~~chuckle~~ I haven't seen myself as a liberal for a long time. I have no problem seeing myself as a radical, and that doesn't mean that I'm an "extremist" who wants to go around bombinb buildings. It means that I believe in the *fundamental* principals of the Constitution, that I believe in the *fundamental* principals of the Bill Of Rights, that I believe in the *fundamental* principals of the Civil Rights Act, that I believe in the *fundamental* principals of the New Deal and "War On Poverty", and other basic and fundamental ideals of viewing human beings as essentially equal and of worth and value beyond $$$.

Again, it's not something I want to quibble about, as I think there are a lot more important quibble issues. I'd just like some thought given to what the word actually means.

Kanary

[kentuck]

20. True, Kanary. Radical like a radish....

Believes in getting to the root of the problem... I was being facetious - "Extreme" would be a better description of today's so-called conservatives..

[lemon lime]

3. I don't mean to be foward but it is spelled

Progressive.
It means a free thinker who wants changes and liberty from the old ways of conservatism that has caused so much suffering among minorities and anyone who does not think like the old timers.

[seventhson]

5. Short answer: It is the OPPOSITE of What REGRESSIVE means

Corporate power and rights supercede the rights of citizens and the rich get richer unchecked and without regard to the needs of society as a whole. That is REGRESSIVE.

PROGRESSIVE means activist efforts to UNDO the Regression caused by neanderthal right wingers who only help the rich and the corporate entities who would rip everyone else off to line their pockets.

It DOES mean a more equitable distribution of resources and wealth.

It is NOT totalitarian or even communism but democratic.

The social and economic and environmental security of ALL the people is the highest priority of a progressive.

[HFishbine]

6. To Me

It means one accepts that the world is far from perfect and that there are areas that can be improved. A progressive wants to set about making the world better -- to progress.

These dictionary defintions might help:

1. A person who actively favors or strives for progress toward better conditions, as in society or government.

2. Proceeding in steps; continuing steadily by increments: progressive change.

3. Promoting or favoring progress toward better conditions or new policies, ideas, or methods: a progressive politician; progressive business leadership.

[warner]

16. thats the best way to go

start with the dictionary terms.... see if that gets through. Refute websters definition? Ok, have fun

[Ignoramus]

9. I kind of agree

It's more pandering to the right. The use of a softer term to describe one's politics in order to respond to the criticism of the right. But, word definitions are determined by common usage and it's all rather vague.

People use the term to indicate that they want radical change but they don't endorce "overthrow" of the government whatever that means... The vast majority of those who they are distinguishing themselves from do not advocate overthrow in the rampaging mobs sense. So, then it tends to be just more a declaration of willingness to compromise one's politics in order to be friends with people who's interests are based on greed.

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

[mzmolly]

23. I agree but the opposit of progressive is digressive...

so ?? ;)

[QC]

25. Regressive

which nicely describes Bush's efforts to take the country back to the Gilded Age.

[davhill]

11. When Liberal became a dirty word

Liberals started calling themselves progressives.

[Piperay]

18. Sounds like now

we will need to find a new word since some consider Progressive=Commie, aw...BULL SH*T. :argh: :grr: :mad:

[QC]

14. Do a search--there's a thread on this topic nearly every day.

Find some recent ones and you'll see some very interesting discussion of how people see the differences between the two.

As I post every time the subject comes up, I'm long since tired of the self-congratulatory little smear that progressives simply lack the guts to call themselves liberals, unlike those who are so proud and pure of heart as to embrace the term.

Bullshit.

There are those of us who see the word liberal as too bourgeois and too accomodationist to interest us much. Think of Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis vs. Studs Terkel and Howard Zinn. I'd rather line up behind the latter than the former.

[quaker bill]

15. Curious question

There are probably as many definitions as there are progressives.

Progressives are generally for more freedom in individual choices and for more regulation of corporations.

They are different from libertarians because they feel that there is a productive role for government in society.

They are different from conservatives because they would generally choose less government regulation of individual behavior in the areas like sexual morality. They would generally hold that freedom of religion means more than just a choice between protestant christian denominations.

Progressives generally support more environmental protection even when it costs some money.

Progressives generally support equal opportunity, equal access, and equal pay for equal work.

All other opinions in here aside, progressives are not exactly the same as liberals, they are similar in some important respects, but not exactly the same.

Hang out in here long enough and you will see some potent progressive vs liberal arguments.

[funkyflathead]

21. Progressive's want progress

Do you want to go back to the dark ages?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

24. Synonyms: LIBERAL , advanced, broad, broad-minded, tolerant.