Reply #18: I purposely choose to call myself a Progressive for good reason [View All]

[scarletwoman]

For one thing, I identify my political philosophy with the old Progressive Movement of the late 19th Century/early 20th Century; exemplified by such reformers as "Fighting" Bob LaFollette, Emma Goldman, Eugene Debs, Mother Jones, William DuBois and others.

I have no problem with calling myself a "liberal" -- which I certainly am -- but for me the term "Progressive" means something even bigger and more active than liberal.

To me, "Progressive" means fighting for fundamental social change on a grand scale. On the other hand, "liberalism", to me, denotes more of an accomodation to the status quo -- attempting to make things better within the existing framework of the societal/governmental paradigm rather than working to shift the paradigm altogether.

I do not consider the terms "progressive" and "liberal" to be synonymous at all. I know many "liberals" whom I would definitely NOT consider to be progressives. And as a native Minnesotan, where our earlier political history includes having a socialist governor at one time, the term "progressive" carries a very specific meaning.

Hubert Humphrey was a liberal, Paul Wellstone was a progressive. John Kerry is a liberal, Dennis Kucinich is a progressive. There IS a difference!

sw

(edit - typo)