What Is A Progressive

by John C. Goodman - November 19th, 2011 - Townhall.com

When is the last time you heard a liberal describe himself as a "liberal"? It’s probably been a long time. These days, those on the left are more likely to call themselves "progressives."

Writing in The New York Times, Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs said there have been two progressive eras — one in the early 20th century and the second under Franklin Roosevelt. He called on modern liberals to usher in a third era.

But what exactly is "progressivism"? To many people, the term "Progressive Era" evokes fond caricatures of Teddy Roosevelt and such reforms as safe food, the elimination of child labor and the eight-hour work day. Yet real progressivism was far more sinister.

Much of the horror of man's history is the failure of people to understand our history and what has come before. The evil described in this article is not some fiction, but a reality of what real Americans suffered under the earliest vestiges of the progressive movement. Of course the real horror is the suffering that occurred during the depression because of the unintended consequences of the anti capitalist FDR. Even his own Treasury Secretary came to understand how miserably they had failed. Morgenthau said “We have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work. . . . After eight years of this administration we have just as much unemployment as when we started . . . and an enormous debt to boot!”

In the process they extended the depression for a decade longer than it should have lasted. Of course there is nothing worse than a politician who refuses to conceded he is wrong. And progressives are always politicians.

This is an excellent article and should be read by anyone who loves freedom. It is unfortunate but the progressive Barack Obama is rapidly creating the same tyranny that Wilson created in his day. Obama still has a way to go, but he is making more progress that we can tolerate.