Just What Is It To Be A Progressive?

[leanin_green]

I'd like to know just what we here at DU consider to be progressive.

I've had my ideas and have watch other's views on issues challenged on the basis of their passing some kind of Progressive Litmus Test. Are true progressives only those found within major metropolitan centers or decidedly blue states of the country? Are they those with a wealth of education? Is a New York progressive more progressive than a San Francisco progressive? Are progressives living in Red states not progressive enough? If someone who holds to a progressive point of view on most issues, but during the course of debate over other issues has their progressiveness questioned because it doesn't pass the "progressive smell test." Is that person no longer a progressive?

What is a Progressive? What defines what a progressive is and does in the course of their daily lives?

Who stands at the gate of progressiveness and deems who may enter?

In 1912 the adherents of Teddy Roosevelt formed the Progressive Party. Do we adhere to their precepts? In my thesaurus progressive is just another word for liberal. Liberal thinking people tend to be tolerant, receptive, nonconformist, broad-minded, receptive to new ideas, permissive, indulgent and impartial, lenient and magnanimous. How much of that happens here?

In our intolerance for what is happening in our country today, how much of that intolerance is doled out on others that don't hold to our particular brand of progressiveness? In our zeal to label ourselves progressive, perhaps we should also remember what it means to be liberal, since that doesn't seem to be the moniker we wish to define ourselves by any longer.

In the course of our debate within this forum I have been constantly reminded of just what it is that a great many in this country find intolerable about us. It is a spirit of superiority. A disdain for the under-educated and those who may be ignorant of the issues that effect us all. Do we educate or enlighten them in the spirit of liberalism? Some do. Most use them for practice in the art of witticism. Sometimes this provides me with comic relief when it is engaged in as friendly banter. Often, however, it merely devolves into a game of oneupmanship and personal attack in order to prove some preconceived or cherished idea of what it is to be a progressive. Many people come here to educate themselves and shape their viewpoints along progressive lines.

So, I ask again. Just what is it to be a Progressive?

[FormerRepublican]

1. To me, what it means to be progressive...

...is to want to make the world a better place today than it was yesterday. Maybe you stumble a bit here and there, but that's your basic goal.

In my opinion, turning the first world US into a third world country, as the Bush Administration has done, is not progressive.

[pstans]

2. This is from an old DU post

An article from the Leftwing Think Tank:
www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/rockridge/valuesmov...
entitled:
CREATING A PROGRESSIVE VALUES MOVEMENT
states:
<snip>
From sociological or political perspectives, there seem to be dozens, if not hundreds, of types of liberals and progressives. But from a cognitive perspective, defined by modes of thought, there are just six:

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROGRESSIVES:
believe that the most important considerations involve money and class. These progressives believe that economic inequality lies at the heart of most societal problems and therefore that...Crime, infant mortality, low education levels - most, if not all, social maladies - would be greatly redcuced if people were more equal economically. FAIRNESS is the key VALUE here along with equality and opportunity.

IDENTITY POLITICS PROGRESSIVES:
are those who either belong to or identify with a particular oppressed group who desires their liberation and an end to oppression. (They believe that) All oppression is wrong, and to right the wrongs means extending rights to everyone in society equally. SHARED VALUES are RESPONSIBILITY, FAIRNESS, TRUST, COOPERATION and COMMUNITY BUILDING.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS:
focus on the sustainability of the earth and the natural environment, the sacredness of nature, and protecting native peoples. Belief is about nurturance and the future. PRIMARY VALUES are EMPATHY AND PROTECTION.

CIVIL LIBERTARIANS:
focus on the notion that human beings have a fundamental right to live their lives without harassment and harm being inflicted on them by arbitrary power, issues of freedom, liberty, democracy (equal sharing of power), and individual rights are paramount. Civil Libertarians believe we must be on guard at all times for even small threats to our civil liberties. CENTRAL VALUE is PROTECTION.

SPIRITUAL PROGRESSIVES:
focus on the nurturant aspects of religion and spirtuality. Service, compassion and commnity connects them to other people and to the world. EMPATHY is the PARAMOUNT VALUE.

ANTI-AUTHORITARIANS:
share a deep distrust of authority with Civil Libertarians but are more concerned with how people and organizations with more power can threaten and harm those with less power, i.e.large corporations, police departments, even parents. CENTRAL VALUES are FAIRNESS, FREEDOM FROM OPRESSION and PROTECTION OF THE OPPRESSED.
******************

[leanin_green]

5. Thank you, that's very good food for thought.

If I was to label myself, then I'd fall within the Spiritual Anti-Authoritarian Progressives.

What about you pstans?

[Seansky]

3. tolerant and supportive of all that humanity can accomplish to make

to make the life of each individual in our society as fulfilled and complete as that inidividual wishes it to be....

[PA Mamma]

4. I’ll bite...

It’s simple...
Being a Progressive means that you want justice and equality for ALL !
Throw out any issue and it all boils down to that for me.