this is what's wrong with Progressives

[BeFree]

But first, we need to know what you mean by progressive, then we can call you a kook, or angry, or whatever.

Go ahead, I dare you, give it your best shot. Make My Day.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. Where's the other half of this post?

[BeFree]

3. You are the other half

Can you tell what progressive means to you? How do you define it?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

18. My opinion of what it means doesn't matter. The term 'Progressive' has an established definition.

It's one of the least abstract socio-political terms we have yet so many people on this board seem to think it's their prerogative to use it however it suits them.

[BeFree]

22. That's the problem

many people on this board seem to think it's their prerogative to use it however it suits them.

And that's why I broached this subject. Do you have a problem with that?

[JoFerret]

60. In that case....please

tell it what it is as it is applied to health care, education and etc.

[cali]

2. huh? not a very well thought out OP.

[BeFree]

5. Simple

Maybe too simple? What does progressive mean to you, cali?

The term is being used here yet not everyone seems to agree on the definition. Is progressives mean to you? (sic)

[cali]

7. oh, ok. to me progressive indicates a philosophy of governing

that emphasizes the common good and fiscal policies that lean less toward benefitting the wealthy and more toward helping the poor and working class.

[BeFree]

8. Used to call that Populism

I tend to compare progressive against conservatism to help me define the meaning.

[cali]

10. being against something does NOT define it.

that's utterly ridiculous. Libertarians are often against conservatism. That doesn't explain what they're for.

[BeFree]

13. Read it again

I said 'compare' it against conservatism to help define the term.
Pretty much we all know what conservatism means, but few seem to grasp what progressive means.
You defined it as populism, a time honored tradition, so why not call it that, and be done with the term progressive?

[L0oniX]

4. This op is kookie. n/t

:evilgrin:

[BeFree]

6. Got you to click it, didn't I?

I have asked the question before: what does it mean to be progressive, and got maybe 2 replies.
Already have 3 now.
Are you a kooky progressive, or what?

[scarletwoman]

9. Define "kooky".

}(

sw

[BeFree]

12. How dare you question me!

I can question you, but you can't question me. I have my rights and will not be censored, not by you or anyone. I will write what i please and if you don't like it, tough!

[scarletwoman]

39. Hahahahaha! You can't stop me!

I question you! I question you! I question you! I question you! I question you! I question you! I question you! I question you! I question you! I question you! I question you! I question you!

Mmuuuuwaaahahahahahaaaa...

:evilgrin:
sw

[BeFree]

41. Kooky, indeed

And some psuedo-progressives sound just like that, for real.

[L0oniX]

19. You are nothing but a cheap whore for a click.

:evilgrin:

[BeFree]

23. I know

But what does that make you? A progressive whore?

[L0oniX]

25. I wish I got paid for it so since I don't that makes me a progressive slut

:evilgrin:

[iamahaingttta]

11. Try again AFTER you'e had your coffee.

This is just dumb.

[BeFree]

14. What?

You don't know what being progressive means? I guess not. Who does?

[iamahaingttta]

26. Like anybody's going to give a shit?

If you REALLY want an answer, you might try not being a jerk about it.
Ya know what I mean?

And yes, I do have a great working definition of what a progressive is, but I can't be bothered to share it with you...

[BeFree]

28. You can't be bothered?

Now that's being a jerk. Thanks for the lesson.

[bridgit]

15. You mean as in: Progressives...we're the other extreme position?

:dunce:

[BeFree]

16. So

To you being progressive means to be extreme?

[bridgit]

20. Sew buttons on eggs...

I just seen a post from someone the considers themselves a progressive and is known for the extremity of their position; maybe you should get out more or better define your OP, I'm not the only one here that awaits your pith

[BeFree]

24. What I want

Is your pith. Or whatever ya got. Go ahead. Make My Day.

[bridgit]

29. Oh, like I don't have better things to do than fill in the blanks in your life puh-leaze!

Good luck finding the key to your progressive little kaleidescope; I wouldn't want "we (to have to cease & desist from) call(ing) (people) a kook, or angry, or whatever" :spray:

[BeFree]

31. Awww

Instead of your pith, all I got was your piss. There is something wrong here when such replies are so pissy, eh?

[bridgit]

36. They're your shoes, they seem to fit just fine...so wear them already

There's been something wrong here for the years that I'm aware of don't kid yourself; it's not just right here right now it's not just me (perish the thought) it's you. It is my belief that innocuous little OP's that sit in wait as do trap door spiders expecting no real answers but for the sport of stab'y, ego driven foil is one of them especially where one demands everything of others, offering nothing, while dragging all issues with it in the process so far afield as to be seen somewhere else if indeed ever seen again. Someone should run over to SurveyMonkey and work up a proper sample is my thought http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=7902440

Again, great joys & success in your every pursuit

[BeFree]

38. Its me?

Its all my fault? Hilarious, simply hilarious. And stupid. And dare I say seemingly quite right out of the conservative handbook on how to deflect and mislead?

[bridgit]

42. hahahahahahaha, now *that's* punny hunny...

Rather than understand just where your contributions may be to the dilution of progressive themes, you cast out troll precious, simply precious if all too so very predictable:

Fail! - imo, of course & that's not progressive - *that's* is the essence of being pissy my friend and you know it

[ccharles000]

17. ..

Progressivism is a term that has varying meanings in different countries.

In some countries, the word refers to left-wing politics. For instance, in the United States, the term progressive emerged in the late 19th century in reference to a more general response to the vast changes wrought by industrialization: an alternative to both the traditional conservative response to social and economic issues and to the various more radical streams of socialism and anarchism which opposed them. Political parties, such as the Progressive Party, organized at the start of the 20th century, and progressivism made great strides under American presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon Baines Johnson.<1>

In India, progressivism refers to the United Progressive Alliance, which comprises government parties and external support from four main leftist parties; Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Revolutionary Socialist Party, and All India Forward Bloc.

In some countries, the word refers to right-wing politics. In Ireland, progressivism refers to conservative liberal free market policies of Progressive Democrats. European Progressive Democrats was a mainly liberal conservative group in the European Union.

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

[BeFree]

27. Finally, a smart reply

The thing is, what does it mean here on DU, right here and now? It is used constantly yet no one seems to know what it means for DU.

[laugle]

57. I'll take a stab at

this; it means far left and more government intervention! LOL.....flames..........

It is interesting that people don't seem to want to define it in this thread. I'd really like to hear some opinions..............

I think it means different things to different people, just like "Change!"

[AllentownJake]

21. The problem is we are a coalition

with our own pet issues...we generally agree on most things however our ranking on what is important and needs to be done first is generally 99% of the arguments.

[Two Americas]

30. not defined

The only problem with "progressive" is that there is no consensus as to what the word means in political terms.

We are confusing the label with the thing being labeled.

[BeFree]

33. Well

That's the problem. So many here fling the word around as if it were as well known as the moon, but its not.
My quest here is to get a form of consensus as to what the term means in political terms. Because otherwise we are all just pissing in the wind.

[scarletwoman]

35. I'll take "pissing in the wind" for 500, Alex.

"In what way will the term 'progressive' continue to be used on DU?"

:D

[BeFree]

37. Gawd

Its terrible to lay waste to the term. But if what you say is true, then whosoever uses the term 'progressive' should have their post deleted forthwith.

[scarletwoman]

43. Yes, it saddens me greatly. I used to like it a lot. I used to use it a lot.

But after all the years of seeing the word utterly abused I've stopped using it. It's become worthless because everyone uses it to mean whatever they want it to mean.

I'd love to see a consenus definition arrived at, but I don't see that ever happening.

I'm not with you on the post deletion thing, however. My own preference would be that everyone who uses the word be compelled to include *their* definition of what it means -- and if they won't, THEN delete their post. :D

sw

[Hutzpa]

44. I knew it wiil eventually come out

someone did get it out of you, your motive is to prevent folks with
progressive agenda to be terminated permanently, who made you high
priest??

They are slowly trying to take over...imagine the audacity.

[scarletwoman]

46. "...prevent folks with progressive agenda to be terminated permanently," Whooaa.

Could you re-phrase that? I totally don't get what you mean.

[Hutzpa]

50. Of course not n/t

[scarletwoman]

52. Oh come on, give me a break. That sentence doesn't make any grammatical sense!

"prevent folks... to be terminated" :crazy:

I can't even tell if it's supposed to be funny. Were you trying to channel Palin?

Please, I beg you, help me out here.

sw

[Two Americas]

40. hey sw

I know you are familiar with what the word once meant, 100 years ago. It would be great if it still meant the same thing, eh?

[scarletwoman]

45. It would, indeed, be great. Not going to happen, though, imho.

It's still a useful word in its strictly dictionary definition, divorced of any specific political connotations. We could describe a policy as being "progressive" if it inherently embodies some sort of beneficial "progress" toward alieviating some social ill.

But using it as a label for a presumably coherent and defined political ideology simply doesn't work.

Nice to see you as always!
:hi:

sw

[Two Americas]

48. I fell off the band wagon

I fell off the progressive bandwagon when I started hearing pro-corporate economic conservatives calling themselves "progressives."

I think some people use the word to mean a "progressed" individual, an enlightened and sophisticated person who may be deeply conservative on economic issues who is socially liberal. To my way of thinking, that is more accurately described as "moderate Republican" than "progressive."

[scarletwoman]

49. What did it for me was the neoliberal Clintonites naming their corporatist/imperialist

foreign policy think tank the "Progressive Policy Institute".

"Progressive", my Wobbly ass!

I totally agree with your "moderate Republican" assessment. Thanks for the useful insight.

sw

[laugle]

58. I prefer "conservative democrat!"

[roseBudd]

32. Progressive means you seriously thought Kucinnich would be a winning nominee

and would win the general election

[BeFree]

34. So

Kooch is the leader of the progressives? You mean we actually have a leader of something no one can really define?

[treestar]

61. I would have like that

But am realistic enough to know it is just a dream in the current climate of the U.S.

[AtomicKitten]

47. lol

[leftstreet]

51. Duh, it's an Auto Insurance Company

[scarletwoman]

53. Wait! That gives me a great idea!

We'll be able to tell who's really a "progressive" by their big, tricked out nametags! :D

[leftstreet]

55. Hey, you DO remember the American Revolution, right?

Brought to you by Chevrolet!

:D

[BeFree]

54. Good lounge material there, bub

Welcome to ... well whatever hell has become this forum.

[anonymous171]

56. They can't agree on what they stand for.

It makes them incredibly ineffective.

[scarletwoman]

59. Not so. The problem is all kinds of people call themselves "progressives" without the least

understanding of, or agreement on, what it might actually mean. The term has been rendered devoid of meaning.

The ineffectiveness you see is a result of the abuse of the label, not the ineffectiveness of any particular subset of the various people who use it.

As I said in a post above, when the globalist, neoliberal Clintonites name their corporatist/imperialist foreign policy think tank the "Progressive Policy Institute", it renders the word "progressive" completely useless as a descriptive of a particular coherent political philosophy.

sw