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Friday, November 21, 2008 12:00 AM

Is it OK to be liberal again, instead of progressive?

Come out of the closet, liberals. Stop using the fashionable euphemism "progressive" and relaunch the old, tarnished L-word.

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  • Thursday, November 20, 2008 07:24 PM

    The Meaning of Progressive

    You apparently only accept one definition for liberal, while listing several definitions of “progressive” and pointing out the perceived problems with each.

    I don’t mind being called a liberal. Am I also progressive? Damn straight. My definition of progressivism is that associated with “Fighting Bob” La Follette. That progressivism advocated cleaner and more efficient government, regulation of corporations, support for organized labor, and social justice for a start.

    I know what I believe, and it really doesn’t matter what label someone puts on it. But I find progressive more descriptive, because things do change. FDR was a liberal in his day, but bring him forward to today, and he would not be considered liberal at all on some issues, such as race relations.

    To me, progressive means always striving to make things better for the country and its citizens. New ideas should be examined and be accepted if they are better, not because they are new. The job will never be finished, because it’s a moving target.

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