Reply #15: Unfortunately "Progressive" has two contradictory meanings now [View All]

[Armstead]

Progressive is a term claimed by two very diffwerent groups.

1)Centrists who are afraid of the word "liberal" and are trying to replace it with "progressive." In this use, a "progressive" tends to be more conservative on issues of money and power, and more corporate oriented. A number of ex-officials of the Clinton administration would fall into this category.

or

2)People on the left who are more liberal than liberals. In this context, progressives advocate more fundamental reforms and changes regarding issues of wealth and power. Bernie Sanders and the more left-wing Democratic populists in Congress would fall into this category.

This does cause confusion in political discussion and debate these days. Because of this, one always has to be aware of who is using it, and in which context.

Personally, I'd like to see a return of Liberalism in the sense that it used to mean, which was a mix of left-wing reformism and moderation.