What is the Difference Between Liberals & Progressives?

or is there a difference?

I use them interchangably.

the young (and habitually cautious more elderly) might resist by our OLD 'nametag' ... "Liberal." But we better start promoting it quick, IF we plan to accept it, incorporate it...before the Right bashes it into oblivion...as they have with "Liberal."

Linguistically, "Progressive" has a positive, forward-looking feel. And slight subliminal, reminiscent connection to FDR, and the Progressive party which grew out of his administration. (An idea which clearly thenahead of its time...but NOW maybe worth re-examining.)

they emphasize on the individual, progressives on the community

if you go back to the origins of the concepts, they are very different. in Europe a liberal is considered as practically a neo-con, in the US it's kind of a pinko commie through the right wing propaganda...

It has to do with the extremes on both sides. It's striking that even liberals talk about "small government", "protection from government" etc... progressives at least in an European sense, see government as an asset because if the government works honestly for the people's "pursuit of happiness", it will REGULATE the bad side effects of a society completely based on free enterprise.

Progressives ask more from their government not less.

"Progressivism is a political philosophy whose adherents promote public policies that they believe would lead to positive social change. As a broad characterization of political leanings, political progressivism mostly refers to social liberalism, social democracy, or green politics." (Wikipedia)

the distinction is difficult to make when it comes to SOCIAL-LIBERALISM. But a "true" LIBERAL is a market-liberal,
not very far from libertarianism which is a conservative trend...

hold reform and the protection of civil liberties as a very important part of their belief system. Rush Limbaugh, the Neocons and corporate media openly managed to alter the definition for both groups. That`s why, in the presidential election of 2004, the debate turned to issues like whether or not a person attended church regularly rather than whether or not we should approve of a single mother working for $5.50 an hour while the CEO made millions.

Even I can not figure that out.

that "liberal" has been tagged with by the Repigs(rather successfully, I might add)
so they call themselves "progressive." I think it is a cop out for them. I CONTINUE to call myself LIBERAL and proud of it!


I know the other explanations in this thread are also correct, but for some, I DO feel that the above is true.

Yes!!

I am right there with you MoJoWorkin. I've never given-up on proclaiming myself as a "LIBERAL". I've always worn it as a badge of honor when people such as that racist neo-con Rush Limbaugh have referred to it in derogatory terms.

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,
A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.

And all the birds in the trees, well they’d be singing so happily,
Joyfully, playfully watching me.

But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible,
Logical, responsible, practical.

And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
Clinical, intellectual, cynical.

There are times when all the world’s asleep,
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man.

Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am.

Now watch what you say or they’ll be calling you a radical,
"LIBERAL", fanatical, criminal.

Won’t you sign up your name, we’d like to feel you’re
Acceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable!

At night, when all the world’s asleep,
The questions run so deep
For such a simple man.

Won’t you please, please tell me what we’ve learned
I know it sounds absurd

But please tell me who I am.


:) :) :)

Sorry, but this song was actually just playing on my i-tunes.

..I think the term progressive stems from the old Progressive Party back in the early 1900's.

In terms of definition, they are essentially the same - I think it has just become a term some people use so as not to be saddled with the dreaded "L" word (which I think is rediculous).

Liberals are running scared of the word. The ideals are the same. Let's not allow them to make us ashamed of who we are. We should stop using the word progressive.

Have not seen a "Progressive" one. :rofl:

In the Democratic Party:
Progrssive:
Many progressives are descendants of the New Left of Democratic Presidential candidate/Senator George McGovern of South Dakota; others were involved in the presidential candidacies of Vermont Governor Howard Dean and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. Progressive Democratic candidates for public office have had popular support as candidates in urban areas, the Northeast, the Midwest, and among African-Americans nationwide, though they have also been supported by other groups. Unifying issues among progressive Democrats have been opposition to the War in Iraq, opposition to economic and social conservatism, opposition to heavy corporate influence in government, support for universal healthcare and steering the Democratic Party in the direction of being a more forceful opposition party. Compared to other factions of the party, they've been most critical of the Republican Party, and most supportive of social and economic equality.

Progressive Democrats have included congressmen Kucinich, Congressman John Conyers (Michigan), Jim McDermott (Washington), John Lewis (Georgia), the late Senator Paul Wellstone (Minnesota).

Liberals:
Liberal Democrats are to the left of centrist Democrats. The liberal faction was dominant in the party for several decades, although they have been hurt by the rise of centrist forces such as President Bill Clinton. Compared to conservatives and moderates, liberal Democrats generally have advocated fair trade and other less conservative economic policies, and a less militaristic foreign policy, and have a reputation of being more forceful in pushing for civil liberties. Liberals are increasingly identified as being part of the larger progressive wing of the party.

Prominent liberal Democrats include U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer (California), Russ Feingold (Wisconsin), Ted Kennedy (Massachusetts), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Joe Biden (Delaware) and House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi (California).

I tend to be mostly Liberal but on the Progressive side.

Liberals wrap themselves in the Constitution and burn the Flag..:shrug:

unfortunately, that's the nature of language, sometimes. As Jefferson (or was it Madison?) said: "Political parties are the most dangerous thing we could have." ....obviously these last 5 years proved them right.

Progressives were considered to be more to the left, even socialists might call themselves progressive along with far-left wingers and other assorted liberals. Progressives were also more of an urban movement than their populist counterparts.

More recently its a term to use in place of liberal since that has become a dirty word.

and which term they personally prefer... or so I have come to find when reading different folks making the distinction.

"It seems to me that traditional "liberals" in our current parlance are those who focus on using taxpayer money to help better society. A "progressive" are those who focus on using government power to make large institutions play by a set of rules.

To put it in more concrete terms - a liberal solution to some of our current problems with high energy costs would be to increase funding for programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). A more "progressive" solution would be to increase LIHEAP but also crack down on price gouging and pass laws better-regulating the oil industry's profiteering and market manipulation tactics. A liberal policy towards prescription drugs is one that would throw a lot of taxpayer cash at the pharmaceutical industry to get them to provide medicine to the poor; A progressive prescription drug policy would be one that centered around price regulations and bulk purchasing in order to force down the actual cost of medicine in America (much of which was originally developed with taxpayer R&D money)."

More:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/whats-the-difference-bet_b_9140.html

the Big Picture people need to face RIGHT NOW.

:thumbsup:

other than perhaps "progressive" is a term that liberals who have bought into the "liberal is a dirty word" BS use for themselves. :shrug:

"Liberal" origininally refered to (and in Europe, still does)what we would call Libertarian. Progressives were the US equivalent of the more moderate Social Democrats over in Europe. Because of our 2-party system the two terms came to mean the same thing when both came under the umbrella of the New Deal coalition.

i have always been rather fond of the term liberal (as a couple people said--it's a badge of honor in a way)

i would hate to give that up (even if just mentally by altering my political definition as to how i see myself)

and how does one decide between conyers (progressive) and kennedy (liberal) according to the definition? i see them as both being such positive forces in this country--and so terribly needed.

but perhaps, from my understanding at this point a progressive is one who sees the liberal (like betting in a game of poker--see meaning match) and then takes it up a notch--to the next step, progresses it to the next level

humm....i think i will begin thinking of myself as either a liberal progressive or a progressive liberal. (sure it's a long term--a lot longer than calling oneself a dem--but the dem party is the one that encompasses the pl or lp.)

(can one use these terms interchangeably like that?)

as responders; everyone seems to have a different idea.

I think of "progressive" as more "active" than liberal; it's an "action" word. It's about moving forward, making progress on issues. Finding new ways to accomplish goals.

Of course, that can apply to any position on any issue; to any goal. Which is why "progressive" does not have to equal "liberal" in ideology.

In reality, most who currently claim to be "progressive" are left of center, and perhaps left of "liberal."

I wish the Democratic Party were the party of progressive liberals, myself.

lately. I think they have awakened to the fact that more and more liberals are calling themselves progressives and it is having an effect on the middle of the roaders. Betcha we'll see more dissing of progressives as we near the 06 elections.