I do believe that there is a lot of scholarly work on defining these different terms, but when you start moving them into the real world, much of that definition is lost. There is a difference between “progressive” and “liberal”, and generally progressives are more pragmatic than ideological.

By that definition (and I understand it isn’t yours), I think everyone is a progressive. Who likes government the way it is, the way it works now? I know I don’t, and although I know you and I don’t agree on everything, I’m sure you don’t, either. Does that make us both progressives?

I think the key to defining and understanding progressive political thought is to pin down exactly what constitutes “progress, change, improvement, or reform.” Is it an emphasis on policies that are seen as being beneficial to the middle class? Is it a propensity toward conservation? For that matter, what distinguishes a progressive from a liberal? Can you be “progressive” on one issue and not on others and still be considered “progressive?”

I think these are all things we are going to have to examine carefully, especially as Alabamians heading into the 2010 election cycle. I’m willing to wager (but only in places where it’s legal — ha ha, bad Alabama joke) that “progressive” is going to be the buzz word du jour for all those statewide campaigns. I just want to know what they’re talking about — and to know that they know what they’re talking about — when I start seeing their TV ads and glossy mailers.

PS I did a post about this this morning. Check it out here: http://www.oanow.com/oan/OAN_Political_Blog/what_is_progressive/66192/

Progressivism is a political and social term that refers to ideologies and movements favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are.

How about a post wherein you define progressivism?

There are a lot of different ideas floating around out there about what constitutes progressivism as a political movement — what qualifies as progressive political thought.

Let’s put some stakes and boundaries down on it … better yet, let’s see what the above-named folks have to say about it. What do you think?

Jennifer