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Progressive is a term often used by those on the political left
to describe their beliefs. This term is preferred by many over the more traditional label in American politics, liberal, because of the association of liberal with the centrist politics of many Democratic Party politicians (such as Al Gore)
in recent years. The word "liberal" has become essentially pejorative, thorugh
the consistent usage of critics; one is much more likely to see "liberal" in the mode of "Tax-and-spend liberal,"
than in any sort of positive context. The term progressive is thus used to avoid confusion between the politicized term
liberal and genuine philosophical views focused on social change. Progressive is technically a loaded term, as it may imply that those opposed to "progressive"
views are automatically regressive.
Progressive is used in place of liberal to best describe philosophical ideals that are opposite and
contrasted to those held by conservatives. Political ideas that advocate
rapid social change are likely to be progressive, while conservative ideas tend to reflect an adherence to established norms and
support for (or furtherance of) the status quo. Continuing logically, by this spectrum, a philosophy that advocated reversing
course to previous standards would be regressive, though this term is rarely used. Instead, the term reactionary is more frequently used to describe those who wish to return to
previously established convention.
This is particularly useful when dealing with philosophical positions, since the liberal tradition has very particular and
fixed Enlightenment connotations that may not necessarily have
any useful meaning in the left political scene.
The term has its origin in American politics in the early part of the twentieth century. During this period, known as the Progressive Era, which saw the brief rise of the U.S. Progressive Party, many reforms were enacted. Some third-party presidential candidates
ran for office during this time under the Progressive Party label, notably Robert M. La Follette, Sr..
Use of this term around the world
The term "progressive" is also popular in Australia, since many liberals are not Liberals; that is, they do not support the
centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. "Progressives" usually
support either the Labor Party, the Democrats or the Greens.
The term "progressive" is also popular in Canada, since many liberals are not Liberals; that is, they do not support the
centrist Liberal Party of Canada and should not be
confused with the old Progressive
Conservatives. The Progressive Party of
Canada briefly rose to prominence in the 1920s. The Progressive Canadians party,
composed mostly of anti-merger Tories, was formed several months prior to the 2004
general election.
Jim Anderton formed the New Zealand Progressive Party by splitting from the Alliance (New Zealand political
party).
The Progressive Green
Party was formed in 1995. It has now disbanded.
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