The Electorate

[depittydawg]

Lately Obama has been referring to himself as "progressive". Hillary also does.

If a progressive is someone who believes in "reform", then that term also applies to me ... the difference is in what reforms one believes are needed Gay people want reforms. Tea Party advocates want reforms. Illegal immigrants want reforms. The reforms each group wants may be quite different.

I'd been hearing the term "progressive" tossed around, and really wanted to get a handle on what it was supposed to mean ... since its meaning seemed "vague" to me. Indeed, it IS vague.

My sense is that the word "progressive" is being used as a substitute for "liberal" or "left" since those two terms have acquired a negative connotation for those who do not adhere to the basic theory of redistribution of wealth. To quote Obama, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig."

I have no problem with the label of liberal. I'll wear it proudly. As did JFK and many US leaders in the past.

[Gerry Clinchy]

I have no problem with the label of liberal. I'll wear it proudly. As did JFK and many US leaders in the past.

I really don't like to label myself since I believe, as someone else posted earlier, that some of my views would be considered liberal, but other views would fall into the conservative category.