Ah, but what does it mean to be "progressive" anyway?
Ken, you've given one example of a political value (local ownership and control) but I don't think you'd be able to find any conservative (tea-flavored or otherwise) coming out against something like that.
Something a conservative might be against, I imagine, is local infrastructure being regulated by an expanding federal government. But is that something a progressive would be against? Not necessarily . . .
Hm . . .
JoB, would you be willing to consider that part of the problem stems from the loaded nature of this term "progressive"? All it means, technically, is someone who's for progress. But when's the last time you heard someone come out against it?
See, when you call yourself progressive, you are asking people to buy into your assertion that you are somehow more enlightened (i.e., for progress) than the other guy.
Hell, maybe you are . . . but the label itself doesn't mean much until it's put into the context of deeds. And even then, it's the deeds that are important, not the label.
It's kind of like starting off a discussion about Israel by referring to Jews as "God's Chosen People."
Still, it IS important to talk about progress, so let's talk about that.
Yeah. Um . . . So what is it?
Well, to a liberal, it might mean spending more on the social safety net, on the theory that it will lift people out of poverty. To a conservative, it might mean cutting taxes on the same theory, viz., that it will lift people out of poverty. Since both programs aim to move society forward, then either one would constitute a progressive program, would it not?
So what I'm saying, JoB, in a very roundabout way, is that you are absolutely right to question ANY candidate referring to himself as "progressive" and expecting to get your vote based on that.
So I agree with you, actually.
Just not for the reasons you wanted me to.
;->
Anyway, have a progressive day, y'all.
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