[US] Is there a difference b/w Liberal and Progressive?

[Romalae]

I propose a simple question that has to do with labeling of left-leaners in the United States: Is there a difference between a "Liberal" and a "Progressive"?

I've seen arguments that go both ways on this. On the one hand, there are folks like David Sirota, who argues that they are two ideologies with different methods/approaches:

There is a fundamental difference [between liberals and progressives] when it comes to core economic issues. 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.

On the other hand, there are folks like Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune, who argues that the term "Liberal" has been demonized and turned into a "dirty word," thereby leaving Democrats to adopt the term "Progressive" in place of it:

[Hillary Clinton in 2008] lamented that the word Liberal "in the last 30, 40 years" has been "turned up on its head" and "made to seem as though it is a word that describes big government." So, she said, she would rather call herself a "modern progressive" who "believes strongly in individual rights and freedoms" and "working together" to "find ways to help those who may not have all the advantages in life get the tools they need to lead a more productive life for themselves and their family."

This brings about some confusion for me, but I find the latter argument to be more appealing. The term hasn't always had a negative connotation, given that FDR, Eisenhower, and JFK used it proudly. But it has been effectively demonized by right-wingers since the onset of Reagan Conservatism. "Liberal" seems to have taken on a negative meaning of elitists and high-taxers and government bureaucrats. Mondale and Dukakis were successfully characterized this way and the negativity behind the term has continued into today's context and seems to have forced Democrats like Hillary Clinton into using the term "Progressive" instead.

But what say you, NSG?

[New Albian]

I think the difference is the reasoning for why they do things rather than what.

I as a liberal view opportunity and liberty as being above all else. Government should help us succeed by empowering us. I think progressives focus more on equality rather than opportunity, and stability rather than liberty. Although their actions might over lap, they simply do it for different reasons.

[United Russian Soviet States]

Liberalism and progressivism is the same.

[New Albian]

Liberalism and progressivism is the same.

I personally Identify with liberalism more than progressiveness. There is a big difference between Barrack Obama and Elizabeth Warren for example. It is not only on the issues, it's ideological as well.

[Penguin Union Nation]

Many "progressives" seem to be liberals who want to distance themselves from being called liberals. As if the people who hate liberals will like them if they aren't called that.

I'm fine with either, myself.

[Vedastia]

It depends on where your point of view lies. For example, someone of my ideological orientation would view them as one and the same, with someone who uses the word "progressive" to describe themselves being (slightly) more left-wing than someone who calls themselves "liberal."

[Atlanticatia]

People like O'Reilly ruined liberal.

But I'd consider 'liberal' to refer to specific New Deal social liberalism a la Elizabeth Warren, FDR, JFK, etc.

Progressive is synonymous but can also refer to any left-of-center ideology that advocates social liberalism and a mixed economy/welfare state.

[Romalae]

Many "progressives" seem to be liberals who want to distance themselves from being called liberals. As if the people who hate liberals will like them if they aren't called that.

I'm fine with either, myself.

Exactly what I've noticed. The fact that "liberal" has become a pejorative has resulted in liberals seeking a more politically fashionable label, like "progressive."

[Bachmann America]

Liberal ideology wants to force healthy people to buy government healthcare they don't need, progressive ideology wants to ban all advocacy of social conservatism and christian morality. Both are dangerous but progressivism is by far even more harmful then liberalism.

[New Werpland]

There was the Progressive party of course, which was basically a more socially conservative and blue collar version of present day American Social Liberalism.

[New Werpland]

Liberal ideology wants to force healthy people to buy government healthcare they don't need, progressive ideology wants to ban all advocacy of social conservatism and christian morality. Both are dangerous but progressivism is by far even more harmful then liberalism.

Robert La Follete wanted to get rid of Christian morality, yeah totally.

[Vedastia]

Remember when the word "liberal" meant the opposite of what it means in contemporary American political culture?

[New Werpland]

Remember when the word "liberal" meant the opposite of what it means in contemporary American political culture?

No one from the 19th century is still alive.

[Romalae]

Remember when the word "liberal" meant the opposite of what it means in contemporary American political culture?

No one from the 19th century is still alive.

Is that so?

[Mushet]

Liberalism is more akin to what most Americans thinks Libertarianism means.

Progressivism is more akin to what most Americans call liberalism.

[Romalae]

Liberalism is more akin to what most Americans thinks Libertarianism means.

Progressivism is more akin to what most Americans call liberalism.

What is your reasoning for that?

[Nickel Empire]

I thought Progressive was going turning a nation to a more central stance instead of far-right or far-left.

[Mushet]

Liberalism is more akin to what most Americans thinks Libertarianism means.

Progressivism is more akin to what most Americans call liberalism.

What is your reasoning for that?

The definition of what it is, I mean many identify as classical liberals because they recognize what liberalism has actually meant.

[Herskerstad]

Yes, a huge difference.

[New Werpland]

What is your reasoning for that?

The definition of what it is, I mean many identify as classical liberals because they recognize what liberalism has actually meant.

What about Social Liberalism? I wouldn't say that Classical Liberalism is the true Liberalism, as both ideologies are just different takes on a similar philosophy.

[Pope Joan]

n the USA, Progressives were a significant political and social force in the two decades leading up to WW I. They influenced legislation such as the Sherman Antitrust Act (Trusts, monopolies, were a serious social evil) and also encouraged Initiative, Referendum and Recall (which can be seen for better or worse in California today).

The Grange and farmers tended to support the Progressives and Teddy Roosevelt's Bullmoose Party.

[Mushet]

The definition of what it is, I mean many identify as classical liberals because they recognize what liberalism has actually meant.

What about Social Liberalism? I wouldn't say that Classical Liberalism is the true Liberalism, as both ideologies are just different takes on a similar philosophy.

Social liberalism is a component of what is now called classical liberalism, that's where it got the liberalism word from.

[Romalae]

n the USA, Progressives were a significant political and social force in the two decades leading up to WW I. They influenced legislation such as the Sherman Antitrust Act (Trusts, monopolies, were a serious social evil) and also encouraged Initiative, Referendum and Recall (which can be seen for better or worse in California today).

The Grange and farmers tended to support the Progressives and Teddy Roosevelt's Bullmoose Party.

Right, but how does it factor into modern politics, specifically in relation to the term "liberal"?

[United Russian Soviet States]

Liberal ideology wants to force healthy people to buy government healthcare they don't need, progressive ideology wants to ban all advocacy of social conservatism and christian morality. Both are dangerous but progressivism is by far even more harmful then liberalism.

I see that Progressivism is like Cultural Marxism.

[Pope Joan]

n the USA, Progressives were a significant political and social force in the two decades leading up to WW I. They influenced legislation such as the Sherman Antitrust Act (Trusts, monopolies, were a serious social evil) and also encouraged Initiative, Referendum and Recall (which can be seen for better or worse in California today).

The Grange and farmers tended to support the Progressives and Teddy Roosevelt's Bullmoose Party.

Right, but how does it factor into modern politics, specifically in relation to the term "liberal"?

The term Liberal has a distinct meaning in the US, where it has never been associated with the title of a strong political party, unlike Canada or the UK. So it is more generic here, and conjures up images of old French politics of Left and Right. I do not think the term has ever had a very comfortable fit here, it seems so Continental.