Posted on 05/05/2016 9:24:34 AM PDT by ProgressingAmerica
I'm seeking input here.
In preparing for another blog posting, I am once again contrasting Progressivism with Communism as competing ideologies.
But every time I do this, I get a barrage of messages about how Progressivism is not different than Communism, and that I should treat them exactly the same. But if I do this, I need to know where the rest of you stand.
Many of the Republicans in the early 20th century, including but not limited to Jane Addams, Learned Hand, Felix Frankfurter, Hiram Johnson, Albert J. Beveridge, Boies Penrose, Alf Landon, Frank Knox, Hamilton Fish, Gifford Pinchot, and Theodore Roosevelt, were all progressives. Many of them were so loving of their progressive ideology, that they openly supported the Progressive Party - the Bull Moose Party - or they directly joined it. (Frankfurter is the only one who was not a republican, but he did support the Bull Moose Party)
So I need to know, what do you believe?
Do you believe that Theodore Roosevelt founded a Communist party in 1912?
There are several National Parks, protected lands, and even a tree in America is named after Gifford Pinchot. Do you believe that these are named after a communist?
Do you believe that the Republican Party ran a communist for the 1936 election?
Do you believe all that Jane Addams did all that she did in devotion to Karl Marx?
Do you believe that in 1924, Calvin Coolidge nominated a communist - a red - to the Supreme Court?
Do you believe that when you stood in front of Mount Rushmore, and you looked at one of the four heads, the one wearing glasses, that you saw the likeness of a devotee of the commune?
These are not the things that I believe. I believe that Progressivism is different than communism, I believe that Progressivism is worse than communism. But that's not what's important here.
For those of you who believe that Progressivism = Communism, I generally believe that you are talking about post 1960's Progressivism. Post 1960's, yes, Progressivism is mostly communist. But we cannot limit ourselves to life beyond the 60's, otherwise the progressives win. Let's just foist a white flag of surrender now, and forever hold our peace. Progressives need the shadows to hide in. I for one will not turn off the light.
But I really want to know what others believe. Do you believe that Progressivism is the same as Communism, and ALL that that implies? Because if this is truely what you believe, then you believe America's first Communist president came into office in 1900, and I don't really think very many people believe that. It also means that the Republican Party from the years of about 1895-ish to about the 1920's-1930's is also fond of the hammer and sickle.
I know I don't believe these things. But I want to know what you believe.
Ping to my list...... I would really like to know what all of you think.
add me to your ping list please
Communists are progressives, as were the Nazis.
There is no doubt that progressives are in control of both parties right now.
Progressive republicans were definitely not communists. They believed in less limited government. An unadmirable trait but a far cry from communism.
As a documenter, journalist blogger or what not, I encourage you to always make two different words mean two different things.
Progressive isn’t the same as communist. Not for you, not for your blog. In a conversation this is OK but not in journalism.
What “both” parties?
Pre WWII, progressive’s were big supporters of Mussolini, as was the chief progressive FDR.
And what were the progressives pre-WWI?
... and when a phony showed up, it was spotted
Not by it's phoniness, but by the fact that it didn't look, feel like the others (humming Sesame Street now ... damn ! )
In terms of your writing, they aren't interchangeable words, but very closely related.
Yet your screen name is....???
Progressive is a much abused term. The progressive left is different than the old fashioned progressives at the turn of the century and should not be confused.
Just the last 7 1/2
It gives insight into the Communist movement in John L. Lewis's union expansion as well as card-carrying Communists in the Roosevelt administration as Communist sympathizers also ensconced therein.
They are variants of statism but not exactly the same
Since you bring up WWI, Woodrow Wilson was a big progressive. He also had about 150,000 imprisoned as political prisoners.
The Republican party (and the DNC) is a CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE! And today they are STILL working against Trump and scamming his supporters to finance their Rinos.
See
ROTTEN, miserable NRSC, NRCC still using Trump to raise $$ for their own!
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3427811/posts
http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/2016/05/rotten-miserable-nrsc-nrcc-still-using.html
It’s a change of definition, foisted on us by the leftist neo-Marxists. They are the ones who began using the term “progressive” to describe themselves, not us.
The slippery, slimy leftist elites are experts in redefinition. It’s their stock and trade, and how they carry on their attacks on American society.
Progressivism today is not the same as it was in Teddy Roosevelt’s era, just like racism today as defined by the leftists is not the same as it was when it was defined during the 1960s civil rights movement (and by Martin Luther King Jr., for that matter).
Progressivism as the left has defined it today is neo-Marxist communism. Plain and simple.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.