[tanknetter]

Control the language, control the debate.

Progressive was an alternative for Socialist. When both became tarnished the perfectly good “Liberal” was coopted.

When, after several decades, Liberal became tarnished there was a return to Progressive. But now Socialist is becoming increasingly acceptable again.

[laplata]

“Control the language, control the debate”.

Political Correctness was designed after the Russian Revolution to control the narrative.

Political correctness does not allow critical thinking or rational discourse. “Progressive” sounds appealing and nice to the fools.

It has worked beyond their wildest dreams.

[luvbach1]

But now Socialist is becoming increasingly acceptable again.

I suppose they'll eventually recycle liberal but it will take a long time before the taint wears off.

[Tau Food]

I think that's why it's important to argue about ideas rather than labels. It's impossible to control what someone chooses as a self-descriptive label. So, it's important to address the ideas that the person espouses rather than attempting to debate the labels.

For example, if a person tells me that he supports Bush or Trump (or anyone) because he is a conservative, I disregard the part about the conservative label because it is meaningless. I respond to the part about the candidate.

So, what difference does it make if Ted Bundy wanted to call himself a conservative and Charles Manson wanted to call himself an environmentalist? The labels aren't the real problem.