BroJoeK
said:
"Progressive" is just a word that can mean whatever you might want it to mean today."
This is probably the foundational issue you and I face. You believe progressives are just playing cute games with a soft-sounding word. I do not. This word is just as meaningful in describing bureaucratic despotism/administrative state as it was during the Progressive era. Because of this singular word's meaningfulness, Hillsdale College distributes educational videos describing the specific dangers of the ideology of Progressivism and their rejection of the U.S. Constitution. With all of that said, Croly's "Promise" is one of the most important books by progressives outlining progressivism.
In Nationalism and Popular Rule, Theodore Roosevelt recommended Croly's Promise this way:
In Mr. Herbert Croly's "Promise of American Life," the most profound and illuminating study of our National conditions which has appeared for many years, especial emphasis is laid on the assertion that the whole point of our governmental experiment lies in the fact that it is a genuine effort to achieve true democracy—both political and industrial. 
Knowing that the Roosevelt Presidency was so terrible is not as important as knowing why it was so terrible. It was terrible because it was so progressive, this book recommendation says it all and gives meaning and substance to the word.
Progressive ideology is both a very real threat, as well as a very specific thing. I recorded this audio book specifically for people such as yourself, except, but for those who do actually want to know. This book is very much a "communist manifesto" of sorts for Progressivism.
ProgressingAmerica:
"This is probably the foundational issue you and I face.
You believe progressives are just playing cute games with a soft-sounding word.
I do not." Like pretty much every other politically charged word -- "fascist", "Nazi", "Communist", etc. -- "Progressive" can mean whatever people want it to mean, either positively or negatively.
Even "MAGA" -- which to me sounds totally positive -- in the hands of a skilled Democrat propagandist can be turned into something sinister and threatening.
So, Point #1: One man's definition of "progressive" is not the final word on what it might mean to anyone anywhere.
Point #2: both Herbert Croly's "The Promise of American Life" (published in 1909) and Teddy Roosevelt's "New Nationalism" (1910), came AFTER TR's two terms as president, both represent significant new ideas that Roosevelt did not use as president.
Point #3: In 1912, when Teddy Roosevelt ran for President as a "New Nationalist" and "Bull Moose Progressive", he lost.
ProgressingAmerica: "This word is just as meaningful in describing bureaucratic despotism/administrative state as it was during the Progressive era.
Because of this singular word's meaningfulness, Hillsdale College distributes educational videos describing the specific dangers of the ideology of Progressivism and their rejection of the U.S. Constitution."
Sure, and Hillsdale is perfectly entitled to use their own definitions of what is, or is not, "Progressivism".
I'm only saying that you'd be hard pressed to prove that Pres. Teddy Roosevelt believed even 10% of that while he was in office.
Further, you'd be hard pressed to find any politician today who does not accept at least 10% of the old Progressive agenda.
ProgressingAmerica: "Knowing that the Roosevelt Presidency was so terrible is not as important as knowing why it was so terrible.
It was terrible because it was so progressive, this book recommendation says it all and gives meaning and substance to the word."
Teddy Roosevelt's presidency was the opposite of "terrible".
What's truly terrible is the way idiots have distorted actual history to "prove" their own ideological nonsense.
Here are some facts to sober you up.
Federal spending averages, as percentage of GDP under:
- -- 3.0% under Republican Rutherford Hayes 1877-1880
- -- 2.5% under Republicans Garfield/Arthur 1881-1884
- -- 2.5% under Democrat Grover Cleveland 1885-1888
- -- 2.7% under Republican Benjamin Harrison 1889-1892
- -- 2.9% under Democrat Grover Cleveland 1893-1896
- -- 3.1% under Republican William McKinley 1897-1900
- -- 2.3% under Republican Teddy Roosevelt 1901-1908
- -- 2.5% under Republican Howard Taft 1909-1912
So, regardless of his alleged "progressivism", Teddy Roosevelt actually had the
smallest Federal government of that era, relative to GDP.
The US Federal government didn't begin to careen out of control until Democrat Pres. Woodrow Wilson, WWI, the Great Depression and New Deal.
None of that can be charged to Teddy Roosevelt.
ProgressingAmerica: "Progressive ideology is both a very real threat, as well as a very specific thing. "
Sure, today, but you cannot blame Republican Teddy Roosevelt (as starkly opposed to Democrat Franklin Roosevelt) for what Herbert Croly's "progressivism" has become over 100+ years since ex-President TR first learned of it in 1910.
ProgressingAmerica: "This book is very much a "communist manifesto" of sorts for Progressivism."
Maybe, but it is far from a "manifesto" for everything "progressivism" later became, nor does it accurately reflect Teddy Roosevelt's views and actions while President.
Bottom line: your overeagerness to condemn Republicans for the crimes of Democrats is a mental defect all too common among conservatives.
So, you need to get over that -- which is not to claim that Republicans are always blameless, only that we should not be blamed for what Democrats did after Republicans left office.