conservative = bases opinions on observation or experience.
liberal/progressive = bases opinions on unproven theories or
wishful thinking.
I think the problem derives from the fact that the liberals have been allowed to call us conservatives and themselves progressives. I think we should be called the realists and they should be called the wishful thinkers.
Progressive is an interesting term.
Most of the Darwin award winners were progressives.
Progessives have a bandwidth for historical reference going back to the last time they smoked pot.
If repeating mistakes is considered progressive, then being progessive is self destructive and dangerous to yourself and others... which doesn't sound very progressive.