“Progressive” is the word that really gets to me. The opposite of liberal is conservative. Fair enough. But the opposite of progressive is regressive.
So if you’re not a “progressive”, you’re more than just wrong. You’re stupid.
“Progressive” has my vote! Use this word, but always follow it up by coughing like you have something going down the wrong pipe!
Actually, it isn't fair enough. Those called "conservative" today are actually classical liberals. 300 years ago the liberals were those who promoted the freedom of the individual over the state. Historically, the west was emerging from monarchies, which were statist entities, and liberals led the way. The conservatives at that time defended the monarchies; i.e., they were statists. [It is interesting to me that the term "statist" does not appear to be in the dictionary employed to correct my typing on this FR entry. Perhaps someone does not want us talking about "statists"?!]
Just like the Democrats, once they realized that BLUE was preferable to RED, stole the BLUE designation of the Republicans during television election coverage, the left stole the name of liberal recognizing that it was the preferred term.
Conservative actually used to = Liberal. (Classical Liberal)
They stole that word too :P