“One must read conservative commentary on the Progressive era with care.”
I do not read conservative commentary on the Progressive era.
I go to the original sources, and I then create audio books out of this filth so its easier to spread around to people who confuse modern “conservative commentary” for enlightened thought on the matter.
Like this one:
https://librivox.org/the-promise-of-american-life-herbert-croly/
I can assure you, the progressives in the progressive era are even more rotten than any modern “conservative commentary” you have read will describe. Go ahead; read it, listen to it, all 18 and a half hours of it. You’ll see. There’s no confusion and there won’t be any on your part either.
Precious few of modern “conservative commentary” takes the time to show how progressives have been wrong for the last 120 years, so I have little time for them. That won’t be my last solo audio book. These progressives have survived and thrived for far too long by keeping themselves in the shadows. Now they’re on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn2CjsB0ifk
If there’s one thing I ! DO !!! have it within my power to do, that’s to remove their shadows so they have nowhere to hide.
As for Teddy Roosevelt’s record, where we need to begin is price fixing. We should follow that up with the 16th/17th amendments. Perhaps let’s delve into his monarchist pen-and-phone attitude with the executive orders flowing from his kingly scepter. Let’s have a real discussion, and not this comfort food.
Slight correction. This author did mention Herbert Croly, so I did read it.(this is rare) But in most instances, I’m not interested in someone who believes progressivism was born three years ago and thinks they’re hot stuff because they have a new fact they want to show off to people.
I do read much more original source material than generic commentary.