The author overuses the word progressive when talking about things left wing
Having lost the language, he has lost the war.
ping
He uses it like Beck does. In the historical, Woodrow Wilson way.
I don’t agree with the usage either but it has some historical validity.
I think using “progressive” is good, not only because it is historically accurate, but because it is a word that is not as easily dismissed as “leftist.”
The progressives in the US were statists even before the creation of the Communist states. For a progressive, everything depends on the state (which is run by an expert elite) and its power to determine and dictate behavior, and the individual is basically regarded as a dangerous nuisance. This extends to every aspect of life.
US progressives saw the state enforcing this through positive rewards (i.e., cradle to grave welfare for those who comply) but when that doesn’t work, there is always the threat of coercion for our own good.
Yes, like "Gay" as opposed to "Homosexual", or "nuance" as opposed to "outright lie" or "civili right" as opposed to "stealing from others so some lazy ass can be supported without doing anything but existing and some weasel can get reelected".