Written by: Beck
...did this happen?
Have you noticed that leftists of all breeds are busily attempting to re-label themselves under the sobriquet "Progressive?" The title of Socialists has been contaminated by the fall of the Soviet Union, especially in Europe (it never really took hold in the USA where "Socialist" was regarded by many as simply a synonym for "Communist"), but even the term Liberal seems to have become something of a bad word too. John Kerry is working hard to make Bush-camp attacks look like "Attempts to brand him as a Liberal." Well isn't that what he is?
The word, "Progressive," had the greatest disservice done to it in history when the 16th amendment to the US Constitution allowed for the creation of a progressive income-tax. "Progressive", here, is used in the sense of "increasing"--the tax percentage increases in line with income--and isn't actually spelled out in the amendment, but rather, was a later addition. By linking a heinous crime, income tax, with a positive act, progressing, the whole concept was easily marketed to the masses. After all, who wants to oppose progress? The alternatives, stagnation and regression, are desired by none. Regardless, it wasn't too long ago that leftists in Europe and America were happy to be called Socialists and Liberals respectively.
Today, though, even the 'L' word has become a negative. While I have to give credit to the left for an excellent job of re-branding (the left always has been good at marketing), I also have to say that it warms my heart just a tiny bit to know that in our society, Liberal is rapidly becoming a four letter word.
Now we just have to get the word "progress" back.