I've watched these labels smattered all over various discussion forums and I often use them myself. So, I figured it was about time for me to study exactly what they mean. [All from Wikipedia]
Progressivism - -
The contemporary political conception of progressivism in the culture of the Western world emerged as part of a response to the vast social changes brought by industrialization in the Western world in the late 19th century, particularly out of the view that progress was being stifled by vast economic inequality between the rich and the poor, unregulated laissez-faire capitalism with out-of-control monopolistic corporations, intense and often violent conflict between workers and capitalists, and lack of effort by governments to address these problems. Progressivism has influenced various political movements. Modern liberalism was influenced by liberal philosopher John Stuart Mill's conception of people being "progressive beings". British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli developed progressive conservatism under "One Nation" Toryism. A progressive political movement emerged in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in what was known as the Progressive Era with support amongst conservatives and liberals. American President Theodore Roosevelt of the US Republican Party and later the US Progressive Party declared that he "always believed that wise progressivism and wise conservatism go hand in hand". American President Woodrow Wilson was also a member of the American progressive movement within the Democratic Party.
Progressive stances have evolved over time. In the late 19th century, there were progressives who accepted scientific racism on the grounds of it having a scientific basis; however, this was later discarded as a result of racism being demonstrated to not have a scientific basis. Stances towards imperialism were initially divided amongst progressives in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States where some progressives supported American imperialism while others opposed it. In response to World War I, progressive American President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points established the concept of national self-determination and criticized imperialist competition and colonial injustices; these views were supported by anti-imperialists in areas of the world that were resisting imperial rule
Liberalism
Liberalism is a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property.
Conservatism
In the United States, conservatism is rooted in the American Revolution and its commitment to republicanism, sovereignty of the people, and the rights and liberties of Englishmen while expelling the king and his supporters. Most European conservative writers do not accept American conservatism as genuine; they consider it to be a variety of liberalism. Modern American liberals in the New Deal do not disagree with that consensus view, but conservatives spend much more emphasis on the Revolutionary origins, with the Tea Party advocates use an episode from the 1770s for their name and some even dress in costumes from that era at their rallies.
Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, "the rule of law and the Christian religion," and a defense of "Western civilization from the challenges of modernist culture and totalitarian governments.
And it then lists, Liberal conservatism, conservative liberalism, libertarian conservatism, fiscal conservatism, Green conservatism, national and traditional conservatism, cultural and social conservatism, and religious conservatism.
[They sure don't make it easy!] And, as it says in the article: what Americans now call conservatism, much of the world calls liberalism or neoliberalism.
Then, it's worthwhile checking out left and right-wing politics @ Left-wing politics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
So, where honestly do you put yourself in this spectrum?
Me? I'm truly uncertain. I firmly believe that our country should be a nation of laws and that we elect people to enact laws that, when found to be matching the principles of our constitution, should be obeyed and enforced. I also believe we have the right to challenge those laws through the courts. I believe that each individual has the right to control their own lines and their own privacy without government interference. And exercising those rights is a personal matter and government has no business legislating morality. I believe the federal government is responsible for defending this nation's borders and not trying to save the world from itself. I believe that all responsibilities, unless otherwise cited, belong to the states and not the federal government. I believe in free market with government only responsible for determining the scientific viability of drugs and other health-related goods with checks and balances provided by Congress.
In other words, if a woman [note adult word] wishes to abort a fetus, SHE has to pay for it, not the taxpayers.
I wish to see a large number of federal departments done away with, education being primary.
So, what does that make me? A Centerist?
Progressivism - -
The contemporary political conception of progressivism in the culture of the Western world emerged as part of a response to the vast social changes brought by industrialization in the Western world in the late 19th century, particularly out of the view that progress was being stifled by vast economic inequality between the rich and the poor, unregulated laissez-faire capitalism with out-of-control monopolistic corporations, intense and often violent conflict between workers and capitalists, and lack of effort by governments to address these problems. Progressivism has influenced various political movements. Modern liberalism was influenced by liberal philosopher John Stuart Mill's conception of people being "progressive beings". British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli developed progressive conservatism under "One Nation" Toryism. A progressive political movement emerged in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in what was known as the Progressive Era with support amongst conservatives and liberals. American President Theodore Roosevelt of the US Republican Party and later the US Progressive Party declared that he "always believed that wise progressivism and wise conservatism go hand in hand". American President Woodrow Wilson was also a member of the American progressive movement within the Democratic Party.
Progressive stances have evolved over time. In the late 19th century, there were progressives who accepted scientific racism on the grounds of it having a scientific basis; however, this was later discarded as a result of racism being demonstrated to not have a scientific basis. Stances towards imperialism were initially divided amongst progressives in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States where some progressives supported American imperialism while others opposed it. In response to World War I, progressive American President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points established the concept of national self-determination and criticized imperialist competition and colonial injustices; these views were supported by anti-imperialists in areas of the world that were resisting imperial rule
Liberalism
Liberalism is a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property.
Conservatism
In the United States, conservatism is rooted in the American Revolution and its commitment to republicanism, sovereignty of the people, and the rights and liberties of Englishmen while expelling the king and his supporters. Most European conservative writers do not accept American conservatism as genuine; they consider it to be a variety of liberalism. Modern American liberals in the New Deal do not disagree with that consensus view, but conservatives spend much more emphasis on the Revolutionary origins, with the Tea Party advocates use an episode from the 1770s for their name and some even dress in costumes from that era at their rallies.
Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, "the rule of law and the Christian religion," and a defense of "Western civilization from the challenges of modernist culture and totalitarian governments.
And it then lists, Liberal conservatism, conservative liberalism, libertarian conservatism, fiscal conservatism, Green conservatism, national and traditional conservatism, cultural and social conservatism, and religious conservatism.
[They sure don't make it easy!] And, as it says in the article: what Americans now call conservatism, much of the world calls liberalism or neoliberalism.
Then, it's worthwhile checking out left and right-wing politics @ Left-wing politics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
So, where honestly do you put yourself in this spectrum?
Me? I'm truly uncertain. I firmly believe that our country should be a nation of laws and that we elect people to enact laws that, when found to be matching the principles of our constitution, should be obeyed and enforced. I also believe we have the right to challenge those laws through the courts. I believe that each individual has the right to control their own lines and their own privacy without government interference. And exercising those rights is a personal matter and government has no business legislating morality. I believe the federal government is responsible for defending this nation's borders and not trying to save the world from itself. I believe that all responsibilities, unless otherwise cited, belong to the states and not the federal government. I believe in free market with government only responsible for determining the scientific viability of drugs and other health-related goods with checks and balances provided by Congress.
In other words, if a woman [note adult word] wishes to abort a fetus, SHE has to pay for it, not the taxpayers.
I wish to see a large number of federal departments done away with, education being primary.
So, what does that make me? A Centerist?
