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Progressivism in the United States

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Part of the Politics series on
Progressivism
This article has some overlap
with these other political positions
Schools
American Progressivism
New Deal liberalism
Economic progressivism
Educational progressivism
Social Progressivism
Techno-progressivism
Ideas
Conservation ethic
Efficiency Movement
Economic interventionism
Freedom
Worker rights
Mixed economy
Positive liberty
Social justice
Welfare of Society
Programs
The Square Deal
The New Nationalism
The New Freedom
The New Deal
The New Frontier
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In the Unitesd States the term Progressivism refers to two political tendencies: political progressivism rooted in optimistic social and economic reform movements of the late 1800s and early 1900s; and ideological or modern left-wing progressivism which sees itself as a reform movement to the left of Democratic Party liberalism, but stopping short of revolutionary demands. Both forms view themselves as moving the society forward through dramatic reform of existing laws and policies, and thus claim they stand for societal progress.

Contents

Political Progressivism

In the United States, the term progressive was first applied to politics in the Progressive Era of the early 20th Century, at which time politicians of both the Democratic and Republican parties (see Theodore Roosevelt, Bull-Moose Republicans, and the United States Progressive Party) began to pursue social, environmental, political, and economic reforms. Chief among these aims was the pursuit of trustbusting (breaking up very large monoplies), support for labor unions, public health programs, decreased corruption in politics, and environmental conservation.

Progressivism at the turn of the twentieth century was largely a bipartisan effort led by William Jennings Bryan, Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, Robert La Follette) and William Howard Taft. One leader, Bryan, had been linked to the Populiust mnovement of the 1890s. The other major leaders were opposed to Populism. When Roosevelt bolted the Republican party in 1912 he took with him many of the intellectual leaders of progressivism, but very few political leaders. The Republican party then became notably more committed to business-oriented and efficiency oriented progressivism, typified by Taft and Herbert Hoover. Political progressivism was also represented in the candidacies of economic philosopher Henry George and the Single Tax movement, President Theodore Roosevelt and the Bull-Moose Party, the Cleveland mayoral administration of Tom L. Johnson, Louisiana Governor Huey Long and the Share Our Wealth movement,

The Four Original Goals of Progressivism:

  1. Protecting social welfare - YMCA
  2. Promoting moral improvement - Prohibition of alcohol
  3. Creating economic reform - Change of individual behavior
  4. Fostering the Efficiency Movement - "Taylorism"
Some historians say the New Deal efforts were a natural continuation of progressivism and other historians see a major discontinuity. (Two-thirds of the surviving progressives, like Jane Addams opposed the New Deal [Graham].)

In the late 1970s a form of populist political progressivism was re-introduced by consumer lawyer Ralph Nader. Later, billionaire Presidential candidate Ross Perot, and his Reform Party picked up this theme. The foundation of this tendency is rooted in the uniquely American philosophy of pragmatism. In modern terminology this movement is generally called Populism, which can range from the political left to the political right. Populism has often manifested itself as a distrust of concentrations of power in the hands of politicians, corporations, families, and special interest groups, generating calls for reform. Thus the work of Ralph Nader reflects a blend of progressive left politics, consumerism, and right-wing populism reminiscent of the historic aspects of populist political progressivism.

Ideological or Modern Left Progressivism

This exists as a cluster of political, activist, and media organizations ranging from left-liberal to democratic socialism. Significant media include The Progressive magazine, The Nation, and The American Prospect. Modern Left Progressivism includes several political figures including Bernie Sanders, Barbara Boxer, Russ Feingold, Dennis Kucinich, and Peter Camejo. Also in this category are many leaders in the women's movement, labor movement, anti-globalization movement, American civil rights movement, environmental movement, immigrant rights movement, and gay and lesbian rights movement. Other well-known progressives include Noam Chomsky, Cornel West, Howard Zinn, Michael Parenti, Greg Palast, George Lakoff, Michael Lerner, Suzanne Pharr, and Urvashi Vaid.

Media voices for the Progressive Movement in the United States include The New York Times, CNN, MSNBC, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Barbara Ehrenreich, Al Franken, Amy Goodman, Thom Hartmann, Jim Hightower, Molly Ivins, Rachel Maddow, Stephanie Miller, Mike Malloy, Randi Rhodes, Betsy Rosenberg, and Ed Schultz.

Modern day issues for "progressives" can include: ecology, pollution control, publicly-funded health care, cessation of the death penalty, affordable housing, proportional representation, instant runoff voting, fusion candidates, a vital Social Security System, renewable energy, "smart growth" urban development, and unicameral legislature (closing state senates and the U.S. Senate as per a 1976 U.S. Supreme Court decision against state senate districts representing land rather than representing people).

Examples of the broad range of progressive texts include: "New Age Politics" by Mark Satin; "Why Americans Hate Politics" by E.J. Dionne, Jr.; "Community Building: Renewing Spirit & Learning in Business" edited by Kazimierz Gozdz; "Ecopolitics: Building a Green Society" by Daniel Coleman; and "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich.

See also

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