Today's Progressive Movement

A poll by Think Progress concluded that 16% of Americans identify as Progressive. This movement is seen as new and modern, when it is really only a reemergence of an old idea-- socialism. Progressive platforms are becoming increasingly popular, because they give a minority an advantage in society.

In the late 19th century, politicians started emerging as Progressives. Their platform was to help American society progress in the workplace. The Progressive Movement hit America in 1890 with Teddy Roosevelt, and followed with William Taft and Woodrow Wilson. These men were the faces of the Progressive Movement and stressed government activism, regulation of trusts, improvement of urban sanitation and safety, labor regulation- especially for women and children, and conservation. In the 2016 presidential campaign, Bernie Sanders had at one point 45% of electors pledged to him. Sanders pledged tuition- free college and health care for all. He wanted a “political revolution” to reform our society, just as early progressives did. These promises, along with the goals of organizations such as Occupy Wall Street, the Dreamers, Black Lives Matter, Reclaim Chicago, and Fight for 15 are the face of the second Progressive era. The idea of Progressives is to close the economic gap between the upper and lower classes.

The Center for American Progress is a policy institute aiming to push progressive ideas. Their website states, “As progressives, we believe America should be a land of boundless opportunity, where people can climb the ladder of economic mobility. We believe we owe it to future generations to protect the planet and promote peace and shared global prosperity.” Large media outlets, such as The New York Times have called for a new progressive movement, saying that it should be based in a revival of crucial public services, such as education, public investment, and environmental protection, ending financial fraud, and re- establishing the supremacy of a people- led democracy.

During the Gilded Age, many people believed that inequality between the classes was the problem causing social injustice. The Progressive agenda was to tax the rich, end wars, and create effective government for all. This was carried out by trust busting, increasing federal income tax, creating fair labor standards, passing the 17th amendment, and pushing women’s suffrage. It was concluded that “American democracy was ‘seriously threatened,’ and that ‘policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans.’” Both racial minorities and social minorities from the Gilded Age clung to the Progressive agenda because it gave them a lawful advantage.

Progressive president Theadore Roosevelt described the Constitution of the United States as a “straitjacket” that prohibits growth. FDR’s Progressive platform turned the nation into a socialist welfare state. Frederic Bastiat explained “The law can be an instrument of equalization only as it takes from some persons and gives to other persons. When the law does this, it is an instrument of plunder.” Especially with his New Deal policies, FDR and presidents since have established a society of legal plunder, or organized injustice.

The “straitjacket” mentality is the thing that prohibits growth. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” Jefferson feared government by the whims of men, because it is not controllable and based off of emotion. The Declaration of Independence states, “...Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer…”. Not feeling a need to follow the Constitution establishes a government without boundaries. If there are no boundaries, then there can be no Republic. Without a strong government with a stable foundation, there is no progress.

Today’s Progressive movement will not progress society, but rather regress it. Because of the twentieth century movement, the Constitution of the United States is easily disregarded. The championed socialist policies were explained by Bastiat as “a famous name and an evil idea,” and “forced conformity.” These policies are seductive and seem philanthropic, but “a citizen cannot at the same time be free and not free.” The capitalist society that is prescribed in the Constitution is they key to lasting liberty.