[newguy357]

It’s a historical term that accurately reflects their philosophy of man (i.e., the idea that there is no such thing as an immutable human nature, that instead man will continue to evolve into higher and nobler states, and hence society with that). ‘Progressive’ is actually therefore a much more accurate word for them than ‘liberal’ since philosophically they are very much the former and not at all the latter.

[RonF]

Oh, I'll grant you that calling them "liberals" perverts the historical use of that term. But your reference to the philosophical roots of the term "progressive" isn't what comes to mind to the public when that term is used - and I daresay it doesn't come to mind to 90% of the people who use the term to describe themselves.