Obama's 'Progressive' Failures

IBD Editorials ^ | August 17, 2010 | Investors Business Daily staff

[Kaslin]

Leaning Left: At a fundraiser Monday, the president boasted to Hollywood celebrities and deal makers about enacting "the most progressive legislative agenda" in decades. That may be true, but it's hardly something to be proud of.

It may sound harmless, but by declaring himself a progressive, the president has positioned himself on his party's far-left wing. It's also revealing. Given the progressive movement's baleful and pervasive influence over academia, the media, Hollywood and even kids' schools, it's hard not to find an area of modern life it hasn't touched.

Much of the left today calls itself "progressive." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton does, and Democrats too numerous to name. It's part of an old tradition. In addition to many well-known activists, writers and philosophers, progressivism can claim many presidents — ranging from Woodrow Wilson, both Roosevelts and Herbert Hoover, to Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and, of course, Obama himself.

So what is progressivism, you ask? Many things. But as a creed, it stresses the importance of centralized government control over Americans' lives as paramount. It actively seeks to diminish the constitutional limits on what government can — and can't — do.

Influenced heavily by European social theorists and American Utilitarian thought, progressivism took root after the Civil War. Adherents understood that the idea of limited government based on individualism, natural rights and property rights — as defined by the Founding Fathers — had to be discredited.

It stood in the way of their social engineering agenda, which views patriotism as a danger, religion as a vice and constitutionalism as a mere historical tic to be eradicated.

[yldstrk]

folking idjit

[hal ogen]

I just looked up a synonym for “progressive”...anti-American. Once again the nobama shows his true colors. America’s first anti-American president. EPIC Fail!

[biggredd1]

prosecutor misconduct LTC Lakin case....
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=192305

[immadashell]

It stood in the way of their social engineering agenda, which views patriotism as a danger, religion as a vice and constitutionalism as a mere historical tic to be eradicated

Ronald Reagan espoused the exact opposite and won by huge landslides against the socialists. Is there anyone in the leadership of the republican party who understands this? If they can't win in November they should throw in the towel and the Tea Party will rule.

[datura]

Progressive=Communist=Democrat

[loveliberty2]

America's Founders had a way of sizing up those who, in their arrogance, assume power over the lives of other people. Their "People's" Constitution was intended to "bind them down" by the chains of that Constitution. An example of their insight is found in these words:

John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, February 2, 1816:

"Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God service, when it is violating all His laws."

The current "progressives" are, in reality, not progressive at all. Their label should be "the regressives," for their ideas are counterfeit.