There are three reasons the left invented the term “progressive” (which is Marxist in origin):
1) It fits into their idea of historical inevitability. Marxism is inevitable, you know, so why fight it?
2) It wins over dimbulbs who latch onto anything if it seems “new” and “fashionable”. So ancient, barbarous practices such as promiscuity and abortion get repackaged as “progressive” and a lot of nitwits think they’re brand new.
3) It covers up for the fact that liberalism can’t create a civilization. Imagine a great civilization being built on wealth redistribution, appeasement of enemies, promiscuity, homosexuality, egalitarianism, and secularism. You can’t imagine it because it would never happen. Therefore, liberalism can never be traditional. So its proponents are forced to advertise it as new to provide political cover for its destructiveness.
Good points. Whenever somebody tells me their beliefs are progressive I like to tweak them by replying "You mean like cancer?"...