Several frequent and purposeful Treepers have been brought to the Refuge following a crumb trail of diversity in discussion. However, one common ingredient amid all the varying granola’s of conversation is defining the heart of the infection belaying the national rot, “Progressivism”.
If, in 2013, you subscribe your political affiliation to the Democrat Party, you are a progressive. There is no longer a manner of argument, nor level of word-smithing, so great as to evince an intellectual separation. It would be as illogical an attempt as to draw distinctions from Traditional or Moderate Islam while trying to discuss which form of shrapnel is probably contained within the approaching suicide vest.
Like it or not, the Political and Progressive Left has grasped full control of the Democrat Party. It is with that self-evident fact in mind a series of current essays on Modern Progressives has been written. Today we present one such essay brilliantly written by N. A. Halkides; A freelance writer from the Chicago area:
(Via FrontPage Mag) The Progressive believes in precisely two things: his own magnificence and the constructive power of brute force. In combination, they lead him naturally from the role of pestiferous busybody to brutal dictator. Where the productive man dreams of the things he might create if only left alone by his fellows, the Progressive dreams of the world he could create if only the lives and property of his fellows were at his disposal. The roots of his pathology lie in that oldest and most destructive of all human vices, the desire for the power to rule over other men.
As naked power-lust is a rather ugly motive, the Progressive rationalizes his desire to rule as a concern for human welfare, seeing himself as a great humanitarian, far superior morally to the lesser beings who pursue merely “materialist” ends such as their own prosperity and who frequently object to his program for achieving Utopia. This assumed moral superiority spills over into fields of practical accomplishment, and the Progressive imagines himself capable of allocating resources and even directing entire industries far more efficiently than a free market, often despite not even having any business or scientific experience. But despite what the Progressive believes about himself, the desire to compel others to obey his orders is what drives him forward. To satisfy this desire, there is ultimately no limit to what actions he will take, for he respects none of the restrictions on government officials intended to guarantee individual freedom that have been developed and set forth in written or unwritten constitutions.
It is easy to make the mistake of judging Progressivism by its earlier and less-severe manifestations and to conclude that its petty and paternalistic restrictions, for example New York Mayor Michael “The Nanny” Bloomberg’s recent crusade against large-size soda drinks, are simply bothersome annoyances. In fact the transformation from irritating but superficially benevolent nanny to ruthless dictator not only occurs rather quickly, it is a logical consequence of the Progressive’s zeal to usher in Utopia and of the means he must use to achieve the smallest of his goals – brute force. We should recognize the following principle: Once the Progressive is permitted to intrude however slightly into matters that are properly beyond the sphere of government, then all aspects of the individual’s life may be subjected to control. Once any degree of coercion is permitted, then no level of force is out of bounds. (please continue reading)