Changes

They often use the term to describe themselves and their policies in contrast to "regressive" policies of their opponents. For example, progressives will ask rhetorically, "Do you want to go back to the 1950s?" implying that women were oppressed by being forced to be [[housewife|housewives]] and men were oppressed by being falsely accused of favoring Communism (see [[McCarthyism]]).

They often use the term to describe themselves and their policies in contrast to "regressive" policies of their opponents. For example, progressives will ask rhetorically, "Do you want to go back to the 1950s?" implying that women were oppressed by being forced to be [[housewife|housewives]] and men were oppressed by being falsely accused of favoring Communism (see [[McCarthyism]]).

The term progressive was recently revived by [[politician]]s who considered themselves to be [[liberal]].  This revival occurred shortly before the [[2006 elections]].  It was implemented to help distance politicians, mainly [[Democrats]], for the negative history associated with various members of the party at that time.  It was also meant to create a belief that [[conservatives]] were not able to think of a progressive future for the [[United States]].  The most famous historical usage of the term was in the 1890s to 1920s, sometimes called the [[Progressive Era]].  During the Progressive Era, politicians of both parties and various ideologies adopted the term, notably [[Theodore Roosevelt]], a Republican who founded the [[Progressive Party]] (also known as the Bull Moose Party) and [[Woodrow Wilson]].

The term progressive was recently revived by [[politician]]s who considered themselves to be [[liberal]].  This revival occurred shortly before the [[2006 elections]].  It was implemented to help distance politicians, mainly [[Democrats]], from the negative history associated with various members of the party at that time.  It was also meant to create a belief that [[conservatives]] were not able to think of a progressive future for the [[United States]].  The most famous historical usage of the term was in the 1890s to 1920s, sometimes called the [[Progressive Era]].  During the Progressive Era, politicians of both parties and various ideologies adopted the term, notably [[Theodore Roosevelt]], a Republican who founded the [[Progressive Party]] (also known as the Bull Moose Party) and [[Woodrow Wilson]].

The term has been popular among the [[media]]. And although most of the population still refers to the two major philosophies as [[conservative]] and liberal, it is often used to describe a more specific type of liberalism  This is likely because these two titles are familiar to the current population and better recognized.  Because of this familiarity it is easier to visualize the contrasts between conservative and liberal than the contrasts between conservative and progressive, because of the specific nature of "progressive"  

The term has been popular among the [[media]]. And although most of the population still refers to the two major philosophies as [[conservative]] and liberal, it is often used to describe a more specific type of liberalism. This is likely because these two titles are familiar to the current population and better recognized.  Because of this familiarity it is easier to visualize the contrasts between conservative and liberal than the contrasts between conservative and progressive, because of the specific nature of "progressive".

A useful distinction to keep in mind is this:  "progressives want bigger and supposedly better government; conservatives want less and supposedly better government."

A useful distinction to keep in mind is this:  "progressives want bigger and supposedly better government; conservatives want less and supposedly better government."