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== Progressive Movement ==

== Progressive Movement ==

A fascinating and influential political movement began to develop around 1900:  the progressive movement.  It started with a Republican governor of Wisconsin named Robert LaFollette.  It was not so much a political party as a movement that can be summarized in two words:  "better government.  Not "less government" that a conservative like President James Monroe wanted, and not "more government" that a liberal like Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted, but "better government."

A fascinating and influential political movement began to develop around 1900:  the progressive movement.  It started with a Republican governor of Wisconsin named Robert LaFollette.  It was not so much a political party as a movement that can be summarized in two words:  "better government." Not "less government" that a conservative like President James Monroe wanted, and not "more government" that a liberal like Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted, but "better government."

Then, as now, progressives tended to work within other political parties.  We have progressives today in both parties.  Today the former New Jersey Republican candidate for governor (and former mayor of Jersey City, who is running again for that office) Bret Schundler is like a progressive.  His view is this: let's run government in a smarter manner.  We have had two progressive presidents:  Republican Teddy Roosevelt and Democrat Woodrow Wilson.  Some might say that President-Elect Barack Obama is like a progressive, and we will soon find out!  The high point of the movement, the "progressive era," was 1900-1920.

Then, as now, progressives tended to work within other political parties.  We have progressives today in both parties.  Today the former New Jersey Republican candidate for governor (and former mayor of Jersey City, who is running again for that office) Bret Schundler is like a progressive.  His view is this: let's run government in a smarter manner.  We have had two progressive presidents:  Republican Teddy Roosevelt and Democrat Woodrow Wilson.  Some might say that President-Elect Barack Obama is like a progressive, and we will soon find out!  The high point of the movement, the "progressive era," was 1900-1920.