The opposite of "progressive" would be more like "traditional. " Regardless, I don't think a move in the direction of the failed laissez-faire policies of Dickensian Europe or Carnegies America constitute "progress" and IIRC the "progressive" movements of the time (in particular Americas Progressive Party) stood in strong opposition to them and for labor reform and rights. Seems like revisionist history to me, and it seems there's been a lot of it the past few decades, perhaps in the hopes that now that everyone who lived through those horrors is dead the rest of us will ignorantly allow their reanimation as "innovation. "
The entire point of both "progressive" and "conservative" in their most basic meaning is that they are relative concepts. As I said, "conservative" means resisting change, but depending on the current situation in one's country or society, two conservatives of different times or places can be defending entirely different things. Same with "progressive". Of course the meaning of all political terms changes somewhat over time, but at least words like "socialist" and "liberal" stand for certain fixed ideas, even if the practical realization of those ideas varies a lot. That cannot be said of "conservative" or "progressive" in their basic meanings, even if the US has given "conservative" a more specific meaning.
Other than that, it's fairly hilarious to talk about "a move in the direction of Dickensian Europe or Carnegies America" when discussing the FDP. Sure, it's a liberal party, but by American standards, it might as well be, er, liberal.
First Germany, next Great Britain - 
- 27/09/2009 11:24:48 PM
796 Views
- 27/09/2009 11:24:48 PM
796 Views
Your terminology is confusing... 
- 27/09/2009 11:40:38 PM
489 Views
- 27/09/2009 11:40:38 PM
489 Views
He's speaking in American terms.
- 28/09/2009 12:42:57 AM
508 Views
As I said. Confusing terminology.
- 28/09/2009 11:32:46 AM
560 Views
- 28/09/2009 11:32:46 AM
560 Views
"Conservative" and "liberal" seem like perfect antonyms to me.
- 29/09/2009 05:22:36 PM
568 Views
What Floffe said.
- 29/09/2009 07:31:51 PM
529 Views
Sorry, do you think Labour is a liberal party? *NM*
- 27/09/2009 11:42:26 PM
245 Views
Yes I do. Left-wing Liberals, the very worst of both worlds. *NM*
- 27/09/2009 11:58:24 PM
267 Views
Ooo, Germany-
- 28/09/2009 12:19:40 AM
531 Views
wtf
- 28/09/2009 01:26:18 PM
639 Views
I know, I know
- 28/09/2009 09:01:17 PM
356 Views
I've got something for your cuteness list
- 29/09/2009 08:35:30 AM
521 Views
Awww, let's hug him! 
- 29/09/2009 06:26:44 PM
376 Views
- 29/09/2009 06:26:44 PM
376 Views
Him?? 
- 29/09/2009 08:55:03 PM
437 Views
- 29/09/2009 08:55:03 PM
437 Views
Well, he's the one with the cute last name!
- 29/09/2009 09:24:34 PM
361 Views
- 29/09/2009 09:24:34 PM
361 Views
I am more thinking we will have to spray you with a riot hose *NM*
- 29/09/2009 09:27:10 PM
200 Views
*NM*
- 29/09/2009 09:27:10 PM
200 Views
Thats...uh.....crazy talk 
*NM*
- 29/09/2009 09:32:14 PM
239 Views
*NM*
- 29/09/2009 09:32:14 PM
239 Views
For some reason, I read that as "spay you"...
- 29/09/2009 10:24:20 PM
543 Views
*NM*
Won't be effective, just because she can't breed won't stop her fervent efforts from trying
- 29/09/2009 10:38:43 PM
497 Views
For an older gentleman, Guido Westerwelle isn't so bad looking
- 29/09/2009 03:20:17 PM
482 Views
Brown is not a liberal by any possible stretch of the term or imagination.
- 28/09/2009 01:48:17 AM
437 Views
It doesn't make that much of a difference who is in charge anyway
- 28/09/2009 08:41:55 AM
443 Views
According to an analysis that I read in the NYT, it may.
- 28/09/2009 01:24:05 PM
359 Views
That same article says radical changes are unlikely, though.
- 28/09/2009 01:43:30 PM
569 Views
No one said there would be radical changes. But there will be changes
- 28/09/2009 01:56:01 PM
454 Views
Merkel is further to the left than most if not all Democrats in government here in the US.
- 28/09/2009 01:25:09 PM
502 Views