Zogby Survey- Are progressive and very liberal the same thing?

I consider myself progressive but I don't consider myself "very liberal". In the Zogby interactive survey the political spectrum they put forth equates progressive and very liberal. I think they are buying into the repub effort to make progressive a fringe term.

In political terms, I don't see a distinction between the two, and liberal isn't "fringe" I'm fringe dammit, I'm a Socialist! :)

That was about a week ago.

In the literal sense, to be progressive means to want to move forward. Exactly what constitutes "forward" would depend on the agenda. Right-wingers are "progressive" when they act to move the right-wing agenda forward.

From a political standpoint, "progressive" is a term often used to soften the now-dreaded "liberal" label. Many liberal-leaning people use it that way.

It is also a term used by the "progressive policy institute," the DLC's "think tank." In that case, it is a term of propaganda used to shift the Democratic Party, and Democratic voters, further to the right, by using the term "progressive" as a new, updated, modern "liberal." That way, calling centrist and right-of-center positions "progressive" makes the center look liberal and anything to the left of center an "extremist, fringe," position.

"Someone who looks ahead and not behind, aomwonw who welcomes
new ideas without rigid reaction, someone who cares about the
welfare of the people--their health, their housing, their schools,
their jobs, their civil rights and civil liberties--someone who
believes we can break the stalemate and suspician that grips us
in our policies abroad, then I am proud to say I am a Liberal."
John F. Kennedy.

How subvervsive can this be, GOP. Oh yes, Civil Libertis and
Civil Rights?????

Could it be they are trying to explorehow average citizens
view the terms.

There were some of us "Librul" Liberals who were somewhat
offended by HRC's answe to the question--What is a liberal?

The Gop loves to joke about how they made Liberals change
their name to progressive--they were so ashamed. This is
old.

The Progressive Party of LaFollette was a socialist type movement - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_M._La_Follette,_Sr.

And during Vietnam the meaning of the term "Liberal" was best captured by Phil Ochs:
(edit to add the Ochs lyrics link - http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~trent/ochs/lyrics.html )

Love Me, I'm a Liberal
By Phil Ochs

I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
Tears ran down my spine
I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
As though I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcolm X got what was coming
He got what he asked for this time
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I go to civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
I'm glad the commies were thrown out
Of the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
As long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

The people of old Mississippi
Should all hang their heads in shame
I can't understand how their minds work
What's the matter don't they watch Les Crane?
But if you ask me to bus my children
I hope the cops take down your name
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I read New Republic and Nation
I've learned to take every view
You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes to times like korea
There's no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I vote for the democratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
But I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

That is why Labor Reform has been taken up by the Progressives and largely ignored by the Democratic Party which is made up of Liberals, Moderates and even a few Dixiecrats, but i am hard pressed to think of a true progressive in the Jerry Brown, FDR, Bull Moose party mold.


But of course there are exceptions.