Progressives And Liberals

Have we really experienced a “stellar” economic recovery since Obama became our President, or is the rhetoric a distraction from a more sinister truth?  Before I share my thoughts, let me refresh your lessons on American history.

What do the terms “liberal”, “progressive” and “eugenics” have in common?  For those not completely familiar with eugenics, here is a brief definition:  “A set of beliefs and practices that aims at improving the genetic quality of the human population.  It is a social philosophy advocating the improvement of human genetic traits through the promotion of higher rates of sexual reproduction for people with desired traits (positive eugenics), or reduced rates of sexual reproduction and sterilization of people with less-desired or undesired traits (negative eugenics), or both.”  (Think of the holocaust.)  There were numerous politicians (both Republican and Democrat) and well-known public figures who identified themselves as “progressives” and who also endorsed the principles of eugenics, including Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood.  The term “progressive” fell out of favor with its adherents and was replaced by “liberal” when the world realized, through Adolph Hitler, it was possible to take eugenics to an unthinkable extreme, i.e., who would be the arbiter of what is desired or undesired.  The point is, today’s “liberals” are really yesterday’s “progressives”, wolves in sheep’s clothing, and they had some very radical perspectives regarding our constitution and social engineering back in the late 1800’s and up to World War II.

Progressives, such as Woodrow Wilson, our 28^th President, were convinced the responsibility for governing a nation should be delegated to appointed “administrative agencies” staffed exclusively with those who had earned university degrees (some actually suggested that universities should become the fourth leg of our government).  The “progressives” didn’t believe legislatures, courts or political parties could properly lead and manage a nation such as ours.  They also believed the constitution was “organic”, that is, subject to interpretation by each generation as the culture evolved.  They preferred a governmental model called “statism” wherein the government, through “administrative agencies”, takes a more active, comprehensive role in the day-to-day affairs of its citizens. They believed the defined “rights” of the constitution should also include such things as education, healthcare, housing, employment, income and recreation.  The problem for the “progressives” was our constitution – it made it extremely difficult to change our governmental system.

World War I handed the “progressives” a gift.  They quickly learned when the people feel threatened or fearful, they demand more government intervention for their safety and welfare.  The war didn’t last long enough for the “progressives” to gain a foothold but then came the great depression, and the real gift they had been looking for.  Remember, their objective was the management and control of the people and the people’s behavior by “administrative agencies”; solving the crisis of the depression was an objective but not a priority.  Here was a chance to permanently install the agencies of change.

Now, back to Obama’s “stellar” economic recovery.  Simply put, economic recovery has not been one of Obama’s top priorities – he is a “statist” – government control over the people can never be too extensive and far-reaching for his tastes.  The recession of 2008 was an opportunity of incalculable worth to Obama.  Oh, the recovery has been sold as “remarkable” considering where we began, but in fact, it has been the most pathetic and anemic economic recovery in our nation’s history (not my conclusion but that of recognized, objective economists.  For example, how do you not include in the national unemployment rate those individuals who no longer receive unemployment benefits and who have quit looking for a job?)  Obama and the “liberals” want you to believe they have done all that is possible to restore our prosperity, and that they can do even more if we grant them greater power and authority.  What they really want is something quite different.  Look at the scope and breadth of government’s intrusion into the affairs of the states and the people, and how it has dramatically increased in the last seven years (our national debt), and look at how eager he is to use “executive orders” to achieve his desires while circumventing congress and the courts, and consider the extent to which he has ignored the constitution, his oath of office, and the rule of law, and his deep reluctance to work diligently with congress, and his use of burgeoning, powerful federal bureaucracies to achieve his purposes.  He is a “progressive” as are the other leaders of the Democrat Party, and they fear and despise anyone they cannot manipulate and control.  And by the way, eugenics is alive and well in the “liberal/progressive” mind.