Dear Readers, If you've never read James Ostrowski, he is very much worth the read. Check out his article that gives an excellent summary of so-called "progressivism" (excerpt below).
The word "Progressive" itself is a concocted misnomer. One could be forgiven for thinking that progressivism means progress towards a better future -- justice, harmony, and abundance, and so on. But that's not what progressivism seeks at all. Rather, the goal is the Total State -- totalitarianism in full flower. Progressives seek to control every aspect of every subject's life. Progressives knew they could not promote that ideology under its real names (socialism, communism, totalitarianism, etc -- although given the record of about 100 million people slaughtered by its acolytes in the 20th century, personally, I prefer to just call them murderers... but I digress), so they chose a name that suggested that its opponents were against "progress". In the late 1800's and early 1900's, Progressivism won. The Democrats and Republicans and almost all of the third parties of the time adopted it. Indeed, so successful was the original invasion of the Progressives that even now, EVERY other political movement, and every other political party, has a foot in the door of Progressivism. The Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Greens, the Socialist Party USA, and all the others -- all of them share some ideology with the worst of the Progressives. The ONLY political ideology that does not share any interests in Progressive giant-government goals is libertarianism. Libertarianism is the only ideology that seeks to eliminate the force that under-girds the Progressives' Leviathan State. Check out Ostrowski's article and let us know what you think. |*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| "Progressivism may be initially defined as the strong presumption that democratic government intervention (force) will produce a better result than voluntary society. Hence the root of the word progress. However, the progress element of progressivism is aspirational, not factual. The term begs the question by assuming as true that which has not been proved: that progressive ideas will lead to progress. In fact, while progressives portray themselves as scientific, pragmatic, result-oriented and fact-based, there is little evidence, scientific or otherwise, that progressive programs have improved society. See, Chapter 4. "Progressivism has been the dominant political force since at least 1912 when all three major candidates for President were progressives. Major elements of the progressive program were installed shortly thereafter. The income tax amendment took effect in 1913. The Federal Reserve was also created in 1913. These two acts combined had the impact of allowing the federal government direct access to the nations income and wealth either by taxation or inflation of the money supply. These complementary means of wealth acquisition would allow the federal government to pay for the numerous progressive programs rolled out in the ensuing 100 years and presently." See the whole article at http://www.lewrockwell.com/2014/11/james-ostrowski/the-progressive-decline-of-freedom/ |*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| NOTE: The above review is also posted to the LPVA Facebook page -- discuss it in the comments: https://www.facebook.com/LPVirginia/posts/954305227930911 ---------------------------------------------------------- -- Marc Montoni, Secretary Libertarian Party of Virginia P.S. Do you know of other Virginia Libertarians with recently-published material? Send us the link to each article, and pen a few words to introduce it to your fellow Libertarians! P.P.S. Disagree with the author? Have a different perspective? Think there is a better Libertarian answer? Are you a Virginia resident? Then publish your op-ed in response on a blog or your website and let us know the URL, and we will notify our members of it just like we did here. ============================================ RUN FOR OFFICE! The Libertarian Party of Virginia is currently seeking candidates to run for public office for the 2014 season. Are **you** ready to challenge the people who would steal your liberties and property? If so, then run for office in 2015! Let us know here: http://Campaign.LPVA.com If you'd like to see what's up for election next year, review the state election calendar: http://elections.virginia.gov/Files/Media/Calendar/2013_2017_Calendar.pdf Become active in the movement to roll back the Leviathan State. Join the LP and begin recruiting your friends and neighbors. Vote Libertarian. Challenge the state. 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