by Rick Lowe (http://www.weblogbahamas.com)
Back on August 13, 2009 I posted this blog challenging a columnist called "Simon" about a couple of the ideas s/he expressed in a missive about the education problems in The Bahamas.
I referred to statists and have been challenged in a private e-mail exchange about calling people names. Of course my immediate response is maybe I shouldn't react when people call me an extremist or right wing etc instead of referring to me as a classical liberal, but we all want to defend our integrity I guess.
That said, in his opinion piece yesterday, "Simon" confirms that he is a statist or as he calls the public policies he supports, progressivism. But just what is progressivism?
According to Wikipedia, "Progressivism is a political and social term that refers to ideologies and movements favoring or advocating changes or reform, usually in a statist or egalitarian direction for economic policies (government management)…"
The use of the word progressive is for obvious reasons. If you oppose the public policy they suggest, you are by extension regressive.
However, I'd like to suggest a little brain teaser.
In the blue pages of the phone book there are some 179 government offices, incorporating ministries, departments, agencies etc.
Please take a minute to think about whether they accomplish their mission or not.
What's your answer?
I thought so.
The government does not do a very good job.
So why on earth would we want to be progressives, some of their more reasonable policies not withstanding?
Calling yourself progressive is just a nice way of saying your a socialist.
Try an elite socialist.. there is no room at the top for poor progressives.. Just look at the “progressive” administration in Washington.. Should we cry or laugh.. We have to laugh as they are going to spend their way out debt.. Well I guess that is progressive economic thinking.. Even Simple Simon can figure that out.. Maybe..
Hi Rick,
I am not sure how progressives began working under the premise of freedom for a greater numer of people, where their policies, in deed, need state intervention to bring about policy changes with regard to the socio-economic order.
They are their worst problem, to the extent that they try to influence government to bring about their social and economic changes. Sad ironic tale. But, this world is filled with ironies!
As for myself, I don’t know what one would call me. I’m a political and economic mutt, where I am bound by no dogma, truly, and have no singular influence from any one particular author.
I like Smith, as much as I appreciate Ricardo, as much as I enjoy Marx and Schumpeter! Go figure!
Youri
http://globalviewtoday.blogspot.com