More Progressivism
Borepatch has a nice post on progressivism (hat tip to Newbie Shooter). Here’s my current summary of progressive agenda:
1. Guarantee an expansive and virtually unfettered right of individuals to pursue all the meaningless distractions that modern life has to offer.
2. Restrict and regulate the areas of life that actually have real significance (freedom of expression, freedom of religion, economic freedom, property rights, etc.).
The Western world spent centuries fighting to establish the liberty of the individual. Progressives seem committed to the idea that this was a big mistake and that the commoners would be much better off if they just submitted to the tender mercies of the progressive government.
I think I’ll stick with real, old fashioned liberty of the sort that pretty much only existed in (gasp) Western Civilization, thanks. If that means gentry liberals look down their noses at me, well, so be it.
Not sure if I agree with item 1. The New York Legislature is considering a ban on salt in Restaurant cooking.
There’s quite a good case that in the long run, nothing will be considered “meaningless”.
IOW, the Progressive Agenda boils down to “do what I tell you”.
For item 1 I’m thinking of “lifestyle libertarianism” as it’s sometimes called (I’m not fond of that label). Anything to which a Progressive might respond “who are you to tell me [fill-in-the-blank example of behavior that undercuts traditional social norms] is wrong” would fall in this category.