The Progressive Movement

[carver]

When did all of our political problems start? Do a little research on your own. Here is a place to start. Karl Marx published his manifesto in 1848, and died in 1883. There is a correlation:

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1061.html

The Progressive Movement was an effort to cure many of the ills of American society that had developed during the great spurt of industrial growth in the last quarter of the 19th century. The frontier had been tamed, great cities and businesses developed, and an overseas empire established, but not all citizens shared in the new wealth, prestige, and optimism.

Efforts to improve society were not new to the United States in the late 1800s. A major push for change, the First Reform Era, occurred in the years before the Civil War and included efforts of social activists to reform working conditions, and humanize the treatment of mentally ill people and prisoners.

Others removed themselves from society and attempted to establish utopian communities in which reforms were limited to their participants. The focal point of the early reform period was abolitionism, the drive to remove what in the eyes of many was the great moral wrong of slavery.

The second reform era began during Reconstruction and lasted until the American entry into World War I, 1914. The struggle for women's rights and the temperance movement were the initial issues addressed. A farm movement also emerged to compensate for the declining importance of rural areas in an increasingly urbanized America.

As part of the second reform period, Progressivism was rooted in the belief, certainly not shared by all, that man was capable of improving the lot of all within society. As such, it was a rejection of Social Darwinism, the position taken by many of the rich and powerful figures of the day.

Progressivism was also imbued with strong political overtones and rejected the church as the driving force for change. Specific goals included:

The desire to remove corruption and undue influence from government through the taming of bosses and political machines;

the effort to include more people more directly in the political process;

the conviction that government must play a role to solve social problems and establish fairness in economic matters.

The success of Progressivism owed much to publicity generated by the muckrakers, writers who detailed the horrors of poverty, urban slums, dangerous factory conditions, and child labor, among a host of other ills.

The successes were many, beginning with the Interstate Commerce Act (1887) and the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890). Progressives never spoke with one mind and differed sharply over the most effective means to deal with the ills generated by the trusts; some favored an activist approach to trust-busting, others preferred a regulatory approach.

A vocal minority supported socialism with government ownership of the means of production. Other Progressive reforms followed in the form of a conservation movement, railroad legislation, and food and drug laws.

The Progressive spirit also was evident in new amendments added to the Constitution, which provided for a new means to elect senators, protect society through prohibition and extend suffrage to women.

Urban problems were addressed by professional social workers who operated settlement houses as a means to protect and improve the prospects of the poor. However, efforts to place limitations on child labor were routinely thwarted by the courts. The needs of blacks and Native Americans were poorly served or served not at all — a major shortcoming of the Progressive Movement.

Progressive reforms were carried out not only on the national level, but in the states and municipalities of the country as well. Prominent governors devoted to change included Robert M. La Follette of Wisconsin and Hiram Johnson of California.

Such reforms as the direct primary, secret ballot, and the initiative, referendum and recall were effected. Local governments were strengthened by the widespread use of trained professionals, particularly with the city manager system replacing the all-too-frequently corrupt mayoral system.

Formal expression was given to progressive ideas in the form of political parties on three major occasions:

The Roosevelt Progressives (Bull Moose Party) of 1912

The La Follette Progressives of the 1920s

The Henry Wallace Progressives of the late 1940s and early 1950s.

[45nut]

So, if I'm reading this right Art, it was the intelligentsia, academic or as they're known in the country as city slickers that started this crapola? That's what I thought.

Romans 1:22 says "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools"

That was a good read. Thanks Art!

[Joe Uptegrove]

[FONT="Arial Black"][/FONT]
Some years ago in Vermont, a Carpet Bagger from Brooklyn N.Y. named Bernie Sanders, planted his flag, started running for office and is now a U. S. Senator. He never worked a day in his life. He is a Progressive as well as one of the reasons I left Brooklyn, years ago for a career in Military Service, something Bernie, knows nothing about. When I settled in the beautiful state of Vermont, I discovered to my dismay, that Bernie had gotten here first and was a U.S. Representative! (Did I mention that he's never worked a day in his life?) I've always wondered where he got the name Sanders. The platform and agenda of the Progressive Party, is mirror image of the Communist Manifesto.
God Bless America
Joe Uptegrove

[carver]

Who's Art? This is Myles, and I forgive ya Steve!

[flyingfortress1]

Myles. Thanks for the info. That was informative. I have long considered Nikita Kruschevs statement about taking America from within as possibly prophetic especially in light of the "liberals, progressives, socialists," the end of the trail seems to be the same destination for these folks regardless of the name that they adopt. New member here and thus far am enjoying the forum.
All the best
Flyingfortress1

[mncarpenter]

Originally Posted by flyingfortress1

Myles. Thanks for the info. That was informative. I have long considered Nikita Kruschevs statement about taking America from within as possibly prophetic especially in light of the "liberals, progressives, socialists," the end of the trail seems to be the same destination for these folks regardless of the name that they adopt. New member here and thus far am enjoying the forum.
All the best
Flyingfortress1

Yep. Let's see, Mexican acquisition from within by attrition, Islamic acquisition from within by attrition, Socialist acquisition from within by attrition, Chinese acquisition by flat-out ownership, in partnership with the Japanese, and Russian acquisition by force in partnership with Iran, North Korea, and Obama. Keep your weapons clean and oiled, stash a few in a hole somewhere, and quit sending your money to Washington until they quit screwing us. Enough is enough.