If someone wanted to defeat progressivism - they might [View all]

[Douglas Carpenter]

manipulate office holders who ran on a progressive platform to carry out reactionary policies - even policies that violate core values of western democracy. Then bamboozle a significant number of the party faithful into embracing these reactionary policies and smearing those who remain faithful to liberal and democratic values accusing them of being on the other side. Thus progressivism can be defeated even under a liberal veneer. Not only does this defeat progressivism in the name of progressivism - it insures that there are no viable alternatives to reactionary policies.