"Progressive"

[jf noonan]

On Sun, 1 Oct 2000, Carrol Cox wrote:

> We're running out of words. One important use of
> "progressive" was to name non-communists who were willing to
> work with communists. (This would have included but *not*
> been limited to those disparaged by their enemies as
> "fellow-travellers.")


Been reading too much Wm. Safire on language lately?  I wonder
what Bob LaFollette meant by the term when he named his
magazine.  He was no kind of socialist.


> As Michael suggests, however, the word seems to be losing
> its edge, being little better than a name for the more
> soulful type of liberal.
> 
> Carrol
> 
> 


--

Joseph Noonan
Houston, TX
jfn1 at msc.com