Here's Why We Call Ourselves "Progressives"

One of the most crucial points of my Liberal Shock Doctrine piece is a basic insight into how social change works in America:progressives ram through reforms over the howls of conservatives who claim that the reform will pull down the very pillars supporting civilization. Then, when the reform proves popular and successful, conservatives pretend they were for it all along, and, in fact, you should elect them so they can "preserve" the reform. Been reading Arthur Schlesinger's classic The Age of Roosevelt (specifically Vol. II, The Coming of the New Deal and grooving to a the conservative reaction to one such dangerous innovation.

James L. Donnelly of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association:

...destroying initiative, discouraging thrift, and stifling individual responsibility.

Charles Denby of the (then-conservative) American Bar Association:

soon or later will bring the abandonment of private capitalism.

Charles P. Chandler of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce:

the downfall of Rome started with corn laws, and legisslation of that type.

Congressman Jon Taber:

Never in the history of the world has any measure been brought in her so insidiously designed ass to prevent business recovery to enslave workers, and to prevent any possibility of the employers providing work for the people.

Congressman Daniel Reed:

The lash of the dictator will be felt. And twenty-five million free American citizens will for the first time submit themselves to a finger print test.

Congressman James W. Wadsworth:

This bill opens the door and invites the entrance into the political field of a power so vast, so powerful as to threaten the integrity of our institutions and to pull the pillars of the temple down upon the head of our descendants.

And my personal favorite: Senator Daniel O. Hastings said this montrosity would

end the progress of a great country and bring its people to the level of the average European.

The subject of their diatribes was Social Security. Good thing we have conservatives around now to "save" it for us.

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