True progressives stand for social justice, separation between Church and State, protection of the environment, participatory democracy, education, efficiency in government operations, prevention of monopolistic concentration of power, and clean government.
A true progressive also has a clear understanding of what it takes to protect the country against all enemies, and of the importance of free market capitalism properly regulated to prevent corruption, extreme income inequality, and undemocratic concentration of power.
In other words, a vibrant and healthy democracy cannot exist without Liberalism and Progresssivism. The ideal that encompasses a country like the United States, its Bill of Rights, and its Constitution is based on progressive principles.
A normal society that respects the concept of equality and justice under the law for all its citizens, and stands against corruption at all levels, and against excessive and corrosive inequality of income and accumulation of power by moneyed (and therefore) corrupt elites, can only survive under the precepts of Liberalism and Progressivism.
In a Representative Democratic Republic the Agent of the people is the Government, which is supposed to serve the interests of the citizenry at large in a fair, and unbiased manner.
Because the survival of a strong, just, fair and prosperous society depends on Liberalism and Progressivism, it is the duty of a true progressive to stand against corruption whenever it exists, against injustice, and against abuses of power.
A true progressive is not dogmatic and it does not follows any leader blindly (that's a quality of the regressive and reactionary Right).
A true progressive rejects illegitimate authority. A true progressive understands that patriotism is "obedience to the principles to which the government is supposed to stand."
A true progressive represents the last stand between tyranny and oppression, and a just and fair government.
Any individual who because of expedience, fear, or political dogma, acquiesces to the rise of corruption, exploitation, abuses of power, and the subjugation of the populace, cannot be called a true progressive. He or she is something else, but not a progressive.
A true progressive is a sentry standing guard against the rise of tyranny.
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