How to Identify a Liberal or a Progressive

Voters must identify their candidates' viewpoints before electing them to office.

Political battle lines have been redrawn since the 2008 to 2010 United States political seasons. The traditional labels of Republican and Democrat have given way to a new set of clearer labels. Tea party, conservative or constitutional viewpoints represent those who favor smaller government and greater personal liberty. Progressive, socialist or liberal labels describe those who desire a larger government that provides more services and acts as an agent to bring about social change. A few key questions can help you identify someone's political leanings.

Things You'll Need

• .

Instructions

1. Identify which popular political figures the person most closely agrees with. In politics, as in every other social organization, birds of a feather flock together.

2. Recognize the major voices in each political camp. Conservative voters generally consider Fox News, the Drudge Report, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity to be trusted conservative news sources. Progressive and liberal voters generally choose CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, Media Matters, the Huffington Post and the New York Times for their news sources.

3. Ask the individual key questions regarding high-profile public figures. Progressive and liberal individuals will support progressive and liberal politicians while disagreeing with conservative and tea party politicians and groups.

4. Learn if the person supports a larger government that provides more services to the people.

5. Ask if she supports gun control legislation that outlaws or restricts gun ownership and usage for the private citizen.

6. Find out if the person believes raising taxes and increasing government spending is a preferable means to successfully energize the nation's economy.

7. Ask the person if she supports a progressive or "living document" interpretation viewpoint of the U.S. Constitution rather than a constructionist view.

Tips & Warnings

• If a person answers yes to a majority of these questions, she holds a political viewpoint that is significantly liberal or progressive. Progressive political parties and individuals favor using taxation, government programs and social spending as a means to build a nation's economy and social structure.

References

• Gold Party: What is a Political Progressive
• Independent Progressive Politics Network
• Left Take; Reinventing the Progressive Party for the 21st Century; February 21, 2011

Resources

• Progressive Politics