than as something to be eternally recognized as deadly, and as something that needs to be kept in a secure and vigilantly monitored cage, and never let out of the cage.
The very essence of the difference between progressives and conservatives is economics. Progressives believe that economic engines must be strictly controlled and monitored in order that their primary function will be to best serve the interests of human beings and genuine democratic government. Conservatives believe in an unregulated free market, the consequence of which can only inevitably be some type of conservative political, social, and economic oligarchy.
There are other phenomena/noumena that may define progressives and conservatives to a lesser extent, but these phenomena/noumena are secondary to economics when we talk about potential systems for our country and planet. A healthy progressive economic system will necessarily lead to general progressive evolution and progress in the political, social, and environmental realms as well. A conservative economic system can only lead to regression in the political, social, and environmental realms, and will inevitably destroy the planet.
Generally speaking...
Today's progressives want to eliminate and replace institutions which are irrevocably corrupted, in order to institute a system that primarily serves the needs of human beings. Dennis Kucinich is an example of this type of progressive. He understands that regulating wealthy private interests is a primary avenue toward achieving a flourishing and sane egalitarian country and world.
Conservatives want to maintain and strengthen these institutions and allow the corruption within them to flourish unimpeded, in order to maintain a system that primarily serves the economic interests of a wealthy elite. Ron Paul is an example of this type of conservative. He talks a somewhat progressive game, but the heart of his philosophy is an unrestricted free market, which as I mentioned earlier, can only lead to general destructive conservative oligarchy.
Conflating the ideological stances of Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich might be fun for some, and right leaning moderates may use this conflation for subtle nefarious propaganda purposes in order try to denigrate the progressive positions of Rep. Kucinich, but in reality, Reps. Paul and Kucinich are at almost completely opposite ends of the progressive/conservative economic/political/social spectrum.
Economically speaking, all evidence points to the fact that President Obama is far more similar to Ron Paul in ideology than Rep. Kucinich.
The keys to instituting and maintaining a constructive and evolving progressive society that provides for the maximum rights and opportunities to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the greatest majority of human beings are first preventing wealthy private interests from using wealth and deception to neutralize democracy, and then to democratically prevent regressive authoritarian personalities from assuming any positions of leadership.
Our current system requires revolutionary change ~ the complete abolition of some institutions, the alteration of others...and an understanding of the old saying "don't try to fix what ain't broke".
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