I've been writing as much as anyone here, and I don't have a clue what a "progressive" is, or a "progressive Democrat" for that matter. Frankly, I've assumed that the progressive label was something dreamed up by the media because the term "liberal" was being used too much. Do any of the members of Congress actually call themselves progressives, or is it a media term?

Is a progressive the same as a far-left liberal? Is a conservative Democrat roughly the same as a centrist Republican? I'm as confused as everyone here.

I did find the amplification of the term "facist" quite enlightening. Yes, I also read more into BKC's use of the word than maybe was intended. But even if the definitions of progressive, liberal or liberal Democrat match, I doubt that anyone in the U.S. is going to begin to call themselves facists.

Regardless of the labels, what I'd like to see the way our country is governed are a Congress which will not spend more than a reasonable and economically sound level of tax revenues. Then, I'd like to see some real thought put into what we spend our limited revenues on. That's when the political differences are likely to occur. For me, I'd like to see more spent on providing basic healthcare for every single American, improving the results of our education system, long-term energy policy, and domestic national security (read that immigration reform). I'd like to see less spent on fighting wars all over the place (read that cut the defense budget), trying to buy allies with foreign aid, and injecting ourselves in other countries business and affairs unless there is a clear connection to the well-being of America (read that stop trying to "plant" democracies all over the place--we can't afford it), and cut the plethora of government agencies and programs that don't seem to accomplish anything.

That's what I'd like for starters. What the heck am I anyway?