Progress . . .

The dictionary says the word means “to move forward, to develop to a higher, better, or more advance stage.”

Sounds simple enough. The word has historically been applied to material things. For example the average automobile today is the result of the “progress” made in technology as in steel, plastics, electronics, over the past 100 years or so, etc. The TV of today is the result of the “progress” made in many fields that allows us to watch things happen around the world day or night.

Progress has historically been associated as something good. However, when talking about social, economic, and religious topics, you have to be careful how you apply the word “Progress.”

I bring this up because I recently finished reading a book about former presidents, Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.

The two were presidents in the early 1900s and from what I gathered were among the first to apply the word “Progressive” to many political, economic, and social programs.

This is where a person has to be careful.

There are two main types of economic systems in the world, ‘Capitalism,’ and ‘Socialism.’

In the United States, capitalism had always been the primary form and although it has many virtues, it is not without some vices as well. By the late 1800s and early 1900s some of the vices were almost destructive. Many companies paid so little to workers that the workers were almost slaves. Some of the large companies use perfectly legal means to enlarge their companies, but the methods were just not “good” for anyone other than those companies. As stated in the book: “every passing week heralded new combinations, stirring fear in small businessmen and consumers alike. Across the country, mergers brought absentee ownership, disregard for working conditions higher prices, and lower wages.”

The two presidents seemed to be among the first to do what they called “Progress.” They helped establish a minimum wage, supported what has become a normal 40 hour work week, began regulations on certain type of corporate consolidations, begin safety practices, etc.

Many business (large and small) practices many consider normal and good today were started a little more than a hundred years ago and the term “Progress” was attached to them.

Fast forward (skipping so many examples) to today, the early part of the 21st century. Many people still want “Progress.”

I am among those desiring progress, but here is where that warning of being careful comes into play.

Progress in our technology is exhibited by being able for man to walk on the moon or being able to land a spacecraft on Mars.

Progress in farming is ‘No-tillage’ planting and being able to plant or harvest 16 rows of a crop at one time rather than one or two rows at a time.

You can see many, many examples of progress in such a wide variety of fields.

However:

Is it progress to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour or more? Is it progress to make the work week 32 hours a week?

Is it progress to shut down traditional forms of energy production (oil and gas) and rely on “Green Energy” production before the transitional parts are put in place? (Think back to the energy shortages in Texas just a month or two ago.)

Is it progress to try to solve problems some women have when pregnant and about to bring more children into the world by “killing” the babies.

Today . . . it seems many people have taken the word “Progress” and have applied it to some pretty ‘weird’ social programs and if you oppose them, you are a bad person.

Roosevelt was known for coming up with many statements that were often quoted by reporters. One of my favorite quotes from this book is: “no law could ever be framed to make a fool wise or a weakling strong, or a coward brave.”

I would add that no law could ever be framed to make it ‘progress’ to kill unborn humans via abortions.

When the president we elected in 2008 called for “fundamental changes” in American Society, he called what he proposed . . . “Progress.” If you opposed what he wanted you were at odds with whatever is good and wholesome.

He was not the first, nor is he the last person to misuse the word progress.

It may be easy to recognize progress in material things (radios today is an example of progress when compared to the radios of 50 years ago). However, in so many other areas (primarily social, economic and moral) progress is not always evident. Be careful out there.

A O