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Progessive is a normally term that was used for left-wing ideologies, whatever they are moderate or radical; while "liberal" is used as a synonym of "economic liberal", that is to mean the right wing parties (conservative).
Here progressive and liberal are synonyms, meaning both center-left economics and socially. Though, since France is economically to the left in government intervention issues, the economic policies suggested by most (except the most extreme ones) "liberals" here might not too different from an "economic liberal" European party. I know a Frenchman (actually born in north Africa but ethnically French) who's lived here for decades and supports the Democratic Party but back home would support the conservative party just on economic issues.
Location: Near Tours, France about 47°10'N 0°25'E
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Originally Posted by nei
Here progressive and liberal are synonyms, meaning both center-left economics and socially. Though, since France is economically to the left in government intervention issues, the economic policies suggested by most (except the most extreme ones) "liberals" here might not too different from an "economic liberal" European party. I know a Frenchman (actually born in north Africa but ethnically French) who's lived here for decades and supports the Democratic Party but back home would support the conservative party just on economic issues.
I know, this is one of the things that I wanted to point out in this tread, is that you canno't apply really an American political concept over France, or other country actually. I tend to thin that every country tend to have its own difinition of what is a right-wing idea, and what is a left wing idea.
I realized this when I lived in Quebec. The left-wing political party (in the economical way) there (Parti Quebecois) would be more or less "more social, more state care, ect"; but in the same time has its main political identity based on sovereignist, nationalist, patriotist, defending Quebec identity and patriotism... All ideas that would be considered very right-wing idea in France, but not there. Every right/left poltical classification of ideas is very relative to the place and the times I think.
Here progressive and liberal are synonyms, meaning both center-left economics and socially. Though, since France is economically to the left in government intervention issues, the economic policies suggested by most (except the most extreme ones) "liberals" here might not too different from an "economic liberal" European party. I know a Frenchman (actually born in north Africa but ethnically French) who's lived here for decades and supports the Democratic Party but back home would support the conservative party just on economic issues.
In European eyes, the United States don't really have a center-left party. Democrats are considered center to center-right, Republicans far-right. I think American republicans would go nuts if a real socialist would be in charge of their country (for example like our current prime minister Elio Di Rupo - a gay socialist ).
Not really, Democrats are center-right-center left-center and far right. The US constitution was created to avoid factionalism ans include all tendencies. For example, the Democratic party has an organization, or a tendency or whatever, included in the International Socialist Organization, they also have extreme left wings, and organizations considered as extreme right in Europe.
In European eyes, the United States don't really have a center-left party. Democrats are considered center to center-right, Republicans far-right. I think American republicans would go nuts if a real socialist would be in charge of their country (for example like our current prime minister Elio Di Rupo - a gay socialist ).
By beliefs of Democratic voters (elite may be different), their ideology isn't too different from British Labour / Liberal Democratic members. Interestingly, US Democrats are slightly more dovish than British Labour party voters. Nearby Vermont elects a senator who describes himself as a socialist, not really one but I suspect his beliefs aren't that different from a typical European social-democratic party.
04-15-2013, 09:29 AM
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France is actually a sociologically divided country based on Politics. The major cities in mainland France are more progressive while the overseas regions and suburban/rural areas usually the more moderate and conservative, but with some exceptions. There is almost an even mix of progressive, moderate, and conservative people in France.
I thought this topic was going to be about the public smoking ban in France that started in 2007 for restaurants, cafes, bars, and shisha lounges. While I love France for a lot of reasons, the public smoking ban was unexpected and disappointing, especially when I believed France was very progressive.
Before the smoking ban, France had a lot of shisha hookah lounges where people can smoke all sorts of flavored tobacco from cool objects in exotic lounges, but after the smoking ban, most of the shisha hookah lounges were not allowed to offer that to customers. I like smoking in hookah lounges at least once per month for Pineapple, Cinnamon, and Blueberry flavored tobacco, so I want France to allow public smoking again, at least in hookah bars.
I am sure once France gets a new president, there won’t be a smoking ban anymore, and smoking is going to be allowed in some public spaces.
The progressive liberal mentality is related to a lot of topics and subjects.
Location: Near Tours, France about 47°10'N 0°25'E
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brabham12
^
smoking in public is not progressive, the ban of public smoking is.
This is the point of the problem of this discussion: "progressiveness" is defined differently by different people. We all think that "poregressiveness" is what improve the society, but we won't agree of such or such thing or law is improving society or not. Some people might think Euthanasia is a progress of society, others won't (I personally won't has a precise idea on this since there are interesting aarguments on both sides)
It's very typical for people to roll their eyes at the United States and dismiss them as politically conservative, out of touch, red-necks. But even the States is more progressive in terms of gay rights than France.
And what's worse, is it seems like these protests are being carried out by the younger generation in France.
At this point, the United States is seeming more progessive than Europe. I guess you can't always believe the stereotypes.
Congrats on being so progressive
Now leave your rotting culture at home when you spend your Vacation money here
Who would want to spend his money with people like you, the great Buffalo Breath from the Prairies!!!
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