Wherefore Art Thou Progressive?

In answer to a question posted elsewhere:

"Progressive" has been used by 4 different parties in America, one of which is still active. I prefer it because 1) the word is much more clearly an opposite of "conservative" than the word liberal, 2) the Progressive Era made many improvements in government and people's lives which is something to emulate, 3) progressive goals are often about increasing individual liberty, but not always, 4) the current meaning of "liberal" is in many ways different from the original, which occasionally leads to some confusion, and 5) conservatives have poisoned the word "liberal".

But, really, I'd rather be called a DFH.