Commentary How often do we hear political commentators and Republican officials use the terms “liberal” and “progressive” interchangeably when discussing Democrats? Yet the meanings of the two terms could not be more different. Liberalism as a political philosophy emphasizes individual freedom, agency, and choice. Human nature, in the liberal view, is a mix of qualities: energy and sloth, selfishness and generosity, creativity and habit. Society exists to provide the maximum of freedom to individuals, with the constraints necessary to limit the encroachment of one on another. Inequality in a liberal society reflects the differences in capabilities and motivations among individuals. Liberalism favors free elections of public officials and limited government. For liberals, economics should be based on contractual relations freely entered into by producers and consumers, entrepreneurs, and labor. Progressivism emphasizes equality and rights. Human nature, in the progressive view, is basically good, with vices resulting from imperfect and oppressive …