I'm interested in comparing proto-progressives directly with their modern counterparts. That's a neat angle that I haven't seen before. Not sure it's worthwhile to bring Piketty into the equation, or necessary. Will read this and find out. (Maybe, also, everyone means something different by 'progress'.)These two sentences sum up a profound irony—the central contradiction of modern progressives. They do not believe in progress. A century ago, America’s first progressives believed very much in the power of their reforms. Theodore Roosevelt was proud to protect the environment. John Dewey was busy promoting universal education. Alice Paul was busy fighting for a woman’s right to vote. They succeeded. Today, neo-progressives would have us forget all that, and maybe it’s because economic hindsight is anything but clear.