I just finished an interesting book about Harry Jaffa. The author makes this statement. “Today’s progressives do not think of themselves as tyrants any more than the Progressives of Wilson’s time, but the underlying doctrines are metaphysically identical to totalitarianism.” — Hayward, Steven F.. Patriotism Is Not Enough (p. 207). Encounter Books. Kindle Edition.
Wilson and the Progressive Era viewed the Constitution as blocking needed change. They sought ways around the constraints to ‘scientifically’ pursue social and economic goals. Even assuming uniformly laudatory motivations the approach blazed a path along which all manner of mischief could be, and has been, wheeled in. Many, myself included, have confused and conflated liberalism and progressivism. Liberalism has, or should have, at its center Liberty. Progressivism has no such center.