I dunno what sort of progressives you're thinking of, John. The ones I know are progressive BECAUSE they want to see social inventions which bring about progress, and which improve the general situation for all participants.
Some folks get rabid in defense of their own interests only. They may want specific changes, such as zoning variances for their proposed developments, but they are not progressives. Others, like Rushbo, get rabid just on principle because it sells advertising minutes.