Debunking basic tenets of progressivism

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2016/04/the-four-tenets-of-progressivism/

Basic tenets of progressivism are said to be the following:

First, history has a destination.
Second, progressives uniquely discern it. (Barack Obama frequently declares things to be on or opposed to “the right side of history.”)

Third, politics should be democratic but peripheral to governance, which is the responsibility of experts scientifically administering the regulatory state.

Fourth, enlightened progressives should enforce limits on speech (witness IRS suppression of conservative advocacy groups) to prevent thinking unhelpful to history’s progressive unfolding.

http://progressivearmy.com/2016/01/10/the-five-tenets-of-modern-progressivism/

Second link defines them as follows:

One: The distrust of concentrated wealth and power in the hands of corporate oligarchy or aristocracy.
Two: Strong proponents of workplace regulations and the living wage.
Three: Environmental stewardship.
Four: Equality for all citizens, civil rights, and social justice.
Five: Investing in America

Now, short comments before analysis.
1) Progressives see history as being defined by progress - hence the name "progressive". According to them, history is more or less constant progress forward.
2) Progressivism holds itself as being unique, all-encompassing and the only way towards the truth. It believes all humans, all individuals, all cultures are equal, and thus all deserve the same treatment - the exact same treatment.
3) Progressives support the technocratic, undemocratic governance by the European Union and other supranational institutions. They also proved unable to accept that people might actually willingly support Trump and Orban, instead believing that democracy should be limited so that such "mistakes" may never happen again.
4) Progressives enforce heavy limits on freedom of speech. Being honest and truthful is no longer a guarantee of protection; in fact, it is a major risk. Primary values of speech, in progressive worldview, are not honestly and truth, but politeness and common-mindedness.
5) Some progressives do distrust concentration of wealth and power in the hands of oligarchs / aristocrats, but this usually applies only to those oligarchs that themselves do not support progressive ideology. The likes of George Soros and his ilk tend to get a free pass.
6) Progressives do indeed support workplace regulation and the living wage.
7) Progressive support for environmental stewardship is true.
Equality for all citizens, civil rights and social justice... but only as defined by progressives themselves.

Onto more detailed commentary.

History as progress

History may be seen as progress if one looks at it from a purely technological perspective, and if one limits himself to Western civilization. But other than that extremely narrow definition, this is very definitely not true. Looking first at the West, islamic invasions in 7th century cut off the supply of papyrus, causing extreme degradation in terms of learning, education, administration and organization. It would not be until 15th to 16th centuries that Europe - with sole exception of Byzantine Empire - would even start approaching the sophistication of the Roman Empire. After that, history had its ups and downs, with most recent trend being downwards, toward dissolution of civilization and regression not into barbarism, but into something even below animalistic state, with no social rules, morals and restrictions other than those that serve to keep rulers in power.

Universal ideology and values

This belief, as noted, consists of two individual but connected parts:
1) Progressivism itself is unique, all-encompassing and the only way towards the truth
2) All individuals, cultures, societies are equal and fundamentally same

Neither of these is correct. The fundamental folly and arrogance of the first belief does not need to be elaborated on extensively. It is enough to understand that political ideology - any political ideology - is merely a way, a pattern of thinking. A certain pattern of thought fits a certain set of circumstances, and if these circumstances change, ideology in question becomes incorrect and irrelevant. Therefore, the belief that progressive ideology is the only one correct is idiotic at best, genocidal at worst.

Second, individuals are different, cultures are different and societies are different. Individual differences are expressed in genetics, psychology, mentality, temperament, customs, beliefs and so on. These differences also apply to cultural, social and biological groups (i.e. cultures, nations, ethnicities / races). What is acceptable in one culture is not necessarily acceptable in a different culture. Likewise, a group of people which had evolved in certain living conditions (climate, first and foremost) will have physical and psychological characteristics best adapted to survival in climate in question. Regardless of the causes, fact is that indigenous subsaharan societies never reached the levels of cultural, social and technological development of Mediterranean societies. The same also applies to indigenous North European societies, which only started developing following the contact with Mediterranean societies. When looking at the map of advanced civilizations in 100 BC, it can be seen that all had developed in roughly the same latitude band. Even in 750 AD, only a few civilizations were outside of that band, and all of them were near the sea. Neither are cultures fundamentally same; some cultures pursue science and learning, others do not; some made human sacrifices, others either abandoned that practice or never had it in the first place.

Limitations to democracy

European union regularly attempts to override its member states in matters that should be under exclusive competence of these states. Hungary and Poland had been facing "corrective action" due to refusing to admit immigrants.

Limits to speech

Progressive discourse is based not on facts and logic, but on emotions and opinion. If progressives find something offensive, it is automatically declared to be untrue. Worse, not only is it declared to be untrue, but it is also banned.