There are so many different and contradictory understandings of what it means to be "progressive" "leftist" "liberal" "socialist" "communist" and so on that it's impossible to create a definition that everyone agrees on.
fwiw, this is why the name of the left faction invariably changes over time, as liberals slowly latch on to and then neuter the old name. social democrat at one time meant what communist means today. socialism is similarly on it's way out and eventually communist will go too.
You have this issue with liberals co-opting terms that you pointed out, but in addition to that you also have historical instances where communists would self-identify with softer language and euphemistic phrasing because openly identifying as a communist could get you locked up for sedition/treason.
What I'm trying to say is that both sides are to blame, and horseshoe theory is real /s
fwiw, this is why the name of the left faction invariably changes over time, as liberals slowly latch on to and then neuter the old name. social democrat at one time meant what communist means today. socialism is similarly on it's way out and eventually communist will go too.
You have this issue with liberals co-opting terms that you pointed out, but in addition to that you also have historical instances where communists would self-identify with softer language and euphemistic phrasing because openly identifying as a communist could get you locked up for sedition/treason.
What I'm trying to say is that both sides are to blame, and horseshoe theory is real /s
ib4 communists officially rename the parties to "Tankie party"