They look at history, and see problems, like we do.
When I see history's problems, I say, "Those problems were a result of human nature, which does not change. And bad people will inevitably get control. So, lets have a system so that we econoimically leverage human nature, and limit the political harm causeable by human nature so that those bad things don't happen again." You know, a system which has checks and balances, and a federal government limited to enumerated powers and restricted by a Constitution.
Progressives say, "The big mistake was that someone other than me was in charge. I am a better and smarter person. When I am in charge, or people I pick are in charge, things will be better." They see limitations on government as bad because they limit their power to do good.
What Progressives don't think about is that someday they will lose power, and some "less able" or "evil" conservative type will again gain power, and then wreak havoc (from their point of view) with the power they collected to manage things better.
So, in one way of looking at it, their problem is more than just not understanding history; it is a shortsighted view of the future, and a failure to understand "systemic politics." (I just googled that, and unfortunately, I cannot claim to have coined that phrase. Damn!)
Today, we are slowly, decade after decade, court decision after court decision, omnibus spending bill after omnibus spending bill, executive order after executive order, increasing the power of the federal government in the name of "national progress" to overcome "local backwardism" and geographical political diversity. We are changing our system--making it more powerful. Politics is poisoned and becomes more hateful because each side has more to lose.
If we don't turn things around, eventually it will all collapse of its own weight, or a competent power hungry leader who thinks he can "fundamentally change" our system for the better will wreak havoc on our society.
And then you are left with this: