Actually, I think most Americans embrace classical liberalism. As such they believe one's humanity is tied to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Government exists to protect those rights and to referee when the rights of individuals conflict with one another.

Progressive liberalism has its roots in 18th century Marxism. It is grounded in the belief, that individuals must be subordinated to collectivism. Socialism, communism and democratic socialism are just different forms of "majority rules" which rejects individual "rights" and replaces them with privileges. Under that system decisions are evaluated by an elite group of people vested with the power to determine what constitutes the "greater good" even if such a decision results in collateral damage.

In a perfect world with perfect leaders truly able to discern what is best for everyone, that might work... but Nirvana is a fairy tale. And so, in the world called reality, I prefer the protection individual rights confers on humans over the suffering that people like the Uighurs suffer for the "greater good".