Liberalism: A Misunderstood term ( Archived) (85)

In response to: Liberalism (from the Latin liberalis, "of freedom")is the belief in the importance of individual liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but most liberals support such fundamental ideas as constitutions, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights, capitalism, free trade, and the separation of church and state. These ideas are widely accepted, even by political groups that do not openly profess a liberal ideological orientation. Liberalism encompasses several intellectual trends and traditions, but the dominant variants are classical liberalism, which became popular in the eighteenth century, and social liberalism, which became popular in the twentieth century.

Liberalism first became a powerful force in the Age of Enlightenment, rejecting several foundational assumptions that dominated most earlier theories of government, such as hereditary status, established religion, absolute monarchy, and the Divine Right of Kings. The early liberal thinker John Locke, who is often credited for the creation of liberalism as a distinct philosophical tradition, employed the concept of natural rights and the social contract to argue that the rule of law should replace absolutism in government, that rulers were subject to the consent of the governed, and that private individuals had a fundamental right to life, liberty, and property. - wiki

Galactic_bodhi: To be a liberal in America these days is to suffer, according to several media pundits *cough*, "mental illness".

But by the above definition, to be American is to be a Liberal. Do we not believe in the equality of humanity, the pursuit of happiness, and have we not fought numerous wars for the sake of "Liberalism" as defined above? Are we not an Enlightened Republic?

The last few days have me wondering.

Conservatives often throw "Liberal" around as a hateful epithet, but do they even know what they are talking about? Do they truly wish to return to a time where the Divine Right of Kings is what determines everyone's destiny? Or is it all just part of the vitriol of the current political landscape?

Sure, Liberty is a bad thing, when somebody else has it and you want more of it. But the cost of Liberty is blood. Let us find common ground in the blood spilt this weekend in realizing that we are all Liberals, or we can return to Hobbes' "Bellum omnium contra omnes" and forget this social contract we call America.

leigh2154: Liberalism:

Basic concept for liberalism is the "role" of governing is to "regulate" and "oversee" economy. Liberalism dictates through "social" programs focused on helping the poor and middle class.

Basic concept for conservatism is the "role" of governing is to "regulate" and "oversee" morality.
Conservatism dictates through authority and a believe in a "pull your own weight" philosophy.

As times passes, these two "very different" concepts become more and more blended which is the primary cause of the confusion many feel when trying to choose or support a "party".

Today, the differences between the two is either clear or muddied, depending on current events and which party holds office.

trish123: "Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders.

That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.

It works the same in any country." Written by Goering in 1946 and apparently as true today as it ever was..........