Quote:
Originally posted by swissmiss04
That's a very astute observation. I think the misconception that many people have about liberalism is that they're all about free handouts and making everyone the same in pseudo-Communist fashion. This is not the case. It's stupid to think that everyone can be successful and influential. On the other hand, it's wrong that people are denied opportunities because of their race, religion, or SES. What people choose to do with the opportunities given determines their success. I am all for offering equal opportunities for everyone. I am not for bailing people out because they blew it and chose to do drugs or commit crimes.
Saying that all liberals are for free handouts is like saying that all conservatives are against helping poor people.
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I think that misconceptions about liberalism arise from people, in the US, who call themselves "liberal." Most are ignorant about what liberalism really is. Australians have a Liberal Party, and its for free (liberal) markets, and a minimal involvement in peoples lives. Its kind of like a moderate version our Libertarian Party, but with more foreign involvement. Europeans are also far more accurate with the label of "liberal."
Most people who I know IRL, and on this board, who call themselves "liberals" are social-democrats. They tend to have illiberal attitudes that become quite apparant when one is aware of the tenetts of classical liberalism. There's an old saying that "most macro-liberals are micro-fascists." This rings more true in the US where most self proclaimed liberals, really aren't.
One day I'll do some homework and find out exactly when, and why, the American definition of liberalism became so contorted. It seems to have occurred sometime in the first third of the 20th Century, and the change seems to have been driven by a Marxist reconstruction of linguistics to meet political agendas, the very act of which is profoundly illiberal.
So, I wouldn't call people's impressions of liberals, in this country, so off base. If most "liberals" actually knew what classical liberalism was, and honsetly labeled themselves, these misconceptions would go away.
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