How Do We Define Liberalism

The exact definition of liberalism has changed over the years and has had a different meaning. The context we put liberalism into today is more of Marxist or Socialist ideology. This brings up interesting questions about what a Liberal Democrat is. It is necessary always to understand your adversaries. For example, early in my career, I realized Islamic terrorism to be a real threat, yet, I knew extraordinarily little about Islam. I decided to educate myself, and it has been a significant journey for me. My understanding of what Islam is and what its goals are in this world came sharply into context on September 9, 2001. I quickly delved into the books, including reading the Koran. My understanding grew, and I was shortly off to the Iraq and Afghan Wars.

My point is I educated myself about what I perceived as a threat to our way of life. I have embarked on the same process of understanding liberalism in its present context within our political system. The question in my mind is Marxist (Communist), Socialist (Nazism), and Fascist (Socialism) the same or in degrees of being the same to Liberal Democrats? Your opinions help in the education of all of us, so join in on this exploration of thought.

3 Comments

  1. Ed Sullivan

    As to September “11”, 2001, I will ignore the obvious typo. As to Liberalism as an ideology, I have watched it morph from JFK into the insanity of AOC. When RFK was murdered, I realized that there was a heinous, evil, rotten underbelly within the liberal movement that was set on what we now call the NWO. I see absolutely nothing different in stated goals of that NWO, as stated by Soros in DAVOS last year, and what George Orwell wrote in 1949 in the book “1984”. The insanity that it takes to opt for that outcome is so foreign to me that I really can not understand it. There are a lot of much smarter folks out here who may be able to enlighten me, maybe even show me flaws in my logic!

  2. Carl A Goldberg

    Here are a couple of standard definitions:
    ——————————————–
    What is liberalism and what are its characteristics?

    Liberals are characterized by defending individual rights in the political, economic and social spheres. For liberals, the right to free thought and respect for individuality in general is very important. Liberalism argues that subordinating to an institution is not part of the nature of individuals.
    ———————————————–
    lib·er·al·ism
    /ˈlib(ə)rəˌlizəm/
    noun

    1. willingness to respect or accept behaviour or opinions different from one’s own; openness to new ideas:
    “one of the basic tenets of liberalism is tolerance”
    2. a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise.
    ———————————————————

    The Democrat Party today is moving rapidly from “liberal” to socialist and “progressive”. There are still liberals in the DP, but it seems that they are being edged out by the likes of Ilhan Omar, AOC, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and others. Pelosi and other former liberals are being dragged to the left.

  3. Duane Smith

    For years now, we have all heard the term “Liberal Democrat”. I submit that this is a classic oxymoron, and in the interest of extirpating obfuscation, I offer the following:

    Libertarianism is a political philosophy that takes individual liberty to be of primary political value. Originally, liberals strongly emphasized the individual’s right to liberty. [from Latin liberalis, from liber free (man)]. They contended that the scope and powers of government should be constrained, in order to allow each individual as much freedom as is consistent with the same freedom for everyone else.

    One of the first statements of libertarianism, An Agreement of the People (1647), was produced during the English Civil Wars (1642-1651). It included in addition to such ideological concepts as legal equality and religious toleration, with a strong emphasis on limited representative government.

    In the Declaration of Independence (1776), one finds many liberal and libertarian ideas. These include the belief in “unalienable Rights” to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. And also, reference to the “right” and “duty” of citizens to “throw off such Government” that violates these rights. [Thomas Jefferson].

    During the 20th century, welfare state liberalism, or social democracy as it was more commonly called, emerged as the dominant form of liberalism. Self-described liberals no longer supported minimal government, but instead began to advocate for more and more government regulation of almost everything. Such as, heavier taxation of the rich; the introduction of various government-funded social services, and so forth. As time progressed, these concepts grew almost exponentially.

    Today, the self-identified “Liberal” Democrat Party is determined to achieve total governmental control of everyone. One simply has to consider the current Democratic platform articulated by the Biden/Harris campaign: the Green New Deal; shut down all coal mines; no fracking for natural gas; mandatory Medicare for all; mandatory gun buy-back [“I’ll give Congress 100 days to get their act together, then I’ll issue an Executive Order” Kamala Harris]; raise Corporate taxes to 40%; minimum wage at $15.00; a wealth tax on the more affluent; universal basic income so everyone has the same income; full amnesty for all illegals; and as Biden stated “not one more foot of boarder wall”.

    The term “Liberal Democrat” as it is used today, is a complete and utter falsification of any acceptable definition of the word Liberal or Libertarian. It is diametrically opposed to the true liberal philosophy, yet is presented by the politicians and the propaganda mongers (otherwise known as the “mainstream media”) who present themselves as Liberal Democrats, attempting to dupe the average citizen in to voting in favor of a Democratic regime. Equality for all.

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