I wish to begin by saying that no definition of Liberal can be found without some personal bias of the author. I myself am a liberal, and although I believe this to be a comprehensive definition, others will define Liberal in a more callous sense. They are mistaken, but that's just my opinion. "Baby killer", for instance, is merely a stereotype of a liberal.
Of the left wing in the political spectrum; liberal is a broad term usually lost in the flurry of stereotypical distinctions like Democrat, Anarchist, Libertarian, Green, or Socialist. Liberals typically value personal freedom and the well-being of others over their own moral opinions. Liberals have been the moving force in American culture for centuries, with the conservatives being the holding force. Liberals were responsible for the emancipation and suffrage of blacks, women's suffrage, the teaching of evolution, and other political decisions considered controversial by the right. Atheists are typically associated with the left, as are gays, blacks, "pro choice" proponents, and American intellectuals. It is confusing to associate either liberals or conservatives with America's financial base, because both sides have wealthy families. America's religious base is more commonly aligned with conservatives, and thus most attacks on liberals are fueled by religious fervor (criticizing liberals on being pro-choice on abortion, on not supporting the War in Iraq, on calling for stricter enforcement of separation of church and state, etc). In recent years, there have been few good representatives of Liberalism, those few being Michael Moore, Howard Dean, John Kerry, and a handful of relatively unknown writers and artists (Howard Zinn, Zach De La Rocha, etc).
Of the left wing in the political spectrum; liberal is a broad term usually lost in the flurry of stereotypical distinctions like Democrat, Anarchist, Libertarian, Green, or Socialist. Liberals typically value personal freedom and the well-being of others over their own moral opinions. Liberals have been the moving force in American culture for centuries, with the conservatives being the holding force. Liberals were responsible for the emancipation and suffrage of blacks, women's suffrage, the teaching of evolution, and other political decisions considered controversial by the right. Atheists are typically associated with the left, as are gays, blacks, "pro choice" proponents, and American intellectuals. It is confusing to associate either liberals or conservatives with America's financial base, because both sides have wealthy families. America's religious base is more commonly aligned with conservatives, and thus most attacks on liberals are fueled by religious fervor (criticizing liberals on being pro-choice on abortion, on not supporting the War in Iraq, on calling for stricter enforcement of separation of church and state, etc). In recent years, there have been few good representatives of Liberalism, those few being Michael Moore, Howard Dean, John Kerry, and a handful of relatively unknown writers and artists (Howard Zinn, Zach De La Rocha, etc).
Why do conservatives call liberals "commies", even though communists are conservatives themselves? Is it too hard to say "socialists"?
by Mr. Evan July 11, 2005
Get the Liberal mug.The politics of a man with a brain and not a gay obsession with American Nationalism.
Pro abortion
Pro- gay rights
Not obsessed with fairytale books like the bible
Not willing to allow old people to die as they are unable to afford to heat their homes just to promote capitalism
They do not want to arm everyone with guns
Now obviously some liberals go too far and this is what gives them and a bad name and associates them with being a "liberal hippie douche". and promote disgusting policies such as affirmative action (Giving non-whites more rights than whites in essence). And some of them are far too anti-war. But generally they have the correct policies.
Pro abortion
Pro- gay rights
Not obsessed with fairytale books like the bible
Not willing to allow old people to die as they are unable to afford to heat their homes just to promote capitalism
They do not want to arm everyone with guns
Now obviously some liberals go too far and this is what gives them and a bad name and associates them with being a "liberal hippie douche". and promote disgusting policies such as affirmative action (Giving non-whites more rights than whites in essence). And some of them are far too anti-war. But generally they have the correct policies.
Liberal
by Propane_Nightmares December 4, 2010
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One who aligns themself with the left of center or left wing party, democrat or socialist. Distortion of history, politics, and social issues is usual. They enjoy smoking pot, looking at flowers, singing Kum-By-ya, and holding hands. They can usualy be found protesting everything under the sun and feel that they deserve handouts and have a right to a job, other peoples money, and emot whatever they feel without consequences.
All the Democrats, socialists, environmental extreamists, anti-war nut jobs, Cindy Sheehan, Michael Moore, Al Frankin, and all the likes of Air America.
These are all Liberal Whack-Job types.
These are all Liberal Whack-Job types.
by Mike3452 October 17, 2006
Get the Liberal Whack-Job mug.Something that people like Ann Coulter and other neoconservatives misrepresent. The Green and Libertarian parties both embrace the philosophy of liberalism.
Liberalism has nothing to do with economy. It is completely independent of capitalism or any other economic system. Liberalism is a strictly social philosophy.
It is the opposite of authoritarianism.
It is also NOT the opposite of conservatism.
Under liberalism, the government has little role in regulating social affairs. Under liberalism, the government exists to protect liberties, not take them away.
Liberalism has nothing to do with economy. It is completely independent of capitalism or any other economic system. Liberalism is a strictly social philosophy.
It is the opposite of authoritarianism.
It is also NOT the opposite of conservatism.
Under liberalism, the government has little role in regulating social affairs. Under liberalism, the government exists to protect liberties, not take them away.
"Liberalism is a political current embracing several historical and present-day ideologies that claim defense of individual liberty as the purpose of government. It typically favors the right to dissent from orthodox tenets or established authorities in political or religious matters. In this respect, it is sometimes held in contrast to conservatism. Since liberalism also focuses on the ability of individuals to structure a society, it is almost always opposed to totalitarianism, and often to collectivist ideologies, particularly communism." - Wikipedia.com
The Bill of Rights is a product of liberalism.
The Bill of Rights is a product of liberalism.
by DrIdiot March 1, 2005
Get the liberalism mug.A term coined by Austrian economist Murray Rothbard to describe people who call themselves libertarians defining liberty as moral license (see libertine). They are former Marxists, contemporary liberals, practicing drug-users, homosexuals, self-appointed members of the avant-garde, haters of tradition, anti-religious (especially anti-Christian) atheists, alienated teens and young adults, politically correct leftists, humanitarians who see the established culture and morality as equally or more threatening than an expansive government. They also reject the classical liberalism that the United States of America is founded upon. In fact, many of these people have not read or do not care to read the writings of the Founders of the United States or the philosophers who influenced them. If they do appeal to the Founders, they cite quotes taken out of context to support their leftist views. They also care little for community, culture, or history.
These "libertarians" have taken on the name to justify a nihilistic view of the world, where restraint of any kind is removed so that they can indulge their appetites. Many modal libertarians have an appreciation of the free market because they realize the market can supply their drugs, pornography, and prostitutes more effectively. They confirm the fears expressed by Daniel Bell of the cultural contradictions of capitalism where increased levels of wealth produced by capitalism undermine the traditional values based on self-restraint that make capitalism successful. The same ethic of self-indulgence explains their support for abortion on demand and unrestricted euthanasia. The logic here is to kill anyone who cannot keep up and is deemed to have an inferior "quality of life."
Former *Reason* magazine editor, Nick Gillespie, personifies this anti-social trend. He praises as "Heroes of Freedom" Madonna, Dennis Rodman, Larry Flynt, and William Burroughs alongside such true heroes as Milton Friedman and Barry Goldwater. Gillespie epitomizes this brand of libertarianism by posing as the angry young man hipster too cool for the rest of us poor unimaginative slobs.
These so-called libertarians are more interested in civil liberties that undercut law enforcement not because of fear of an abuse of power but because of their rejection of the imposition of pain including just punishment. Instead, they unrealistically believe that if all people are treated as equals and given opportunity to get rich in the market, then there would be no crime.
Although more traditional or paleo-libertarians such as Ron Paul are strict constitutionalists, modal libertarians are all in favor of using judicial activism to further their social goals of removing barriers to self-destructive behavior or placing barriers in the way of law enforcement and national security without regard to precedent or the text of the Constitution.
These bits of meliorism go hand in hand with their non-interventionism in foreign policy. Instead of opposing foreign wars to protect the lives and traditions of citizens of their own country, they believe that if wealth and opportunity can be expanded, then people would live harmoniously together in a peaceful cosmopolitan world. The basic assumptions about human nature and the human condition only differs from the leftist internationalist by replacing a super-statist/socialist order with a super market capitalist order that would transcend the nation state and particular local cultures. The same leftist vision is simply implemented by a different strategy. This line of thinking explains their support of mass immigration. It also explains why one does not hear these libertarians defend freedom of association.
Modal libertarians disdain tradition or any sense of social stability. They relish change for the sake of change. They crave novelty and destruction of anything that they have become bored with. Virginia Postrel, now writing for the *New York Times*, is a prime example of this love of frenetic activity. She misquotes Hayek on the nature of change as a thorough-going, radical process that countenances no constancy or commitment.
Modal libertarianism could be called left libertarianism. There is a variation of libertarianism which stresses voluntary collectivist social and economic arrangements that are still respectful of the right to private property and non-intervention by the State. These libertarians argue for people to choose to pool private property and live communally in various frameworks. This is not modal libertarianism. This type of leftist libertarianism is still consistent with the more traditional libertarian framework because each individual in such communities chooses to participate. There is a long history of such communities in the United States. Modal libertarians are more interested in re-shaping the world to fit their mold and defining the results as achieving freedom. Modal libertarians seem to slip on the term, 'liberty,' moving from what Issiah Berlin called "negative liberty" to "positive liberty." John Stuart Mill fell into this confusion in his writing as he tried to blend liberalism with egalitarianism. Mill is the cross-over figure from classical to modern liberalism. Something similar is going on with modal libertarians.
A lot of people calling themselves libertarians on the internet are teen-agers and young adults who are simply stuck in a mindless rebellion against all authority. Modal libertarians tap into this unrelenting, destructive rebellion in many young people who have been neglected or mistreated by self-absorbed parents. Ayn Rand's writings look especially inviting to these folks.
Even though some of the language and the policy positions cohere with those of Locke, Jefferson, Montesquieu, Mises, Hayek, Friedman, et al., the meanings they pour into the terms and phrases used by traditional libertarians and classical liberals are completely different. Unfortunately, the Libertarian Party has departed from their earlier candidates such as John Hospers, Roger MacBride, and Ron Paul and have moved to this liberal/leftist vision. We are now witnessing Bob Barr flip-flopping all over himself to appease these nihilists who have taken over the mantle of libertarianism.
These "libertarians" have taken on the name to justify a nihilistic view of the world, where restraint of any kind is removed so that they can indulge their appetites. Many modal libertarians have an appreciation of the free market because they realize the market can supply their drugs, pornography, and prostitutes more effectively. They confirm the fears expressed by Daniel Bell of the cultural contradictions of capitalism where increased levels of wealth produced by capitalism undermine the traditional values based on self-restraint that make capitalism successful. The same ethic of self-indulgence explains their support for abortion on demand and unrestricted euthanasia. The logic here is to kill anyone who cannot keep up and is deemed to have an inferior "quality of life."
Former *Reason* magazine editor, Nick Gillespie, personifies this anti-social trend. He praises as "Heroes of Freedom" Madonna, Dennis Rodman, Larry Flynt, and William Burroughs alongside such true heroes as Milton Friedman and Barry Goldwater. Gillespie epitomizes this brand of libertarianism by posing as the angry young man hipster too cool for the rest of us poor unimaginative slobs.
These so-called libertarians are more interested in civil liberties that undercut law enforcement not because of fear of an abuse of power but because of their rejection of the imposition of pain including just punishment. Instead, they unrealistically believe that if all people are treated as equals and given opportunity to get rich in the market, then there would be no crime.
Although more traditional or paleo-libertarians such as Ron Paul are strict constitutionalists, modal libertarians are all in favor of using judicial activism to further their social goals of removing barriers to self-destructive behavior or placing barriers in the way of law enforcement and national security without regard to precedent or the text of the Constitution.
These bits of meliorism go hand in hand with their non-interventionism in foreign policy. Instead of opposing foreign wars to protect the lives and traditions of citizens of their own country, they believe that if wealth and opportunity can be expanded, then people would live harmoniously together in a peaceful cosmopolitan world. The basic assumptions about human nature and the human condition only differs from the leftist internationalist by replacing a super-statist/socialist order with a super market capitalist order that would transcend the nation state and particular local cultures. The same leftist vision is simply implemented by a different strategy. This line of thinking explains their support of mass immigration. It also explains why one does not hear these libertarians defend freedom of association.
Modal libertarians disdain tradition or any sense of social stability. They relish change for the sake of change. They crave novelty and destruction of anything that they have become bored with. Virginia Postrel, now writing for the *New York Times*, is a prime example of this love of frenetic activity. She misquotes Hayek on the nature of change as a thorough-going, radical process that countenances no constancy or commitment.
Modal libertarianism could be called left libertarianism. There is a variation of libertarianism which stresses voluntary collectivist social and economic arrangements that are still respectful of the right to private property and non-intervention by the State. These libertarians argue for people to choose to pool private property and live communally in various frameworks. This is not modal libertarianism. This type of leftist libertarianism is still consistent with the more traditional libertarian framework because each individual in such communities chooses to participate. There is a long history of such communities in the United States. Modal libertarians are more interested in re-shaping the world to fit their mold and defining the results as achieving freedom. Modal libertarians seem to slip on the term, 'liberty,' moving from what Issiah Berlin called "negative liberty" to "positive liberty." John Stuart Mill fell into this confusion in his writing as he tried to blend liberalism with egalitarianism. Mill is the cross-over figure from classical to modern liberalism. Something similar is going on with modal libertarians.
A lot of people calling themselves libertarians on the internet are teen-agers and young adults who are simply stuck in a mindless rebellion against all authority. Modal libertarians tap into this unrelenting, destructive rebellion in many young people who have been neglected or mistreated by self-absorbed parents. Ayn Rand's writings look especially inviting to these folks.
Even though some of the language and the policy positions cohere with those of Locke, Jefferson, Montesquieu, Mises, Hayek, Friedman, et al., the meanings they pour into the terms and phrases used by traditional libertarians and classical liberals are completely different. Unfortunately, the Libertarian Party has departed from their earlier candidates such as John Hospers, Roger MacBride, and Ron Paul and have moved to this liberal/leftist vision. We are now witnessing Bob Barr flip-flopping all over himself to appease these nihilists who have taken over the mantle of libertarianism.
Traditionalist libertarian: "I am looking at the Libertarian Party platform and see mostly a leftist agenda. What is going on here?"
Modal libertarian: "Yes, we modal libertarians have moved away from that rightist repressive model of liberty to true liberty. The real enemy of the people is not the State so much as it is traditional morality, bigotry, Christianity, and nationalism. Conservatives are the real enemy now."
Modal libertarian: "Yes, we modal libertarians have moved away from that rightist repressive model of liberty to true liberty. The real enemy of the people is not the State so much as it is traditional morality, bigotry, Christianity, and nationalism. Conservatives are the real enemy now."
by Tex in Tex June 17, 2008
Get the modal libertarians mug.A person who believes there should be no government at all because they don't want to pay taxes. In order to support this view libertarians insist the government is completely corrupt and incapable while they use demonizing tactics against those who use or who are likely to use government programs intended to combat starvation and poverty, usually the poor and disabled. However, it's impossible to find a libertarian who will refuse government aid when they themselves become poor or disabled. This is because libertarians understand they are due reparations for the theft of their tax dollars, as is spelled out in the sacred governmental domination instruction manual known as the Constitution.
by catcatcher April 18, 2010
Get the libertarian mug.Verb.
To Liberal Democrat is to throw all your beliefs and ideals out of the window in a desperate grab for power.
To Liberal Democrat is to throw all your beliefs and ideals out of the window in a desperate grab for power.
by jimmyyyyyyyy00000 December 2, 2010
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