An all-purpose catchphrase denouncing any and all ideas, arguments, behaviours and/or organizations perceived as being "liberal". Used primarily by ultra-right wing reactionary wingnuts (a small but unfortunately vocal segment of regular conservatism) for whom the term has an almost satanic connotation. The general purpose is to portray all political ideologies not supportive of their own as subversive, deceptive and dishonest.
The term was made particularly popular by Conservapedia, "the trustworthy encyclopedia", and its founder, Andrew Schlafly. Its overuse there has since weakened its effectiveness substantially, particularly anywhere on the internet. Consequently, it is almost never taken seriously anymore by either side of the political spectrum. Often the term is used to mock or parody fundamentalists and paranoid political demonization of the opposition, although Poe's Law may sometimes lead to confusion with actual ultra-conservatives making making "serious" arguments.
The term was made particularly popular by Conservapedia, "the trustworthy encyclopedia", and its founder, Andrew Schlafly. Its overuse there has since weakened its effectiveness substantially, particularly anywhere on the internet. Consequently, it is almost never taken seriously anymore by either side of the political spectrum. Often the term is used to mock or parody fundamentalists and paranoid political demonization of the opposition, although Poe's Law may sometimes lead to confusion with actual ultra-conservatives making making "serious" arguments.
"It's another liberal falsehood. I don't expect that falsehood to bother liberals, but it will matter to everyone else. It's going into the growing list of liberal deceit." - Andrew Schlafly
by feebas_factor May 11, 2008
Get the liberal deceit mug.Someone who thinks that killing an unborn child is free choice, but killing a convicted murderer or a child rapist is "insensitive".
Someone who think the government should control all aspects of life examples: Healthcare, Education, Business, personal income, and religious beliefs (So nobody can be offended).
Someone who thinks that eliminating poverty is more important than preserving economic freedom in life.
Someone who thinks that fair taxation is not fair until the people who make more money pay more than their fair share.
Someone who supports such extreme environmental regulations that drilling for oil in the US is virtually impossible, but also fight against any source of energy that actually works (Nuclear, Coal). But they can also support ethanol that takes approximately 1.5 gallons of diesel fuel to provide the power to make 1 gallon of "environmental friendly" ethanol.
They must also subsidize ethanol companies, therefore creating a money vacuum into a doomed energy policy. Which not too mention has decreased US food production and therefore has led to a worldwide increase of countries with food shortages by the way.
Someone who supports free speech as long as it doesn't contradict what they believe, then it's no longer free speech, but "hate speech."
They must also be completely ignorant of history which shows us that increase in government control ultimately leads to the destruction of freedom. Examples: The Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, The People's Republic of China, etc.
Someone who believes in equal economic outcome (an aspect of socialism) instead of inequality based on what you earned (an aspect of capitalism).
Someone who blindly believes that the government would never do anything to hinder the freedoms of people no matter how much power it is given and the government is the solution to all economic and social problems because they actually know what's best for you, not the individual. Remember, Big Brother is here to help you, not hurt you.
There are of course many other things that you must blindly believe in order to be a liberal in the modern political American aspect of the word. Regardless of what history teaches us about government control in people's lives.
Someone who think the government should control all aspects of life examples: Healthcare, Education, Business, personal income, and religious beliefs (So nobody can be offended).
Someone who thinks that eliminating poverty is more important than preserving economic freedom in life.
Someone who thinks that fair taxation is not fair until the people who make more money pay more than their fair share.
Someone who supports such extreme environmental regulations that drilling for oil in the US is virtually impossible, but also fight against any source of energy that actually works (Nuclear, Coal). But they can also support ethanol that takes approximately 1.5 gallons of diesel fuel to provide the power to make 1 gallon of "environmental friendly" ethanol.
They must also subsidize ethanol companies, therefore creating a money vacuum into a doomed energy policy. Which not too mention has decreased US food production and therefore has led to a worldwide increase of countries with food shortages by the way.
Someone who supports free speech as long as it doesn't contradict what they believe, then it's no longer free speech, but "hate speech."
They must also be completely ignorant of history which shows us that increase in government control ultimately leads to the destruction of freedom. Examples: The Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, The People's Republic of China, etc.
Someone who believes in equal economic outcome (an aspect of socialism) instead of inequality based on what you earned (an aspect of capitalism).
Someone who blindly believes that the government would never do anything to hinder the freedoms of people no matter how much power it is given and the government is the solution to all economic and social problems because they actually know what's best for you, not the individual. Remember, Big Brother is here to help you, not hurt you.
There are of course many other things that you must blindly believe in order to be a liberal in the modern political American aspect of the word. Regardless of what history teaches us about government control in people's lives.
Conservative: Doesn't history show us that too much government control, even with good intentions, leads to inevitable destruction of freedom?
Liberal: That's only because the wrong people were in power
Conservative: What makes modern American liberals so different?
Liberal: Because WE have the best interest of the people on our minds.
Conservative: That's what every oppressive government in history said when they eliminated freedoms for the sake of the "common good"
Liberal: But we're different! We're not eliminating freedom, but eliminating people's choice to make wrong decisions.
Conservative: So who decides what's "best for the people", the government? How does that make you different than a socialist?
Liberal: WE JUST ARE! You're a racist! And a Bigot! And you don't care about anybody but the super rich!
Conservative: Why? Because I don't want the government to have complete control in people's lives? But instead give the people the right to prosper if they choose, or to not if they choose?
Liberal: Just shut up! You're an ignorant, Christian, redneck, homophobe!
Conservative: My point exactly.
Liberal: That's only because the wrong people were in power
Conservative: What makes modern American liberals so different?
Liberal: Because WE have the best interest of the people on our minds.
Conservative: That's what every oppressive government in history said when they eliminated freedoms for the sake of the "common good"
Liberal: But we're different! We're not eliminating freedom, but eliminating people's choice to make wrong decisions.
Conservative: So who decides what's "best for the people", the government? How does that make you different than a socialist?
Liberal: WE JUST ARE! You're a racist! And a Bigot! And you don't care about anybody but the super rich!
Conservative: Why? Because I don't want the government to have complete control in people's lives? But instead give the people the right to prosper if they choose, or to not if they choose?
Liberal: Just shut up! You're an ignorant, Christian, redneck, homophobe!
Conservative: My point exactly.
by Ethan Daigle April 21, 2008
Get the liberal mug.Technically, Liberalism is at the center of the political spectrum. In UK politics, this position is championed by the Liberal Democrat Party. However, in the US, 'Liberal' is often used to describe members of the Democratic Party, despite the Democratic Party occupying the socialist area of the spectrum, much like the Labour Party.
UK:
Jack: Which party do you support?
John: Lib Dem.
Jack: So you're a Liberal?
John: Yep.
US:
Jack: Which party do you support?
John: Democrat.
Jack: So you're a Liberal?
John: No, I'm a socialist.
Jack: Which party do you support?
John: Lib Dem.
Jack: So you're a Liberal?
John: Yep.
US:
Jack: Which party do you support?
John: Democrat.
Jack: So you're a Liberal?
John: No, I'm a socialist.
by themanwhoeatscheese December 28, 2010
Get the Liberal mug.People who steal other words to become more recorgnized. They then accuse modern liberalism of stealing their word.
1. Hi, I'm a classic liberal, but I'll call myself a libertarian even though I know the origins of the word come from anti-capitalists
2. Hello, it's me again, the classic liberal. This time I'm gonna call myself an "anarcho-capitalism", because anarchism is cool and I love capitalism. I'm also oblivious to the fact that anarchism generally rejects capitalism and that "anarcho-capitalism" is actually an oxymoron.
2. Hello, it's me again, the classic liberal. This time I'm gonna call myself an "anarcho-capitalism", because anarchism is cool and I love capitalism. I'm also oblivious to the fact that anarchism generally rejects capitalism and that "anarcho-capitalism" is actually an oxymoron.
by Insaniac82 April 29, 2008
Get the classic liberal mug.That Liberal is such an idiot
by The TRUTH2020 June 2, 2020
Get the Liberal mug.1. Political tendency which, in the European context, sits firmly in the middle of the spectrum, without any strong political ideology. Synonymous with "middle-of-the-road". American liberals are considerably to the right of their European counterparts.
"A woolly liberal", "a wet liberal"
2. Theological tendency, synonymous with Modernist, opposite to Conservative or Fundamentalist.
3. An ill-defined term, often abusive, which provokes violent and hysterical reactions from Americans.
"A woolly liberal", "a wet liberal"
2. Theological tendency, synonymous with Modernist, opposite to Conservative or Fundamentalist.
3. An ill-defined term, often abusive, which provokes violent and hysterical reactions from Americans.
by Unsavoury foreigner February 16, 2005
Get the liberal mug.A condition that affects a subset of roughly 25% of the general population, the majority of which being those individuals that are more conservative in ideology. The root cause is unknown but certain triggers have been identified as a catalyst to its malignancy. Once affected the individual rapidly devolves, displaying an overtly phobic reaction to humanistic advancement causing a great deal of suffering, for themselves, their fellow man and the surrounding environment.
As to the catalyst, the usage of certain words (libergenda, welfare, intellect, Janeane Garofalo, and oddly, Tit Mouse) within a town hall will cause the resulting sound waves to reverberate in a peculiar pattern. When exposed to a republican, the waves will latch onto the frontal lobe resulting in a highly irrational fear of science, artistic expression, literary latitude and an overall reluctance to engage in anything involving thought processes.
Recent studies have shown that when exposed to a tea bagger, without amplification, the unrestricted utterance of these words yield sound waves that bypass the frontal lobe all together and imbed deep within the amygdaloidal body of the brain, causing a nearly irreversible negative synergistic effect resulting in verbal convolution, an abnormal discontinuity in the senses, fidgets, disillusionment, the attempt to render warped reality into actuality, and the sudden ability to create propagandistic signage.
As to the catalyst, the usage of certain words (libergenda, welfare, intellect, Janeane Garofalo, and oddly, Tit Mouse) within a town hall will cause the resulting sound waves to reverberate in a peculiar pattern. When exposed to a republican, the waves will latch onto the frontal lobe resulting in a highly irrational fear of science, artistic expression, literary latitude and an overall reluctance to engage in anything involving thought processes.
Recent studies have shown that when exposed to a tea bagger, without amplification, the unrestricted utterance of these words yield sound waves that bypass the frontal lobe all together and imbed deep within the amygdaloidal body of the brain, causing a nearly irreversible negative synergistic effect resulting in verbal convolution, an abnormal discontinuity in the senses, fidgets, disillusionment, the attempt to render warped reality into actuality, and the sudden ability to create propagandistic signage.
As of yet, no know cure exists, although treatment in the form of higher education has proved to be somewhat effective in reversing the majority of the symptoms. However, a greater barrier to treatment is convincing those afflicted with the condition that help is available and that the stigmatic barriers in accepting their condition and seeking treatment, are themselves a part of the disillusionment.
Jimbo: "What ails ya Jefferson?"
Jefferson: "Doc says I got the 'libergenditis'. Pass me that paint now... I gotta finnish this sign"
Jimbo: "It sure is purdy."
Jimbo: "What ails ya Jefferson?"
Jefferson: "Doc says I got the 'libergenditis'. Pass me that paint now... I gotta finnish this sign"
Jimbo: "It sure is purdy."
by PlanetBJR January 2, 2011
Get the libergenditis mug.