Difference between revisions of "Liberal"

Revision as of 15:18, July 28, 2007

Liberalism in the US today

Modern liberalism in the US is typically associated with the left of the political spectrum. The word "Liberal" can mean different things at different times, but is often used as synonym for "Democrat". In the postwar period, "Liberals" advocated equal rights between races and sexes, and also for sexual freedom. At the same time they supported government intervention in the economy and welfare state policies, as well as peaceful coexistence with the communist block, which are not liberal policies in the sense of classical liberalism. After the end of the cold war, with the demise of socialism and communism, many Liberals embraced some ideas from economic neo-liberalism, and coined it the "Third Way". In the area of national security and foreign policy Liberals in the US failed to define a consistent stance, even after the events of 9/11 and the beginning of the war in Iraq. Liberals still support socially liberal positions when it comes to affirmative action, gay marriage, and abortion.

Many of the following views are held by Americans who consider themselves 'liberals':

• removal of gender differences, such as treating men and women identically in the military
• taxpayer-funded abortion
• same-sex marriage
• support of affirmative action
• support of political correctness
• reinstate the Fairness Doctrine
• censorship of prayer in classrooms
• compelled taxpayer funding of government schools for nearly all ages
• government-controlled medical care
• labor unions
• elimination of abstinence-only program funding ^[1]
• income redistribution, usually through progressive taxation
• a "living Constitution" that is reinterpreted rather than an unchanging Constitution as written
• support for gun control
• government programs to rehabilitate criminals
• environmentalism ^[2]
• disarmament treaties
• globalism
• opposition to a strong American foreign policy ^[3]
• support of obscenity and pornography as a First Amendment right^[4]
• opposition to full private property rights^[5]

Liberalism in Europe today

In Europe, on the other hand, parties that call themselves liberal are moderate to centre-right, promote typically economic and business freedom. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe^[6] is an organization that represents most liberal parties from European countries. Similar policies are promoted by many liberal parties throughout the world.^[7], such as the Liberal Party of Australia[3].

Trade unions and socialist parties often criticize politicians that promote lower taxes on business, or more flexible hiring and firing laws, by calling them 'liberals' or neoliberals. Thus, just like in the US, 'liberal' is often used as a term of abuse. But when someone is called 'liberal' in Europe, this is usually a way of calling them right-wing, exactly the opposite of the meaning in the US. In fact, the US meaning of liberal is more similar to the politics of European socialist or social democratic parties.^[8].

Original meaning: 'Classical liberalism'

The original philosophy of liberalism (now sometimes called classical liberalism, or libertarianism in the US), favors many forms of freedom, such as:

• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of religion
• The right to form political parties and vote
• Freedom to invest in and use private property
• Freedom to work as one chooses
• Freedom to enter into economic contracts
• Free trade and freedom of migration
• Sexual freedom
• Equal rights independent of race or sex

This interpretation of liberalism arose during the Enlightenment, and became influential throught the American Revolution and French Revolution, and was also spread in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the classical economists^[9].

A prominent publication which promotes liberalism in the original sense of the word is the British newsmagazine The Economist.

Alternative meanings of 'liberal'

One definition of liberal is anything that is not conservative. For example, the American Heritage Dictionary includes this definition of "liberal":^[10]

• Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas ...

Liberal Organizations

• AARP - American Association of Retired People
• ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union
• AFL-CIO - American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
• AI - Amnesty International
• DNC - Democratic National Committee
• Greenpeace
• NARAL - National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League
• NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• National Committee for an Effective Congress
• NEA - National Education Association
• NOW - National Organization of Women
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America
• Rainbow/PUSH Coalition

Source: The Politix Group

See Also

Liberal hypocrisy
Essay:Liberal Style

References

1. ↑ Democrats Aim To Kill Abstinence-Only Program Funding, Fox News, Monday, June 25, 2007
2. ↑ Greenpeace engages in environmentalism.
3. ↑ Stefaan Walgrave and Joris Verhulst, The February 15 Worldwide Protests against a War in Iraq: An Empirical Test of Transnational Opportunities. Outline of a Research Programme(PDF).
4. ↑ The Warren Court, led by liberal Justices William O. Douglas, Hugo Black, Abe Fortas, William Brennan and Chief Justice Earl Warren issued 36 decisions granting First Amendment rights to obscenity and pornography. These decisions remain fully supported by liberals today.
5. ↑ For example, the liberal wing of the U.S. Supreme Court issued the 5-4 Kelo v. City of New London decision authorizing the taking of private property by government in order to give the property to another private entity rather than convert it to a public use.
6. ↑ http://www.alde.eu
7. ↑ http://www.liberal-international.org/
8. ↑ [1]
9. ↑ [2]
10. ↑ Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal