Changes

'''Liberal''' is a term used in politics to describe a person who is progressive in his attitudes towards the government, establishment, and the economy. Liberals are often referred to as members of the [[Left-wing]]. The appellation's meaning has drifted significantly in the United States.  

'''Liberal''' is a term used in politics to describe a person who generally is [[left-wing]] in his attitudes towards the government, establishment, and many other laws. The term was first used in reference to a political opinion c. 1801 A.D., in the aftermath of the French Revolution, when it meant "tending in favor of freedom and democracy."<ref>Etymology [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=liberal]</ref>

 

The term was first used in reference to a political opinion c. 1801 A.D., in the aftermath of the French Revolution, when it meant "tending in favor of freedom and democracy."<ref>Etymology [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=liberal]</ref>

In the United States, the term ''liberal'' characterizes people who favor transfers of autonomy and personal responsibility to the government.  This is different from [[classical liberalism]] (which has more to do with what would be called [[libertarianism]] in the United States).  Modern liberalism, based upon the inherent conjuctures of its fluid reasoning, can mean different things at different times.  The following views are generally, though not always, supported by American liberals today:

In the United States, the term ''liberal'' characterizes people who favor transfers of autonomy and personal responsibility to the government.  This is different from [[classical liberalism]] (which has more to do with what would be called [[libertarianism]] in the United States).  Modern liberalism, based upon the inherent conjuctures of its fluid reasoning, can mean different things at different times.  The following views are generally, though not always, supported by American liberals today:

* reduction of the military

* reduction of the military

* support of [[affirmative action]]

* support of [[affirmative action]]

* government-sponsored education  

* government-sponsored education provided for all school-age citizens

* preference for a interpretation of the constitution as a "[[living Constitution]]" instead of an unchanging Constitution

* preference for a interpretation of the constitution as a "[[living Constitution]]" instead of an unchanging Constitution

*[[income redistribution]], with higher progressive taxation on those in the top 10% of earnings.

*[[income redistribution]], with higher progressive taxation on those in the top 10% of earnings.

* reduction of gender roles and differentiation  

* reduction of gender roles and differentiation  

* in favor of [[political correctness]] in every day speech

* in favor of [[political correctness]], civility and sensitivity in everyday speech

* currently, opposition to interventionist foreign policies that involves nation building. Isolationist positions are however  traditionally neither liberal nor conservative. There are examples for isolationist positions on both sides of the political divide. <ref>[http://newsmine.org/archive/cabal-elite/w-administration/w-bush/bush-2000-against-nation-building-and-poor-nation-debt.txt The Second Gore-Bush Presidential Debate] </ref>

* currently, opposition to interventionist foreign policy that involves nation building. Isolationist positions are however  traditionally neither liberal nor conservative. There are examples for isolationist positions on both sides of the political divide. <ref>[http://newsmine.org/archive/cabal-elite/w-administration/w-bush/bush-2000-against-nation-building-and-poor-nation-debt.txt The Second Gore-Bush Presidential Debate] </ref>

* refusal to view current American foreign policy <ref>Stefaan Walgrave and Joris Verhulst, [http://nicomedia.math.upatras.gr/conf/CAWM2003/Papers/Verhulst.pdf The February 15 Worldwide Protests against a War in Iraq: An Empirical Test of Transnational Opportunities. Outline of a Research Programme](PDF). </ref> as one that advances human rights <ref>[http://www.forward.com/articles/the-%E2%80%98answer%E2%80%99-question-poses-difficult-choices/ "The 'Answer' Question Poses Difficult Choices for Liberals"] by Gal Beckerman, ''The Forward'', September 30, 2005. </ref> and democracy <ref>[http://www.un.int/usa/02_131.htm President Bush's address to the United Nations], United States Mission to the United Nations, Press Release #131(02), 12 September 2002.</ref>  

* refusal to view the G. W. Bush administration foreign policy <ref>Stefaan Walgrave and Joris Verhulst, [http://nicomedia.math.upatras.gr/conf/CAWM2003/Papers/Verhulst.pdf The February 15 Worldwide Protests against a War in Iraq: An Empirical Test of Transnational Opportunities. Outline of a Research Programme](PDF). </ref> as one that advances human rights <ref>[http://www.forward.com/articles/the-%E2%80%98answer%E2%80%99-question-poses-difficult-choices/ "The 'Answer' Question Poses Difficult Choices for Liberals"] by Gal Beckerman, ''The Forward'', September 30, 2005. </ref> and democracy <ref>[http://www.un.int/usa/02_131.htm President Bush's address to the United Nations], United States Mission to the United Nations, Press Release #131(02), 12 September 2002.</ref>  

Note, that ''liberal'' in the European context refers to moderate and center-right parties, often with a pro-business stance.<ref>http://www.alde.eu</ref> The same holds for many ''liberal'' parties throughout the world.<ref>http://www.liberal-international.org/</ref>.  The US definition of liberal is much more similar to the politics of European [[socialist|socialist or social democratic]] parties.<ref>http://www.pes.org</ref>.

Note, that ''liberal'' in the European context refers to moderate and center-right parties, often with a pro-business stance.<ref>http://www.alde.eu</ref> The same holds for many ''liberal'' parties throughout the world.<ref>http://www.liberal-international.org/</ref>.  The US definition of liberal is much more similar to the politics of European [[socialist|socialist or social democratic]] parties.<ref>http://www.pes.org</ref>.