Liberalism

I’ve always believed liberals are right wing. I thought it was the belief in minimising gov power and maximising individual liberty. I just watched a YouTube video and the ‘liberals’ on there were basically socialist or atleast on the left. This is the exact opposite to what I thought it meant. So, what does it mean to be liberal? Sorry if this is blindingly obvious to some of you I’m not particularly involved in politics

(edited 3 years ago)

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Reply 1

Napp

Original post by JGoosey2002

This article should answer your question quite nicely;
https://theconversation.com/the-difference-between-left-and-liberal-and-why-voters-need-to-know-120273

Equally, one should always bear in mind the subtle differences between 'classical liberals' and 'neo liberals'.
As a general rule though liberals tend to occupy the center ground, with some drifting left or right to a point. The obvious lefties proclaim themselves to be 'true liberals' tend to be maximising on the impreciseness of the term these days. same for those on the right for that matter.

Reply 2

username5252758

I consider myself to be a left wing liberal and look on in horror as our current right wing government maximises its power, squanders public funds and restricts individual liberty.

Reply 3

ilililili

Original post by Trotsky's Ghost

I consider myself to be a left wing liberal and look on in horror as our current right wing government maximises its power, squanders public funds and restricts individual liberty.

Yh I didn’t think all right wingers were liberal but I thought all liberals were right wing. From a bit of research I think classical liberalism/libertarianism are closer to my beliefs than liberalism

Reply 4

z-hog

Beware of modern liberals, they are the most intolerant breed nowadays. Their vision of 'liberalism' is one where people are free to agree with them at the risk of public opprobrium and persecution if they don't.

Reply 5

z-hog

Original post by JGoosey2002

And you're right with your initial assumption, nowadays 'liberals' are all right-wingers. Lefties have always been totalitarian and anything but liberal, that will never change no matter how much they try to seduce people with their mellifluous tones. Once in power, they would abolish all political opposition and intern it for good, if only they could.

Reply 6

Napp

Original post by z-hog

This boiler plate post of yours is getting rather hoary. We get it, you think all lefties are intolerant should be shot.
This does rather beg the question, were you beaten up by a lib-dem or something?! I cant think of any other reason for this fountain of hate to anyone who dares have a different opinion to you?

Reply 7

z-hog

Original post by Napp

This does rather beg the question, were you beaten up by a lib-dem or something?! I cant think of any other reason for this fountain of hate to anyone who dares have a different opinion to you?

Lib-Dems are too wimpish and effeminate to beat anybody up, they resort to things like sacking their chairman (Tim Farron) for being a Catholic instead. That is what modern day liberals are like and you weren't really in my mind, you're not a lefty.

Reply 8

Napp

Original post by z-hog

Touche.
Oh no, i didnt take this as personal, merely curious why the constant barrage of vitriol to them? Although, what exactly would you call me then? :tongue:

Ah i do miss Farron, the Dems used to have rather pleasant leaders (be they drunks or overly religious) The last one was ghastly.

Reply 9

z-hog

Original post by Napp

Touche.
Oh no, i didnt take this as personal, merely curious why the constant barrage of vitriol to them? Although, what exactly would you call me then? :tongue:

Ah i do miss Farron, the Dems used to have rather pleasant leaders (be they drunks or overly religious) The last one was ghastly.

I'd rather call it political activism, a constant barrage of vitriol is what Trump gets from you. Are we agreed that it wasn't much of a show of liberalism to have Farron sidelined because of his religious faith, that him and JRM are good examples of intolerant liberalism in action?

Reply 10

Napp

Original post by z-hog

Sugar coat what you will it's still a barrage of vitriol.
Meh, i'm not apologising for speaking the truth on that fatuous egotist. It might be rude but it certainly isnt wrong.
Indeed it wasnt - although given "the left" is hardly a homogenous blob i still take exception to you blaming "them" for his defenestration. If you altered it to the "progressives" though one would be more than happy to agree with you on it.

.. not sure what jrm has to do with this?

Reply 11

z-hog

Original post by Napp

.. not sure what jrm has to do with this?

Like Farron, his religious faith bothers many a liberal and for exactly the same reason.

Reply 12

Napp

Original post by z-hog

Like Farron, his religious faith bothers many a liberal and for exactly the same reason.

I don't recall jrm being booted from his position due to his beliefs...?
Equally, much of the abuse he copped was less to do with his religion and more to do with him being sanctimonious.

Reply 13

username1177050

There has long been 2 strands of Liberalism. On the one hand, you had the David Lloyd George and Churchill Style of Patriotic, Capitalist Liberalism. Then you have had soft-left, from what i hear the current Liberal Democrat party is veering left now, post-swinson, in order to try and grow their influence. Honestly, there isn't much appetite for that style of government outside of metropolitan and well to do areas.

Reply 14

z-hog

Original post by Napp

I don't recall jrm being booted from his position due to his beliefs...?
Equally, much of the abuse he copped was less to do with his religion and more to do with him being sanctimonious.

Mate, Farron was sidelined because of his Catholic views on abortion and that's the link with JRM. To the Lib-Dems and other assorted brands of liberal, to have a Catholic PM would be unthinkable.

Reply 15

Napp

Original post by z-hog

Mate, Farron was sidelined because of his Catholic views on abortion and that's the link with JRM. To the Lib-Dems and other assorted brands of liberal, to have a Catholic PM would be unthinkable.

I was under the impression it was mainly his views on the gays that got him ejected.
Well it would be quite unorthodox. Equally there's nothing exclusive to "liberals" in the view on catholics :lol:

Reply 16

Racresmol

Generally, liberalism means left wing in the US. In the UK and most of continental Europe, it can range from centre-left (socioliberals) to right wing (some neoliberals, liberal conservatives). I'd say former libdem MP Norman Lamb and Tories like Sam Gyimah, Andrew Boff or Matt Ridley are good examples of liberalism in the UK.

Reply 17

PTMalewski

Original post by JGoosey2002

You were actually right in your original view.
Liberalism originally was about how have you described it, but recently socialists in the West have stolen the word liberal, and use it as their name.
That's why right wing people who consider themselves liberals in the original sense, now call themselves Classical Liberals.
A quite well known youtuber, known as Sargon of Akkad is a social-liberal, but calls himself Classical Liberal to distinguish himself from modern liberals who are actually socialists.

I personally consider it important to realise that originally liberalism emerged from awarness that arose from the horrors of religious wars and persecutions in Europe. The intolerable situation caused by those conflicts, and a variety of contradicting beliefs, inspired a view, thet neither people or government can be sure what is actually right, therefore people should have as much freedom as possible, and then the right solutions shall naturally win in discussions or through practice.

The modern so-called liberals who wish to censor people who's views differ from their's, are completely opposite to the classical liberalism.