It always irks me to see people (especially conservatives and libertarians) refer to those on the left in American politics as 'liberal'. The Democratic party has long forgotten the principles of classical liberalism, and have replaced it with the principles of Progressivism as their primary ideological foundation.
Some use these two terms as synonyms, but I believe that is a huge mistake. To equate the principles of Woodrow Wilson and FDR's Progressivism to that of John Locke's Liberalism is an insult to the meaning of "liberty". Liberalism is the idea of individual and economic freedom, personal responsibility, constitutionalism, and limited government control. These are not the core principles of those on the left. No, their core principles are social justice, regulation, and increased government control. These ideologies are not synonymic, they are antonymic.
Progressivism is not an ideology based on liberty, it is an ideology based on control. It is authoritarianism. It is soft fascism. So, I think it's time we stop giving those on the left more credit than they deserve. Stop using the term 'liberal' to apply to people who have no interest in true liberty.
submitted by BagOnuts Some use these two terms as synonyms, but I believe that is a huge mistake. To equate the principles of Woodrow Wilson and FDR's Progressivism to that of John Locke's Liberalism is an insult to the meaning of "liberty". Liberalism is the idea of individual and economic freedom, personal responsibility, constitutionalism, and limited government control. These are not the core principles of those on the left. No, their core principles are social justice, regulation, and increased government control. These ideologies are not synonymic, they are antonymic.
Progressivism is not an ideology based on liberty, it is an ideology based on control. It is authoritarianism. It is soft fascism. So, I think it's time we stop giving those on the left more credit than they deserve. Stop using the term 'liberal' to apply to people who have no interest in true liberty.
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