Yes, I am a Liberal. The Founding Fathers of the United States, author Henry David Thoreau, and economist Milton Friedman were also liberals. The dictionary defines a liberal as one who is broad-minded and is not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, traditional forms and “befitting a man of free birth”. From a political perspective, a liberal is associated with ideals of individual (especially economic) freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives.
The term Liberal has been perverted in modern times to mean something completely different. Most likely it is the result of the label wars which the political factions engage in. Democrats in the 60’s and 70’s referred to themselves as “Liberals” to denote the idea that they were the party which supported freedom from government oppression in the form of segregation and were against traditional cultural norms which oppressed women and blacks. However, the term now applies to politically left-leaning “progressive” ideology which holds that the government should have the power to control society and influence culture through laws. Now the definition has changed to the core belief that government knows what is best for the citizens. Citizens who don’t support the government must therefore be censured, punished and re-educated as to what is right and good. This branch of thinking has turned on its head the liberal ideas of the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers. It should be more accurately labeled as “Statist”, the belief in the government to change society for the better. Under this new belief system, the state has the authority to grant or remove freedom according to what is best for society in the eyes of the rulers. That is the opposite of liberal.
Photo: Confiscation of personal wealth through the force of government is not liberal
Just to be clear, I am a Liberal because I believe:
- Fundamentally, individual liberty and freedom trumps the power of the government.
- Barring any harm to others, everyone has the right to be left alone, to pursue their own interests and seek their happiness as they see fit.
- The right to have choices and making mistakes are inalienable.
- Government serves at the pleasure and permission of those whom it governs, all authority is derived from that permission.
There is much confusion today around political labels, and attempts to explain the term liberal by adding the word “classical” in front of it does not clear up the confusion. A liberal is a liberal. It is someone who is against formalized government control and oppression.
Photo: Authoritarian government control is the opposite of liberal
Photo: Government oppression of minorities is not liberal nor is government oppression of the majority in favor of a select minority
Photo: Asians passed over by college admissions offices because their grades are too good in favor of a different minority is not liberal
Hope this helps.
