Poll

Has the Neoconservatism its roots in Liberalism?

Yes, Neoconservatives are evolved Liberals20%20% - 2
Yes, some Liberals have devolved into Neoconservatives10%10% - 1
No, they are completely different70%70% - 7
Total: 10
sergeriver
Cowboy from Hell
+1,928|7203|Argentina
Has the Neoconservatism its roots in Liberalism?  If so, was it an evolution or a step back?  What do you think?

Neoconservatism:
Neoconservatism is a political movement, mainly in the United States and Canada, which is generally held to have emerged in the 1960s, coalesced in the 1970s, and has had a significant presence in the administration of George W. Bush.  The prefix neo- means that many of the movement's founders, originally liberals, Democrats or from socialist backgrounds, were new to conservatism.
According to Irving Kristol, the founder of Neoconservatism, there are three basic pillars of Neoconservatism:
1. Economics: Cutting tax rates in order to stimulate steady, wide-spread economic growth and acceptance of the necessity of the risks inherent in that growth, such as budget deficits, as well as the potential benefits, such as budget surpluses.
2. Domestic Affairs: Preferring strong government but not intrusive government, slight acceptance of the welfare state, adherence to social conservatism, and disapproval of counterculture
3. Foreign Policy: Patriotism is a necessity, world government is a terrible idea, the ability to distinguish friend from foe, protecting national interest both at home and abroad, and the necessity of a strong military.

Liberalism:
Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value.  Broadly speaking, liberalism emphasizes individual rights. It seeks a society characterized by freedom of thought for individuals, limitations on power (especially of government and religion), the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market economy that supports free private enterprise, and a transparent system of government in which the rights of all citizens are protected.
In modern society, liberals favor a liberal democracy with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law and an equal opportunity to succeed.
Many new liberals advocate a greater degree of government interference in the free market, often in the form of anti-discrimination laws, universal education, and progressive taxation. This philosophy frequently extends to a belief that the government should provide for a degree of general welfare, including benefits for the unemployed, housing for the homeless, and medical care for the sick.
UON
Junglist Massive
+223|7099
And is "New Labour" the British equivalent of neo-conservatism?
oug
Calmer than you are.
+380|6965|Πάϊ
As far as I can remember from when I read it, wikipedia says there is a connection... Then again, looking at Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc etc I cannot see it... Also, I do not see a line clearly separating for example the course of action a paleoconservative like Kissinger would take, as opposed to that of the current Secretary of State. I guess neo-conservatism has changed, taking a turn for the extreme since 9/11.
ƒ³
Ridir
Semper Fi!
+48|7209
Where did you get the first part of you definition of Liberalism?  That seems more like propoganda the Demo's spout to make them seem different then they really are.  It is saying a limited government etc etc but then they push for government intervention on many aspects of individual rights.  Sorry to rant on your poll but that has always bugged me.
Doctor Strangelove
Real Battlefield Veterinarian.
+1,758|6914
I think they are called "neo-conservatives" because the old Conservatives were guys at the Congress of Vienna who favored Absolute Monarchy, such as Metternich, since neocons don't believe in Absolute Monarchy they are called neo-cons instead of just conservatives to establish the difference.

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