Braddock
Agitator
+916|6740|Éire
I feel that most examples of modern liberalism are usually centre left in their viewpoints. I always get the impression that right wing and conservative elements try to paint out liberalism to be extreme left as it makes it easier to demonise. Are there really Liberals in the US that want to nationalise all industries and regulate all aspects of US citizens lives? Maybe the US is different to Europe?

Doesn't the Patriot act allow a lot of Government control over citizens lives, I don't recall many liberals arguing in favour of that act?

Bush dictated to the US that it was the in the interest of the common good to send troops to Iraq, now there is increasing opposition the war and he is still dictating that it is in the interest of the common good to stay in Iraq.

lowing wrote:

I also said individuality is discourged and that sharing all you have earned with all those "less fortunate" is essential.
liberal - Oxford AMERICAN dictionary definition:
(1)open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard taraditional values.
(2)favorable to or respectful of individuals rights and freedoms.
(3)in a political context: favoring maximum individual liberty in politcal and social reform.

Last edited by Braddock (2007-03-29 05:25:58)

venom6
Since day One.
+247|7008|Hungary
Liberals sux ass here in my country.They allways just get nearly 5.1 % so they are in the parlament but i really dont understand how can people vote on someones who agree with pedofil porn and saying that u shouldnt feel yourself at home in this country and your a world citizen not a hungarian.Be stupid and be a liberal..
Bubbalo
The Lizzard
+541|7011

lowing wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

Never!  The bandwagon shall leave without me!

I do know the context in which is was said, and that context was to show the Liberals support dictatorships, so to show that that's true you must demonstrate either:

a)  That Stalin was a Liberal

or

b)  That Liberals support Stalin
I said TODAYS liberals were like communists in the sense that they liked big govt. and govt. control over our lives. That they believe "we are all in this together" and we should all work for the common good and let the govt. dicticate what that "common good" was. I also said individuality is discourged and that sharing all you have earned with all those "less fortunate" is essential.

But hey, a dictatorship is most certainly big govt. and TODAYS liberals like big govt. thewy just might feel right at home with a dictator in power. Why not, they certainly do not want a nation with the capability of defending itself. Something we already discussed and agreed upon.
But you don't get it.  Liberals, by definition, favour less government involvement.  This how we got here in the first place.  You're attempting to prove that Liberals favour big government involvement, and you prove that they're Liberals by saying they act the same as the USSR, who you prove is Liberal because he holds the same views.  Until you can show a valid reason for your view of Liberals the actual definiton stands.
IG-Calibre
comhalta
+226|7192|Tír Eoghan, Tuaisceart Éireann

lowing wrote:

thewy just might feel right at home with a dictator in power. Why not, they certainly do not want a nation with the capability of defending itself. Something we already discussed and agreed upon.
Lowing you make me laugh with your unwavering fanatical devotion to Bush, let's face it, when the regular military parades start going past the whitehouse to instill National pride, you will be at the head goose stepping in your shine Jackboots along with the rest of your dominionist neocon fascist comrades..
superfly_cox
soup fly mod
+717|7231

Is everyone here clear on the fact that the American and European definition of liberal is different?

US: A Liberal is description of political views that are left of center
Europe: A Liberal is an political doctrine that is of right of center

Same word, different meanings...much confusion.
Bubbalo
The Lizzard
+541|7011
But no.  A Liberal is left of center, a Conservative is right of center.

For example: the Australian Liberal party is not Liberal, they are Conservative.
Braddock
Agitator
+916|6740|Éire
Conservatives want people to think liberals are Communists and Liberals want people to think Conservatives are fascists. The truth lies somewhere in between.

You know it is possible that someone could be conservative on certain issues and liberal on others ...sounds crazy I know but apparantly not being a sheep and blindly following one political viewpoint is actually possible. That's why I believe in the necessity for many parties that reflect the many subtle layers of political viewpoints.
Hunter/Jumper
Member
+117|6804
oddly enough in New York City the very bedrock of liberalism, they prefer to have a conervative mayor where their own intrests are at stake.

Last edited by Hunter/Jumper (2007-03-29 06:18:43)

lowing
Banned
+1,662|7101|USA

Braddock wrote:

I feel that most examples of modern liberalism are usually centre left in their viewpoints. I always get the impression that right wing and conservative elements try to paint out liberalism to be extreme left as it makes it easier to demonise. Are there really Liberals in the US that want to nationalise all industries and regulate all aspects of US citizens lives? Maybe the US is different to Europe?

Doesn't the Patriot act allow a lot of Government control over citizens lives, I don't recall many liberals arguing in favour of that act?

Bush dictated to the US that it was the in the interest of the common good to send troops to Iraq, now there is increasing opposition the war and he is still dictating that it is in the interest of the common good to stay in Iraq.

lowing wrote:

I also said individuality is discourged and that sharing all you have earned with all those "less fortunate" is essential.
liberal - Oxford AMERICAN dictionary definition:
(1)open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard taraditional values.
(2)favorable to or respectful of individuals rights and freedoms.
(3)in a political context: favoring maximum individual liberty in politcal and social reform.
I guess except the liberity to earn what you have without sharing it. Or the liberity of financing your own retirement without putting it in the collective pot. Maybe the liberity of choosing my own healthcare or education for my kids is also out.

But yer right the sure do want to "discard traditional values" IE the American way of life, in exchange for socialism
lowing
Banned
+1,662|7101|USA

IG-Calibre wrote:

lowing wrote:

thewy just might feel right at home with a dictator in power. Why not, they certainly do not want a nation with the capability of defending itself. Something we already discussed and agreed upon.
Lowing you make me laugh with your unwavering fanatical devotion to Bush, let's face it, when the regular military parades start going past the whitehouse to instill National pride, you will be at the head goose stepping in your shine Jackboots along with the rest of your dominionist neocon fascist comrades..
Hmmmm searching, I can't find where I mentioned Bush at all.
oug
Calmer than you are.
+380|6969|Πάϊ

superfly_cox wrote:

Is everyone here clear on the fact that the American and European definition of liberal is different?

US: A Liberal is description of political views that are left of center
Europe: A Liberal is an political doctrine that is of right of center

Same word, different meanings...much confusion.
Nope... I still don't get it! How come in Europe liberals are right of center? I always thought that the definition of a liberal for Americans was for the most part what lowing is describing... aka people who vote for the Democratic Party and in some extreme and rare cases, people who are a little bit more to the left even from the Dems.

In Europe, I guess the definitions vary from place to place... Certainly though the term is not so broad. The general left has many terms to differentiate the many species it embraces - from anarchists to mild former socialists now going for right-wing policies.

One thing is for sure though. Liberals do not want big governments. In fact, one would have to classify himself as a communist to say that. All the rest of us will just go for less control, be it from governments or corporations. As a rule liberals detest any form of oppression.

Also as a rule, communists tend to play down the amount of oppression deriving from big governments, and conservatives (supporters of completely free markets etc) tend to play down the oppression deriving from uncontrollable trusts, multinational corporations and the like.

My idea of liberalism lies with small, agile and controllable topical forms of government, and whatever comes closer to direct democracy as the latter was manifested in Athens around 500 BC.
ƒ³
lowing
Banned
+1,662|7101|USA

Bubbalo wrote:

lowing wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

Never!  The bandwagon shall leave without me!

I do know the context in which is was said, and that context was to show the Liberals support dictatorships, so to show that that's true you must demonstrate either:

a)  That Stalin was a Liberal

or

b)  That Liberals support Stalin
I said TODAYS liberals were like communists in the sense that they liked big govt. and govt. control over our lives. That they believe "we are all in this together" and we should all work for the common good and let the govt. dicticate what that "common good" was. I also said individuality is discourged and that sharing all you have earned with all those "less fortunate" is essential.

But hey, a dictatorship is most certainly big govt. and TODAYS liberals like big govt. thewy just might feel right at home with a dictator in power. Why not, they certainly do not want a nation with the capability of defending itself. Something we already discussed and agreed upon.
But you don't get it.  Liberals, by definition, favour less government involvement.  This how we got here in the first place.  You're attempting to prove that Liberals favour big government involvement, and you prove that they're Liberals by saying they act the same as the USSR, who you prove is Liberal because he holds the same views.  Until you can show a valid reason for your view of Liberals the actual definiton stands.
By definition is not what I am talking about Bubbalo. I liked JFK and FDR. Would today's liberal be 5 seconds away from starting WW3 because of missles in Cuba?? NO way. The liberals of today, are not BY DEFINITION. THAT, is the point of all of this and you refuse to acknowledge that. Would todays liberal go to war aftewr pearl harbor?? Nope they wouldn't. 911 is proof that they will not and are not inclined to defend America.
superfly_cox
soup fly mod
+717|7231

LIBERALISM

why can't you guys grasp the idea that each of these words has different connotations in US vs. Europe/Possibly rest of world.

The Liberal Party in Europe is right of center.  The Social Democrats are left of center.

In the US, the Democratic party is called "liberal" even though they are left of center.  Republicans are right of center.

All the confusion stems from Liberalism which is a political philosophy which focuses on the freedoms of the individual.  However, there are many types of liberalism.  Apply liberalism to economic and you have a traditionally right of center view with small government and limited intervention in the market economy.  Apply liberalism to social issues and you'll get a left of center position because individual freedoms = right to abortion, sexual freedom etc.

In the US, the Republican party combines Liberal Economic theory (stemming from liberalism) with Conservatism for social policies.  Therefore they actually practice Liberal Conservatism!!!

wiki on Liberal Conservatism wrote:

Liberal conservatism has two senses. It can refer to (1) the combination of economic liberalism with the classical conservative concern for established tradition, respect for authority and, sometimes, although in an increasingly lesser-sense, religious values. The term 'liberal' here refers not to center-left modern liberalism (the dominant present-day meaning of liberalism in the United States, the British Isles, and English-speaking Canada) but to free-market liberalism, laissez-faire economics.In those English-speaking countries, "liberal conservatism" in this sense is often simply called "conservatism".  Consequently, in these countries, "liberal conservatism" is "freed up" to take an alternative meaning, (2) as a synonym for neoliberalism, either on the basis that it means the conserving of liberalism as described here against collectivist policies, or that it is a combination of fiscal conservatism with a concern for civil liberties. This article deals with liberal conservatism in the first sense.

Liberal conservatism usually takes hold among conservatives in countries where liberal economic ideas are considered traditional, and therefore conservative.

In countries where liberal conservative movements have entered the political mainstream, the terms "liberal" and "conservative" may become synonymous (as in Australia and in Italy), or they may be redefined such that liberal conservatives keep one of them and the other is taken up by a different group (as in the United States, where liberal conservatives use the term "conservative", and "liberal" generally means Modern American liberalism, a social liberal movement). Modern American liberalism contains many elements of social democracy and often advocates restrictions on free enterprise that fall outside the bounds of laissez-faire.

The liberal conservative tradition in the United States combines the economic individualism of the classical liberals with a Burkean form of conservatism (which has also become part of the American conservative tradition, for example in the writings of Russell Kirk).

Liberal conservative political parties exist in a number of countries, and they are usually most entrenched in Anglo-Saxon cultures.
If this doesn't clarify things then I give up.
Bubbalo
The Lizzard
+541|7011

lowing wrote:

By definition is not what I am talking about Bubbalo. I liked JFK and FDR. Would today's liberal be 5 seconds away from starting WW3 because of missles in Cuba?? NO way. The liberals of today, are not BY DEFINITION. THAT, is the point of all of this and you refuse to acknowledge that. Would todays liberal go to war aftewr pearl harbor?? Nope they wouldn't. 911 is proof that they will not and are not inclined to defend America.
But there is nothing to call them Liberals based on other than definition.  If they don't hold a Liberal viewpoint then they aren't Liberals.  If they do they are.  Liberalism favours less control, by definition.  If they favour more control, they aren't Liberal, because that's what a Liberal is.
Hunter/Jumper
Member
+117|6804
Its been brought to my attention that in different countries the term "Liberal" has different political meanings and leanings. In another country It could stand for

a heavy emphasis on a proper education with discipline and order in the schools,

a common sense approach to crime with law and order consisting of upholding the Laws that you already have,

A strong stance on national defense with loyalty to your men and women who are in harms way to protect your freedoms etc.

Their is a good chance your on the same side as you are in two different countries.
Turquoise
O Canada
+1,596|6855|North Carolina

Hunter/Jumper wrote:

oddly enough in New York City the very bedrock of liberalism, they prefer to have a conervative mayor where their own intrests are at stake.
Bloomberg is a pretty moderate conservative -- so was Guiliani.
lowing
Banned
+1,662|7101|USA

Bubbalo wrote:

lowing wrote:

By definition is not what I am talking about Bubbalo. I liked JFK and FDR. Would today's liberal be 5 seconds away from starting WW3 because of missles in Cuba?? NO way. The liberals of today, are not BY DEFINITION. THAT, is the point of all of this and you refuse to acknowledge that. Would todays liberal go to war aftewr pearl harbor?? Nope they wouldn't. 911 is proof that they will not and are not inclined to defend America.
But there is nothing to call them Liberals based on other than definition.  If they don't hold a Liberal viewpoint then they aren't Liberals.  If they do they are.  Liberalism favours less control, by definition.  If they favour more control, they aren't Liberal, because that's what a Liberal is.
Ok well, I thought we were talking about the liberals as the same people that were discussed in the context of this forum for the past year or so, by everyone. I guess not. I am not inclined to redefine that group for the sake of this discussion with you.
Bubbalo
The Lizzard
+541|7011
No, you're talking about Liberals using the definition you have used for the past year or so with which to slander everyone with a left wing view, and for the past year or so we've been telling that you're wrong and you've ignored us.
Hunter/Jumper
Member
+117|6804

Bubbalo wrote:

Majority wisdom isn't always right.
You will hear this quote again.. count on it
Bubbalo
The Lizzard
+541|7011

Hunter/Jumper wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

Majority wisdom isn't always right.
You will hear this quote again.. count on it
Are you disagreeing with it?
lowing
Banned
+1,662|7101|USA

Bubbalo wrote:

No, you're talking about Liberals using the definition you have used for the past year or so with which to slander everyone with a left wing view, and for the past year or so we've been telling that you're wrong and you've ignored us.
Wow bubbalo, I am flattered that you think I single handedly re-defined the terms liberal and democrat for entire world. I must be more powerful and significant in world affairs than I first thought. It was me, who coined the term "liberal democrat" or "left" and "right wing" to describe political allignment.

I am the all powerful LOWING. Coiner of phrases and inventor of slang. It all starts and stops with me. Remember parachute pants??  Yeah, well, that wasn't mine. The Rubics cube craze was though, along with pet rocks and wearing camoflouge pants with an Izod shirt and docksiders.

The world is mine!!!!!! One thing is for sure, I will not use my newly discovered powers to help liber....well, er......whatever they are.


You have truly out done yourself in your efforts to escape from the corner that you were backed into.

Liberals are not liberals that is a great argument. All that tells me is that YOU are even ashamed them, and can not defend their agenda with reason or realism.  You must now change the terms that has been accepted to describe them and their bullshit.

Last edited by lowing (2007-03-30 05:45:02)

Bubbalo
The Lizzard
+541|7011
No, I think you single handedly re-defined the term Liberal for yourself, and the other right wing twits who don't have a clue did it for themselves, and you have been misusing it ever since and people have been telling you and you've been ignoring them.
lowing
Banned
+1,662|7101|USA

Bubbalo wrote:

No, I think you single handedly re-defined the term Liberal for yourself, and the other right wing twits who don't have a clue did it for themselves, and you have been misusing it ever since and people have been telling you and you've been ignoring them.
I forgot to mention that I control all the worlds media outlets so yeah you might be right.

and it was me that labeled hilary, gore, bill, kerry, dean and all the rest as liberal democrat. All the worlds papers stole this opinion from ME and made it their own. I think I will hire a big ACLU lawyer and sue the shit outta the world.

You have morethan out done yourself with this accusation/excuse, bubbalo.

Last edited by lowing (2007-03-30 06:02:45)

Hunter/Jumper
Member
+117|6804

Bubbalo wrote:

Hunter/Jumper wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

Majority wisdom isn't always right.
You will hear this quote again.. count on it
Are you disagreeing with it?
Not even the tinniest bit,

Most people here just want to be in the majority.

They feel it validates them and makes them feel smart. To them, To agree with everyone else is the same as

"Everyone agrees with me "

In this forum To say "G. W.  Bush is an asshole " is like seeing the Emperors clothes.
If you are familiar with the story
Bubbalo
The Lizzard
+541|7011
Indeed I am, but the analogy falls down because George Bush is an asshole.

Or, more accurately, it's a matter of opinion rather than fact, and when it's opinion I'm always right.

Last edited by Bubbalo (2007-03-30 07:33:12)

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