American bastardisation of the term "liberal"

BUSTERHYMAN

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A cannibal was walking through the jungle and came upon a restaurant operated by a fellow cannibal. Feeling somewhat hungry, he sat down and looked over the menu...
+ Boiled Missionary: $10.00
+ Fried Explorer: $15.00
+ Grilled Republican: $100.00
+ Baked Democrat: $100.00
The cannibal called the waiter over and asked,
'Why such a price difference for the Politicians?'
The cook replied, "Have you ever tried to clean one?
They're so full of shit, it takes all morning."
 

b.c.

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It's the dumb dumb dumb down of "wi' us or agin' us". It is the total idiocy and chauvinism of only being able to understand things as not me, not people like us, one block. 1984 warned of this type of language and thereby thought control.

Exactly. Owing BOTH to the admittedly near-genius way in which conservatives employ "smoke and mirror" type propaganda to twist truths (make a good an evil, and an evil something... good??) AND the gullibility of mainstream Americana in general, conservatives have managed to put in the mindset of too many, IF not most, that there is something synonymous with weakness (i.e. "bleeding heart") lack of resolve, and being "liberal".

"Liberal" to my way of thinking has NEVER been a dirty word because of the ideology it generally invokes. It's much more preferable to "conservative"... from my perspective, of course.

In truth, there is at times, a blending of either ideology within each of us, depending on the issue(s) at hand. As pointed out by a previous poster, realities are too indistinct for anyone to be wholly one or the other.

However, those who engage in politics by deception, bigotry, and fear rather than reason, hope that we forget that. They want to provoke that "us vs. them" mentality so that momentarily, at least, we forget that we are one and the same.
 

itsthepopei

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Exactly. Owing BOTH to the admittedly near-genius way in which conservatives employ "smoke and mirror" type propaganda to twist truths (make a good an evil, and an evil something... good??) AND the gullibility of mainstream Americana in general, conservatives have managed to put in the mindset of too many, IF not most, that there is something synonymous with weakness (i.e. "bleeding heart") lack of resolve, and being "liberal".

"Liberal" to my way of thinking has NEVER been a dirty word because of the ideology it generally invokes. It's much more preferable to "conservative"... from my perspective, of course.

In truth, there is at times, a blending of either ideology within each of us, depending on the issue(s) at hand. As pointed out by a previous poster, realities are too indistinct for anyone to be wholly one or the other.

However, those who engage in politics by deception, bigotry, and fear rather than reason, hope that we forget that. They want to provoke that "us vs. them" mentality so that momentarily, at least, we forget that we are one and the same.

"Facepalm" Once again on this thread yet another example of the OP's point. the big ten definition of liberalism is a uniquely American interpretation of the word and has little resemblance to the actual philosophy. IE I would describe myself as a socialist not a liberal while a republican should properly identify with the term Liberal.
 

englad

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Guys, I am NOT talking about the republicans using the word "liberal" as an insult! I am talking about the fact that the term "liberal" has taken on an incomprehensible meaning there, that's all! The concept of a purely liberal v conservative dichotomy is facile.
 

b.c.

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Well you asked our thoughts on it, and my thoughts are that the connotation of the word, as used in our current political arena, is not incomprehensible or vague at all. It is in fact meant as an insult, to any political point of view not only left of center, but left of the far right.

Mind you, there are those of the Republican Party who consider Mitt Romney too much of a "liberal".
 

Drifterwood

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One interesting example, for me at least, is the association of free market economics with Republicanism. Free market economics is a wholly liberal, liberalising policy.

The republicans love it at the moment because the US has done so well out of it for the last 150 years. Their tune will change in the next 25 as others do better.
 

invisibleman

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one need only understand the true definition to know why I am proud to be Liberal:

li-be-ral
- adjective
1.
favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.
2.
( often cap. ) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.
3.
of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism.
4.
favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, especially as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.
5.
favoring or permitting freedom of action, especially with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers.
6.
of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies.
7.
free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant: a liberal attitude toward foreigners.
8.
open-minded or tolerant, especially free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.
9.
characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts: a liberal donor.
10.
given freely or abundantly; generous: a liberal donation.
11.
not strict or rigorous; free; not literal: a liberal interpretation of a rule.
12.
of, pertaining to, or based on the liberal arts.
13.
of, pertaining to, or befitting a freeman.

-


A-MEN! This is how I understand liberal to be. America wasn't founded on conservatism.

 

itsthepopei

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A-MEN! This is how I understand liberal to be. America wasn't founded on conservatism.


Liberalism as a political philosophy refers to concepts like
constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights, capitalism, and the free exercise of religion. When you move further to the left you move into socialism. The OP's point is that its become common for Americans to call socialism liberalism out of fear rather than own their ideals.
 

englad

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Well you asked our thoughts on it, and my thoughts are that the connotation of the word, as used in our current political arena, is not incomprehensible or vague at all. It is in fact meant as an insult, to any political point of view not only left of center, but left of the far right.

Mind you, there are those of the Republican Party who consider Mitt Romney too much of a "liberal".


Right you still haven't quite got my meaning. I know it's leveled as an insult, but it's also used as a form of self-identification for EVERY position left of the looney tunes (Republicans). And it still has little to do with classical liberalism, which both parties subscribe to (Democrats and Republicans).
 
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b.c.

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Right you still haven't quite got my meaning. I know it's leveled as an insult, but it's also used as a form of self-identification for EVERY position left of the looney tunes (Republicans). And it still has little to do with classical liberalism, which both parties subscribe to (Democrats and Republicans).

First of all, "classical" liberalism is only one of several interpretations of the term, interpretations that have varied over time, as have definitions of "fascism", "socialism", etc.

When Americans left of the conservative right use it, it is intended to identify with certain concepts (already discussed in posts above) in the context of our own society.

Given that "liberals" throughout history have equally employed the term in the fashions that suited THEM best, and given that there are differing and sometimes contradictory ideologies that have invariably been categorized as "liberalism", one could hardly call it a particularly "American" bastardization, I think.
 

itsthepopei

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First of all, "classical" liberalism is only one of several interpretations of the term, interpretations that have varied over time, as have definitions of "fascism", "socialism", etc.

When Americans left of the conservative right use it, it is intended to identify with certain concepts (already discussed in posts above) in the context of our own society.

Given that "liberals" throughout history have equally employed the term in the fashions that suited THEM best, and given that there are differing and sometimes contradictory ideologies that have invariably been categorized as "liberalism", one could hardly call it a particularly "American" bastardization, I think.

did you read the last 3 posts i made i think i explained this pretty well.