What Is Liberalism and Why Does It Matter?

PAmoderate37 · 2020-12-16T11:15:10.806Z

fallenturtle:

So everyone is an authoritarian?

Just a matter a degree.

fallenturtle · 2020-12-16T17:00:54.458Z

Webster’s defines authoritarian like this:

Definition of authoritarian

1 : of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority had authoritarian parents

2 : of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people an authoritarian regime

Interestingly wikipedia says,

There is no one consensus definition of authoritarianism, but several annual measurements are attempted, including Freedom House’s annual Freedom in the World report. Some countries such as Venezuela, among others, that are currently or historically recognized as authoritarian did not become authoritarian upon taking power or fluctuated between an authoritarian, flawed or illiberal-democratic regime. The time period reflects their time in power rather than the years they were authoritarian regimes. Some countries such as China and fascist regimes have also been characterized as totalitarian, with some periods being depicted as more authoritarian, or totalitarian, than others.

This article also lists current countries that are considered authoritarian. Some of these people won’t argue about like North Korea.

Historically authoritarian has been used as a pejorative, at least from our Western perspective, so if it clearly applies to countries like North Korea or China, doesn’t it dilute its power to use it to refer to people who support seat belt laws or temporary restrictions to restrict the spread of a disease?

It seems silly to refer to anything that isn’t anarchy as authoritarian.

Impenitent · 2020-12-16T22:44:45.405Z

historically speaking, the promise of equality was a lie…

no, the scales still are weighted for some hyphenated Americans

but comrade biden’s social justice warriors will help bring utopia

/sarcasm

Mountain_Soldier · 2020-12-16T23:11:28.206Z

biggestal99:

biggestal99:

“the belief that it is the aim of politics to preserve individual rights and to maximize freedom of choice.”

This is what I as a liberal believe.

Allan

Except the right to keep and bear arms, obviously.

WuWei · 2020-12-16T23:43:36.655Z

Impenitent:

historically speaking, the promise of equality was a lie…

Unfulfilled. Now it is fulfilled.

How will the story continue?

Impenitent · 2020-12-16T23:47:56.827Z

WuWei:

Impenitent:

historically speaking, the promise of equality was a lie…

Unfulfilled. Now it is fulfilled.

How will the story continue?

it’s not, it never can be

the story, lies and promises, will continue to drip from the tongues of every politician

biggestal99 · 2020-12-17T09:32:28.621Z

Mountain_Soldier:

Except the right to keep and bear arms, obviously.

You can possess a gun or guns if you want to.

What if you have money you can’t go to the local gun shop and purchase one to protect yourself.

Comn get real.

Allan

Call_me_Ishmael · 2020-12-17T11:26:15.147Z

conan:

And ACLU needs victims to exist…even if they have to create em.

TrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrueTrue

And same with Democrats.

Mountain_Soldier · 2020-12-17T12:46:06.110Z

biggestal99:

Mountain_Soldier:

Except the right to keep and bear arms, obviously.

You can possess a gun or guns if you want to.

What if you have money you can’t go to the local gun shop and purchase one to protect yourself.

Comn get real.

Allan

So you’re telling me you’ve never been anti-gun?

Does that extend to Obamacare too? What if you can’t afford it? Oh yeah, the state will punish you even more.

State mandated and provided firearms… I could get behind that.

biggestal99 · 2020-12-17T13:13:22.434Z

Mountain_Soldier:

So you’re telling me you’ve never been anti-gun?

How long have you been on the forum.

States can and do regulate arms in a constitutional way.

Even here in jersey you can purchase arms.

Not anti-gun. Just pro states rights.

What’s right for jersey is not right for Texas and visa versa.

Allan

WuWei · 2020-12-17T14:38:41.692Z

Bear.

WuWei · 2020-12-17T14:39:19.002Z

biggestal99:

in a constitutional way.

Incorrect.

WuWei · 2020-12-17T14:42:46.528Z

biggestal99:

States can and do regulate arms in a constitutional way.

Even here in jersey you can purchase arms.

Not liberalism.

biggestal99 · 2020-12-17T14:56:38.082Z

WuWei:

Incorrect

Once again (if I can take such liberties), we will have to agree to disagree on the constitutionally of jersey guns laws.

Allan

WuWei · 2020-12-17T14:57:39.358Z

biggestal99:

WuWei:

Incorrect

Once again (if I can take such liberties), we will have to agree to disagree on the constitutionally of jersey guns laws.

Allan

Once again, motivated reasoning ignoring words.

WuWei · 2021-05-31T13:15:19.867Z

Eagle-Keeper:

Classic Liberalism isn’t about the social issues.

I don’t know that we can say that anymore.

WuWei · 2021-05-31T13:17:41.021Z

PurpnGold:

Protection of individuals…from other individuals… isn’t that social?

I might have missed this one. That’s an interesting and profound question.

We have agreed in the past that we have a right to be racist, no?

If so, why would you use government to protect an individual from an individual?

WuWei · 2021-05-31T13:18:24.405Z

Eagle-Keeper:

PurpnGold:

Eagle-Keeper:

See my response to Sneaky in Post 18. Classic Liberalism isn’t about the social issues.

Protection of individuals…from other individuals… isn’t that social?

I’m talking about the social issues of today, i.e. abortion, LGBTQ, etc. There’s nothing specifically about that in Classic Liberalism (from my link anyhow).

That’s true and why you have to apply principles, not details.

WuWei · 2021-05-31T13:19:52.396Z

biggestal99:

WuWei:

You are a Big Government Union Dem.

I am also A paying member of the ACLU. I support 100% the BLM movement.

You can’t pigeonhole me. Lol.

Allan

What does the “U” in “ACLU” stand for?

WuWei · 2021-05-31T13:20:38.077Z

WuWei:

You have no idea what BLM even is.

This one aged well, huh @biggestal99?