Based on the ideas of Adam Smith, classical liberals believe that individuals should be free to pursue and protect their own economic self-interest free from undue interference by the central government. To accomplish that, classical liberals advocated a minimal government, limited to only six functions:
Protect individual rights and to provide services that cannot be provided in a free market.
Defend the nation against foreign invasion.
Enact laws to protect citizens from harms committed against them by other citizens, including protection of private property and enforcement of contracts.
Create and maintain public institutions, such as government agencies.
Provide a stable currency and a standard of weights and measures.
Build and maintain public roads, canals, harbors, railways, communications systems, and postal services.
My assumption is that the social issues that attached themselves to Liberalism began with the Hippie movement of the 1960’s along with the anti-Christianity movement of academic and Hollywood liberals.
Both are influential:
“Adam Smith, the second father of classical liberalism, reinforced the laissez-faire philosophy with his seminal work, “The Wealth of Nations.” The Scottish philosopher wrote of the “invisible hand” guiding the course of free markets.”
Never said YOU did. The government did. The government made up of elected officials. Individuals.
You are getting away from my original point.
I recognize the government can do harm to individuals… I also recognize the government should not do harm to its citizens and they are there to protect.
Me personally? Correct. Again you’ve lost the plot. Go back to my reply to your OP. Me pointing out an historical example of what the government is capable of… does not mean that TODAY the same government is doing it to me
Collective made up of individuals. When my great uncle went to jail for refusing to leave a “whites only” hospital before he was ready… the collective didn’t go to jail. HE DID.