Although often used interchangeably — a gross error in meaning and use — “liberal” and “Democrat/Left” are two completely different political philosophies. Democrats/Leftists welcome — as they most often do — the confusion.
I agree. People who had “liberal” views 40 years ago would now be classified as conservatives by the “progressive” left.
Communists hijacked the term “liberal”, it used to mean “Classic Liberal”, which is what I would like to consider myself as being. But since the Communists stole the term, you really can’t use it.