[MrB]

It's amazing how fuzzy things get when you start talking about absolutes...

The answer probably depends on which facet of leftism you're looking at.
The authoritarians can be seen one way, the "take care of me" types another. The former uses the latter to achieve power, of course.

[King Black Robe]

Oh yes, I can agree with that. Excellent point. I was referring to the ruling class liberals, not their minions.