[Texas Eagle]

Okay, okay. They're not Liberals. They're Leftists.

[musical_airman]

Outstanding post. Between this and the anti-communist reading list (yes, its heavy on Rand, but are we surprised?) I'm thinking that JimRob may just want to make those readily available at all times on this site. Is there a centrally located area of Freeper resources that I am unaware of on this site? If not, I think it might be a good idea. This article is enough to make the staunchest of progressives that have any remaining capacity for rational, logical thought squirm like a slug that just got doused in salt!

[armymarinemom]

Good reading. I spent most of my life referring to myself as a liberal. Once I stopped running full tilt boogie raising a family while working full time I started paying closer attention to politics. It was a rude awakening to find out that fascism is so rampantly the left. I made a switch in parties when I noted that the Democrats consistently try to keep minorities in the dog house and back any fascist that comes down the pike.

At least I have the excuse of being raised by parents who really are socialist but have never realized it. I can't tell you how many times I heard "For the People" during my formative years.

[Billthedrill]

This is actually a fascinating topic - how "liberal" came full circle from its original meaning, which during the late 18th century meant favoring small government, free markets, and individual expression of political rights, to its current one which in the United States represents the antithesis to all of those positions. Europeans tend to be very confused by American references to "liberal" and "conservative," and for good reason.

I'll throw this out for consideration. Liberals believed in what was, at that time, quite "progressive" in that it represented progress away from the authority of clergy and aristocracy. It was the term "progressive" that first took a twist as a result of the later German Enlightenment philosopher Hegel and his political adherent Karl Marx. They posited an inevitability of historical progress that resembled liberalism in its end state (the withering away of government altogether, perhaps the most risible Marxist pipe-dream). But there was a rather illiberal middle ground (a totalitarian State) that had to be traveled before reaching utopia. Basically what happened was that "liberal" came to be identified with "progressive," and "progressive" with "socialist." This seduced some of the best minds in Western Europe - Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, the Webbs, Bertrand Russell.

But socialism did not lead to smaller governments as it was supposed to; quite the opposite. It had no intention of cultivating free markets; quite the opposite. And human freedom was definitely not to be expressed in the individual, but only within the group. And yet liberals clung to the old labels.

"Conservative" was always a relative term inasmuch as its adherents do not agree on precisely what is to be conserved or which period in history is to be taken as a model. Most American conservatives take that late-18th-century milestone as a reference point because that is when our society's social contract, the Constitution, was written. What we wish to "conserve" was in its day wildly liberal.

The story gets even more ironic. Lately the Progressives have become entrenched in positions that are very definitely conservative - what they are trying their best to maintain is a time when internationalism was at its peak and such entities as the UN were seen as the ultimate replacement for the nation-state. It is extremely painful for them to consider that that may be a failed model perched atop the ash-heap of history. And so they, as Buckley described conservatives a generation ago, now straddle the world and shout "stop!"

And so we have the current complete diametrical opposite of old labels. George W. Bush is a profoundly progressive President - how else to describe his Middle East policy or that of Social Security but progressive? His opponents are reflexive, knee-jerk conservatives of a hidebound nature that makes Goldwater look like a wimp. Liberal now means Socialist and Conservative now means Liberal and Progressive.

My head hurts. But it's all true.

[oprahstheantichrist]

This is great, I've been saying this for years. The word "liberal" means "generous." The only things these people are generous with is other people's money and their own hatred of Christians,

[CHARLITE]

Terrific post. Thanks very much. I missed this one, and am grateful to you for offering it. Excellent writing - and even better intellectually. Kudos.

Char

[Tolik]

Nailed It !

This ping list is not author-specific for articles I'd like to share. Some for perfect moral clarity, some for provocative thoughts; or simply interesting articles I'd hate to miss myself. (I don't have to agree with the author 100% to feel the need to share an article.) I will try not to abuse the ping list and not to annoy you too much, but on some days there is more of good stuff that is worthy attention. I keep separate PING lists for my favorite authors Victor Davis Hanson, Lee Harris, David Warren, Orson Scott Card. You are welcome in or out, just freepmail me (and note which PING list you are talking about).

[little jeremiah]

Ping to self for later pingout.