[nickcarraway]

Whatever it does mean, liberalism certainly does not mean the protection of the individual against the ever-growing Leviathan State.

See, that's the problem. Modern political liberalism doesn't mean protection of the individual against the state. But classical liberalism certainly does. After all, Hobbes who gave us the Leviathan was an important influence on those classical liberals, like Locke.

[Maximilian]

Hobbes who gave us the Leviathan was an important influence on those classical liberals, like Locke.

I wonder if you aren't mis-reading Hobbes. He was in favor of the Leviathan. He believed that only power and authority could hold the state together. Liberalism, even classical liberalism, and the exercise of power have always gone together.

[As you well know...]

Amen. But, it is even worse as "liberalism" is more of an emotive state than a set of identifiable principles.

[St.Chuck]

Modern political liberalism doesn't mean protection of the individual against the state. But classical liberalism certainly does.

Perfectly said. Succinct and true.