Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Is Liberalism Dead?
American Spectator ^ | February 2011 | James Piereson

Posted on 02/21/2011 9:42:32 PM PST by neverdem

HAVING WRITTEN AN ARTICLE a year ago on the question "Is Conservatism Dead?" and answering it in the negative, I am now charged with answering the reciprocal question, "Is Liberalism Dead?"

I am afraid that, pace my friend Bob Tyrrell, I must also answer this one in the negative. Liberalism is not dead for some of the same reasons that conservatism is not dead. Liberalism and conservatism are more or less permanent antagonisms within our system of state capitalism such that neither is likely to disappear unless or until the system of which they are parts somehow blows up. The question, therefore, is not whether liberalism is dead but rather whether our highly institutionalized system of political economy shows signs of breaking apart. If either liberalism or conservatism should expire, then it will be through a crisis or cataclysm much in the way that secessionism disappeared with the Civil War and laissez faire capitalism in the Great Depression.

Such an upheaval, while still unlikely, is not entirely out of the question. The long recession that began in 2007 continues to strain public and private...

--snip--

Liberalism is not dead, but it may soon be under siege.

--snip--

The conflict today between Democrats and Republicans increasingly puts public sector unions and beneficiaries of public programs against the middle-class taxpayer and business interests large and small...

--snip--

Conservatives are in a position to hasten this process along by refusing to approve the spending, borrowing, and federal bailouts that will be required to keep public sector liberalism afloat, though at the price of being blamed for the pain and suffering associated with its collapse. But this is undoubtedly a price worth paying to guide the nation through an adjustment that will otherwise take place later and under circumstances far less to anyone's liking.

(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: liberalism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last
The rats have been pushing the fiction that they are for the middle class. It's quite bizarre. It also shows that they think the middle class is stupid.
1 posted on 02/21/2011 9:42:34 PM PST by neverdem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: neverdem

Is Liberalism dead? No, Satan lives.


2 posted on 02/21/2011 9:46:38 PM PST by LouAvul
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem


Trip to Vail with 22 vehicles $5,000,000.

Secret Service protection $1,000,000.

Unlimited calories while sking. Priceless!

3 posted on 02/21/2011 9:47:30 PM PST by quantim (Victory is not relative, it is absolute.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

Liberalism was dead. It then ate the personification of death itself and became one with the undead.


4 posted on 02/21/2011 9:47:42 PM PST by Moose Burger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
...neither is likely to disappear unless or until the system of which they are parts somehow blows up.

Which it's quite evident now, they wish to do.

So, no, liberalism, aka communism, is nowhere near dead.

5 posted on 02/21/2011 9:49:24 PM PST by Bronzewound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LouAvul

Is Liberalism dead? No, Satan lives.


You nailed it!


6 posted on 02/21/2011 9:58:38 PM PST by unkus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

If not; it should be. I am tired of whiny little 2 years old screaming me, me, me all of the time.


7 posted on 02/21/2011 10:19:14 PM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy; Joe Brower; Cannoneer No. 4; Criminal Number 18F; Dan from Michigan; Eaker; Jeff Head; ...
Liberalism Is Dead

The Decline of Liberalism

Libya without Gaddafi: What to Expect, What to Watch For (Victor Davis Hanson)

.223 Remington vs. 5.56 NATO: What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You

Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

8 posted on 02/21/2011 10:34:57 PM PST by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GreatJoeMcCarthy

Ping


9 posted on 02/21/2011 10:45:53 PM PST by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
No, "Liberalism" is not dead. And frankly, for the reasons mentioned, I do not want to see it dead.
I believe it is healthy to have opposing forces in the political arena to balance out the issues. For that reason alone I want a continuing side to be the sounding board for Conservatism in American politics and culture.

Having said that, I do hope for a return to what is now known as "Classic Liberalism." The "liberal" agenda has been hijacked, mugged and co-opted by the radical fringe element of 'Progressive/Liberalism' for the last 30 years or so. This has led to an increasing militancy of agenda and decreasing in the issues upon which "Classic Liberalism" set out to further.
I think there is a major shake-up, break-up and turning out on the political horizon in the U.S.A. and one hopes that one of the results is the returning of the radical fringes back to where they so deservedly belong.
10 posted on 02/21/2011 11:53:13 PM PST by Tainan (Cogito Ergo Conservitus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tainan
I believe it is healthy to have opposing forces in the political arena to balance out the issues. For that reason alone I want a continuing side to be the sounding board for Conservatism in American politics and culture.

Could we have a loyal opposition? The rats have been appalling from Vietnam to Iraq.

11 posted on 02/22/2011 12:22:36 AM PST by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

See my tag line.


12 posted on 02/22/2011 1:02:00 AM PST by fish hawk (R. Emmett Tyrrell: Liberalism is dead. What we see now is "soft Nazis-ism".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
Could we have a loyal opposition?
The rats have been appalling from Vietnam to Iraq.

Well that is a very good question. Given the taint that has become SOP at this point, I just do not know.
The house cleaning (exorcism?) that must happen will not be quick or painless. But I do see the legitimate value of such an opposing set of members.
If this is not present then we descend quickly into dictatorship/fascism/one-party rule. None of which are the system set forth in the U.S. Constitution - which must be our political and governmental foundation.

13 posted on 02/22/2011 1:24:17 AM PST by Tainan (Cogito Ergo Conservitus.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

Good read.


14 posted on 02/22/2011 1:31:48 AM PST by gogogodzilla (Live free or die!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: quantim

Wow. Tofu Fried Chicken and Soy Fries. Baked of course and with no salt.


15 posted on 02/22/2011 2:51:24 AM PST by screaminsunshine (34 States)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

No, it never dies... Every so often, it just runs out of money... like my tagline says.


16 posted on 02/22/2011 5:33:46 AM PST by ReleaseTheHounds ("The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." M. Thatcher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

Hell, no, liberalism is not dead—no where near it. As long as we have stupid people, we’ll have liberalism/progressives/Democrats.


17 posted on 02/22/2011 6:17:29 AM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LouAvul

Is Liberalism dead? No, Satan lives.


Indeed. Liberalism can easily be demonstrated to be the rational outgrowth of Luciferian ideology.
And it will not cease to be until the world is remade.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.


18 posted on 02/22/2011 6:20:10 AM PST by MrB (Tagline suspended for important announcement on my home page. Click my handle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Tainan

Classical Liberalism = Americanism = today’s conservatives

What is called “liberalism” today is nothing but rehashed Marxism and Humanism, based in the lies of Satan (you should have no consequences, you get to define good and evil for yourselves, you should be under no extra-earthly authority - See Genesis 3).


19 posted on 02/22/2011 6:22:48 AM PST by MrB (Tagline suspended for important announcement on my home page. Click my handle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

It is a dead idea that keeps coming back. Only to create havoc and damage.

Once people live the destruction, they seek to bury it again.

We need to make it DOA.


20 posted on 02/22/2011 6:31:47 AM PST by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson