Urban Dictionary: liberals
A liberal, in the American sense, is one who falls to the left in the political spectrum; In other parts of the world, however, liberalism is the belief in laissez-faire capitalism and free-market systems - hence the recently coined term, neoliberalism.
Although I do not like to generalize, for the purposes of a (somewhat) concise dictionary definition, here is the very basic liberal (American sense) ideology:
Politics: The federal government exists to protect and serve the people, and therefore, should be given sufficient power to fulfill its role successfully. Ways in which this can be accomplished include giving the federal government more power than local governments and having the government provide programs designed to protect the interests of the people (these include welfare, Medicare, and social security). Overall, these programs have helped extensively in aiding the poor and unfortunate, as well as the elderly and middle class. To make sure that the interests of the people are served, it was liberals (or so they were considered in their time) that devised the idea of a direct democracy, a republic, and modern democracy. This way, it is ensured that the federal government represents the interests of the people, and the extensive power that it is given is not used to further unpopular goals. Liberals do not concentrate on military power (though that is not to say they ignore it), but rather focus on funding towards education, improving wages, protecting the environment, etc. Many propose the dismantling of heavy-cost programs such as the Star Wars program (no, not the film series), in order to use the money to fund more practical needs.
Social Ideology: As one travels further left on the political spectrum, it is noticed that tolerance, acceptance, and general compassion for all people steadily increases (in theory at least). Liberals are typically concerned with the rights of the oppressed and unfortunate this, of course, does not mean that they ignore the rights of others (liberals represent the best interests of the middle-class in America). This has led many liberals to lobby for the rights of homosexuals, women, minorities, single-mothers, etc. Many fundamentalists see this is immoral; however, it is, in reality, the most mature, and progressive way in which to deal with social differences. Liberals are identified with fighting for equal rights, such as those who wanted to abolish slavery and those who fought hard for a woman's reproductive right (see Abortion). Liberals have also often fought for ecological integrity, protecting the environment, diversity of species, as well as indigenous populations rights. Almost all social betterment programs are funded by liberal institutions, and government funded social programs on education improvement, childrens rights, womens rights, etc. are all supported by liberals. Basically, social liberalism is the mature, understanding way in which to embrace individual differences, not according to ancient dogma or religious prejudice, but according to the ideals of humanity that have been cultivated by our experiences throughout history, summed up in that famous American maxim: with liberty and justice for all.
Economics: Using the term liberal when speaking of economics is very confusing, as liberal in America is completely opposite to the rest of the world. Therefore, here, as I have been doing, I will concentrate on the American definition of liberal concerning economics. Liberals believe that the rights of the people, of the majority, are to be valued much more sincerely than those of corporations, and therefore have frequently proposed the weakening of corporate power through heavier taxation (of corporations), environmental regulations, and the formation of unions. Liberals often propose the heavier taxation of WEALTHY individuals, while alleviating taxes on the middle class, and especially the poor. Liberals (American sense) do not support laissez-faire economics because, to put it simply, multinational corporations take advantage of developing countries and encourage exploitation and child labor (multinational corporations are spawned from laissez-faire policies). Instead, many propose the nationalization of several industries, which would make sure that wealth and power is not concentrated in a few hands, but is in the hands of the people (represented by elected officials in government). I am not going to go into the extreme intricacies of the economic implications of privatization of resources, etc., but will say that privatization and globalization have greatly damaged the economies of Latin America, namely Argentina and Mexico (see NAFTA).
This summation of the leftist ideology may not be 100% correct in all situations, as there are many variations on several issues and I may have depicted the current definition of liberal as too far to the left than it is generally accepted. On that note, many leftists are critical of the political situation in America, claiming that the left is now in the center, as the general populace has been conditioned by institutions such as Fox News to consider everything left of Hitler (as one clever person put it) as radical liberalism. I, myself, have observed that, in America, there are two basic types of liberals: those who concern themselves only with liberal policies on the domestic front, and either ignore international affairs or remain patriotic and dedicated to the American way (Al Franken, Bill Clinton, etc.) And then there are those, despite the criticism they face from many fellow liberals (classified under the former definition), who are highly critical of US foreign policy, addressing such issues as Iran-Contra, the Sandanistas, Pinochet, Vietnam, NATOs intervention in Kosovo, our trade embargo on Cuba, etc, etc. (such as Noam Chomsky, William Blumm, etc.) Unfortunately, it seems that adolescent rage has run rampant on this particular word, and most definitions are either incoherent jumbles of insults and generalizations or deliberate spewing of misinformation (see the definition that describes the situation in Iraq, without addressing our suppression of popular revolts in Iraq, our pre-war sanctions on Iraq that have caused the death of some 5 million children, and our support for Saddam during the Iran-Iraq war, and even our post-war sale of biological elements usable in weapons to Saddams regime).
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- Conservatives and liberals have different brain structures heres how - New York Post - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- CAQ's identity politics have created a disaster in English universities, Liberals say - Montreal Gazette - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Conservatives and liberals have slightly different brain structures, scientists discover - Study Finds - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Geoff Russ: The Liberals are being consumed by the diaspora politics they nurtured - National Post - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- This party is spent: The Hub Roundtable on the sagging Liberals, surging Conservatives, and new mortgage rules - The Hub - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Quebec Liberals already have candidate for Terrebonne byelection - Montreal Gazette - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Momentum at Ontario Liberals' meeting in London can help the party gain traction, analysts say - CBC.ca - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Opinion: The Liberals would do better if they replace their dead man walking - The Globe and Mail - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Braid: Byelection losses show Trudeau and the Liberals are courting extinction in general election - Calgary Herald - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Time to Give Idaho Liberals the Paddling They Need - News Radio 1310 KLIX - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Why old-school liberals like Bill Maher are often at odds with the Democratic Party - Deseret News - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- FIRST READING: Some numbers on just how badly the Liberals did in Monday's byelections - National Post - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- The Liberals can't win a general election if they keep losing safe seats - CBC News - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Opinion: Its beginning to look a lot like 2011 for the Liberals - The Globe and Mail - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Draghis report is a wake-up call for the EU the Liberals say - European Interest - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Opinion: Immigration holds up the clearest sign yet that the Liberals have all but given up on governing - The Globe and Mail - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- EDITORIAL: Liberals out of gas and out of ideas - Toronto Sun - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- By-election tests: The NDP passed. The Liberals failed. - The Globe and Mail - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- John Ivison: Liberals are already acting like the unofficial opposition to Pierre Poilievre - National Post - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Chief Justice John Roberts Is Not The Man Liberals Want Him To Be - Above the Law - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Justin Trudeau pledges to forge ahead after Liberals lose another fortress riding - The Globe and Mail - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Trudeau says Liberals have 'a lot of work to do' after his party loses another byelection - CBC News - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Opinion: By-election win confirms the Blocs staying power as the Liberals implode in Quebec - The Globe and Mail - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Liberals Are Finding New Ways To Undermine The Right To Strike - The Maple - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Weekly Writ 9/18: Bad byelections for the Liberals, again - The Writ - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Opinion: With the Liberals losing once-safe seats, an election cant be far off - The Globe and Mail - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Canberra Liberals release housing plan ahead of ACT election, with proposal to develop Kowen Forest into thousands of homes - ABC News - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Matt Gurney: Byelection results dont just signal the Liberals will lose the next election. They signal a wipeout - Toronto Star - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- LILLEY UNLEASHED: Trudeau Liberals are fighting with Elon Muskfor some reason - Toronto Sun - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Vance says big difference between conservatives and liberals is that no one has tried to kill Kamala Harris - MSN - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Terry Newman: There are no more safe spaces for Trudeaus Liberals Montreal byelection loss proves it - National Post - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Liberals face race against the clock to pass dozens of bills as Parliament returns - The Globe and Mail - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Framing Climate Action as Patriotic and Status-Quo Friendly Increases Liberals and Conservatives Belief in Climate Change - NYU - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Opinion: Its not just Trudeau: The Liberals days as the natural governing party are done - The Globe and Mail - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Voter wants to remind people that liberals can also be patriots - The Keystone - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- The hard truth the Trudeau Liberals need to hear from Mark Carney - The Globe and Mail - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Althia Raj: Justin Trudeau unleashed is the Liberals new weapon in their battle with Pierre Poilievre - Toronto Star - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Cabinet minister tells Liberals to 'change their attitude' as MPs return to Commons - MSN - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Im not going anywhere: Justin Trudeau says he wont resign if Liberals lose Montreal byelection - Toronto Star - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Opinion: After the deal: the NDP is exposed and the Liberals are stuck - The Globe and Mail - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- 'Deceitful' Liberals dodging Carney ethics oversight with party appointment, Conservatives say - National Post - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- How safe are the Liberals in LaSalleEmardVerdun? Voters weigh in ahead of Monday vote - CTV News Montreal - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- GUNTER: Alberta shouldn't have to bear the burden of Liberals failed immigration policy - Edmonton Sun - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Leading business groups ask Liberals to send Air Canada pilot dispute to binding arbitration - CBC News - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- LILLEY: Trudeau's Liberals the only ones left defending CBC - Toronto Sun - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Conservatives say they have solution for online harassment after Liberals 'failed' - CTV News - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Opinion: Data Dive with Nik Nanos: Will the Liberals stumbles result in an orange crush for the NDP? - The Globe and Mail - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Conservatives say they have solution for online harassment after Liberals failed - Toronto Star - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Concerns over future of Windsor's national urban park with NDP split from Liberals - Windsor Star - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- 'Something must change': Liberals are under siege in Montreal days before byelection - National Post - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Canadas NDP leader says end of agreement with Liberals makes election timing uncertain - The Associated Press - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Bloc Qubcois lays out its list of demands to keep Liberals in power - Montreal Gazette - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Unshackled NDP MPs in Montreal for caucus retreat days after ending deal with Liberals - The Globe and Mail - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Canada: New Democratic party withdraws support for Trudeaus Liberals - The Guardian - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Biden and Harris, Along With Liberals in Brazil and Europe, Quashing Free Speech in the Name of Disinformation - The New York Sun - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Liberals hire Mark Carney to head party's economic 'task force' ahead of election - National Post - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Trudeau Liberals will never hit NATO target if DND can't even spend the money it has - National Post - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Rosie DiManno: Singh can say what hed like, but theres only one winner in his breakup with the Liberals - Toronto Star - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- John Ivison: Jagmeet Singh pivots from losing to Liberals to losing to Conservatives - National Post - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Michael Higgins: Jagmeet Singh can still yank Liberals even further to the left - National Post - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- After NDP breaks pact with Liberals, party president says N.L. will face a choice in election - CBC.ca - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- How and why the NDP decided to break up with the Trudeau Liberals - National Post - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Ben Shapiro loves trolling liberals. Republicans are putting that to use. - POLITICO - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Conservatives and Liberals Are Fighting Over Who Gets Monty Python Better - Cracked.com - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- NDP to have 'tough conversations' about its deal with Liberals at coming retreat: MP - Yahoo News Canada - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Poor conservatives and wealthy liberals overestimate wealth of their neighborhoods - PsyPost - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- NDP to have 'tough conversations' about its deal with Liberals at coming retreat: MP - CBC News - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- A dark day for Germany is a dark day for Europe: liberals react to far right success in German state election as it happened - The Guardian - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- How BC United (formerly the B.C. Liberals) collapsed and what could happen next - National Post - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Robert Libman: Poll holds hidden hope for Quebec Liberals if they find the right leader - Montreal Gazette - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- N.S. Liberals say they would make transit free if elected - CityNews Halifax - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- NDP to have 'tough conversations' about its deal with Liberals at coming retreat: MP - CP24 - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- NDP to have tough conversations about its deal with Liberals at coming retreat: MP - Toronto Star - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- The biggest tests are yet to come for NSW Liberals after a shambolic few weeks - ABC News - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- The Liberals are losing and the clock is running out. Its time to pull their goalie - Toronto Star - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- NDP to have 'tough conversations' about its deal with Liberals at coming retreat: MP - CTV News - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Poilievre urges Singh to pull out of deal with Liberals and trigger fall election - National Post - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Fred DeLorey: Do the Liberals care about environmental stewardship or just trendy climate issues? The Jasper disaster provides a damning answer - The... - August 9th, 2024 [August 9th, 2024]
- From sunny ways to cloudy days: Canadians have tired of Justin Trudeau - The Washington Post - July 26th, 2024 [July 26th, 2024]
- When Liberal promises meet fiscal reality - The Globe and Mail - July 26th, 2024 [July 26th, 2024]