Liberalism

In this country (U.S.) I feel its relevant to discuss the true meaning of the political ideology, liberalism. Do not take this little soap-box tangent to be a defense of either political party.

Classical Liberalism emerged around the same time as Nationalism in Europe. Enough time had progressed between the horrors of the French Revolution and the fall of Napoleon for intellectuals to start looking at reform once again. They were, like the Founding Fathers and like the French Revolutionary Republicans, inspired by many enlightenment thinkers. For the Liberals of the mid-19th Century it was John Locke and his Second Treatise on Government. These Classical Liberals believed in a separate church & state doctrine; they believed in the right to life, liberty and property; elected representative assembles; limited government; and in many ways the British model of representative government.

Where the Democrats and Republicans of today disagree is at least a hundred years old. The latter half of the 19th Century and the social problems that come with an industrialized capitalist society were being increasingly commented on by many of the same intellectuals. Out of such social upheaval (poverty, illness, rights of labor) began to form a new liberalism. Welfare State Liberalism came out of this - the name sounds like it should be included in a Republican stump speech, no? Thus, the two divided and they remain divided throughout Europe and America.

I tend to be rather Painite so I guess I fall under the latter liberalism but it should be remembered that liberal is not a horrible term and both sides are liberal. Those in either party who stay true to their respective liberalism should receive some respect from both sides; they share a common heritage.