Why are you a liberal ? Some will say they believe in social justice, equality, and compassion. Others are liberal because they support a higher minimum wage, abortion rights, reducing climate change, and affordable universal healthcare. Liberalism is often identified with open mindedness, flexibility, reason, and science too. None of these things are wrong, but liberalism is a distinct political tradition based on certain values. Paul Starr writes in the Oxford Companion to American Politics : Liberalism stands for a belief in the equal right to freedom and dignity, advanced by a government of constitutionally restrained powers. In different historical contexts, liberals have varied in their understanding of that ideal and the policies needed to achieve a free and prosperous society and secure world.
Author Edmund Fawcett is more concise defining liberalism as a belief in constitutional government and rule of law; hostility to concentrated power and authority; faith in progress; respect for individual rights; and tolerance. I am a liberal because I believe in it's values.
Individual freedom core value of Liberalism. Think about it as noninterference - being left alone. You can do what you want. The only legitimate exercise of government authority is to keep individuals from harming or imposing on each other. This is the basis for freedom of speech, thought, expression, religion, and privacy. It also protects your property from the government. In America these freedoms are enshrined in the Bill of Rights which are the first ten amendments to the Constitution. However noninterference isn't enough. Individuals must be able to choose and follow their own goals. We can't talk about responsibility or initiative in any meaningful sense without choice or making your own way in society. Each person must choose an occupation, where to live, their friends, and intimate relations. People make life plans and strive to accomplish all kinds of things based on their own thoughts, desires, and efforts. Oftentimes the state, social barriers, or other people deprive individuals of choice and hinder their goals. How does this happen ? Discrimination based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin undermines individual freedom. Poverty, hunger, home- lessness, unemployment, and the lack of affordable healthcare deprive people of all kinds of choices. This makes personal goals un- attainable too. Noninterference is often called negative freedom. The ability to choose and
pursue your own goals is called positive freedom. Individuals need both.
In Liberalism individual freedom is upheld by limited government, equality, tolerance, and pluralism.
Limited government means the state is constrained. There are things it cannot do and they are spelled out in a written constitution. Liberals oppose a government with too much power that acts arbitrarily. Such a state denies negative and positive freedoms. Imagine a government that imprisons critics, censors speech, or ideas. That government will restrict press freedom. If it owns the means of production, trade, and commerce it can mismanage the economy making life miserable for it's citizens. Moreover nobody would oppose that government because their livelihood depends on it. Limited government prevents this from happening. This is the liberal effort to control power. No government, faction, or interest group can be too powerful if power is diffused. This checks people's efforts. In America limited government depends on the separation of powers among it's executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Through a system of checks and balances neither branch is too powerful. Conservatives and liberals disagree about what constitutes limited government. Conservatives think the welfare state, progressive income taxes, and regulated markets are inconsistent with limited government. Liberals support these things while seeking to protect civil liberties, privacy, and personal freedom from government interference. It must also be pointed out that while liberals have supported a larger administrative state they work to keep it transparent and responsive. This is done through freedom of information, open records, public hearings, inspectors general, enabling, and protecting whistle blowers.
Equality is one of the most difficult yet essential parts of Liberalism. People want to be free, but they do not want the same thing for others. Liberals believe every individual has the same right to freedom. They must be equal before the law, have a voice in government, and a chance to make the most of their lives. To Liberals each person has worth and dignity so their rights and wellbeing matter. Equal protection shields them from state or private abuse. For all these reasons Liberalism gradually embraced democracy and universal suffrage. Furthermore straight, white, male, Liberals became more supportive of rights for blacks, women, and LGBT people. Liberal equality doesn't mean everyone will have the same wealth, income, prestige, or level of success. But everyone should have the same opportunity unhindered by class, race, or gender. Moreover economic inequalities should never be so great that most people struggle to survive on the verge of destitution while a few are extremely rich. Lastly liberal equality assures each citizen a voice in their government which means the monied can't dominate government officials or policy making. Without equality some individuals are free and others are not. Liberals rightly oppose this.
Tolerance is a widely misunderstood and controversial concept. Many on the Left define it as affirmation without value judgement. Those on the Right claim it is permissive undermining morality, values, and community. Yet tolerance is essential to a free society. It means putting up with someone or something we strongly oppose. Tolerance allows us to argue and disagree while respecting each other's lives and freedom. It is not avoidance or conflict resolution. It is the direct opposite of these things. We may never resolve our differences or deep disagreements; so we must live and govern ourselves together without tyranny or violent strife. All this leads to pluralism which is the coexistence of many different people, values, and lifestyles in one society.
This is the reality of a modern world connected by technology, a global economy, and immigration.
Liberalism doesn't strive to impose an ideal way of life. It enables different, conflicting, competing values, and thoughts to exist together.
The same thing is true in politics. Liberals want to win elections and gain political power to advance their agenda. But Liberals don't want to abolish or repress their opponents. That would betray everything Liberalism stands for. Liberals realize in a truly free political realm where reasonable people debate in fair elections they must lose sometimes. Then they adapt and make better arguments. They offer better policies the next time. For liberal pluralists the clash of political interests and views where power is checked drives the democratic process. It forces people to find political solutions they can all live with. Like limited government and equality individual freedom is not possible without tolerance leading to pluralism.
None of this is abstract to me. Liberalism informs how I think about the political economy, social equality, identity politics, and wokeness.
Our economy doesn't work well for ordinary people whether they are paid hourly or they're salaried. It's increasingly difficult to make ends meet and a health crisis can lead to financial ruin even when you have health insurance. Not to mention its hard for millions of seniors to live adequately. I personally don't know anybody who can afford to live on either their Social Security or 401K alone. Most people need both. We're working smarter and being productive yet almost all the money and wealth are going to a few people at the top. At the same time the largest corporations are getting bigger and bigger making markets less competitive which hurts consumers and makes the rich more powerful than everybody else. You can't ensure individual freedom or the material well-being on which it depends under these circumstances. I'm not against wealthy people. I don't think we can or should eliminate wealth/ income inequality. But if we are going to have a free and prosperous society for every individual we will have to be more equal. Some corporations will have to be broken up, and the political power of monied interests will have be greatly reduced to ensure political freedom and real democracy.
Nobody is free as an individual if they are unjustly treated as part of a marginalized group. Think about black people punished more harshly by the criminal justice system than whites for the same crime or dying in disproportionate numbers during the Covid pandemic because they lack adequate healthcare. Consider Women in the workplace paid less than a man for the same while often facing sexual harassment and abuse. Imagine how difficult that is for Single parent mother in a lower paying job. While Gay and Lesbian people can get married they lack basic Civil Rights protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations in most states and at the Federal level. For Transgender people it's even more bleak. They are more likely to be homeless, unemployed, suffer from anxiety, depression, suicide, and violent hate crimes. There struggles and demands for justice run to heart of Liberal Ideals about individual freedom and the equal right to it.
Right now too many Liberals and Leftists think we have to choose one over the other for ideological reasons and political expediency. This is a huge mistake. If we focus solely on the economy or class the only people who will benefit are straight white cisgendered men. Does this mean for example that blacks or women don't have the same material concerns as working class white men? Absolutely not. But some people bear the added burden of race, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Ultimately we must press for an economy that benefits working people as much as the rich or big business while also ensuring no one is denied or excluded based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Some will read all of this and think of the Democratic Party. For some it will be a reason for hope and commitment to work. Others will see Liberalism as the problem. They will think negatively about Liberals as extremists whose.politics and policies are illegitimate and impractical. Both views are wrong because Liberalism and the Democratic Party aren't synonymous. The party is big tent with various groups, and I'm firmly convinced it's dominated by Centrist or Moderates. There are things Liberals must do to be relevant and effective regardless of what Democrats do. However a more relevant and effective Liberalism could have a positive effect on Democrats that would change our politics and our country for the better.
Whatever Democrats do history has shown what a reformist Liberal politics has done to make America more free and prosperous for all. From the New Deal in the 1930s through The Great Society of the 1960s and beyond. So much of what makes America livable from the forty hour work week and overtime pay to Social Security and Medicare are Liberal policy achievements. More is necessary and possible of Liberals will take a stand.
Author Edmund Fawcett is more concise defining liberalism as a belief in constitutional government and rule of law; hostility to concentrated power and authority; faith in progress; respect for individual rights; and tolerance. I am a liberal because I believe in it's values.
Individual freedom core value of Liberalism. Think about it as noninterference - being left alone. You can do what you want. The only legitimate exercise of government authority is to keep individuals from harming or imposing on each other. This is the basis for freedom of speech, thought, expression, religion, and privacy. It also protects your property from the government. In America these freedoms are enshrined in the Bill of Rights which are the first ten amendments to the Constitution. However noninterference isn't enough. Individuals must be able to choose and follow their own goals. We can't talk about responsibility or initiative in any meaningful sense without choice or making your own way in society. Each person must choose an occupation, where to live, their friends, and intimate relations. People make life plans and strive to accomplish all kinds of things based on their own thoughts, desires, and efforts. Oftentimes the state, social barriers, or other people deprive individuals of choice and hinder their goals. How does this happen ? Discrimination based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin undermines individual freedom. Poverty, hunger, home- lessness, unemployment, and the lack of affordable healthcare deprive people of all kinds of choices. This makes personal goals un- attainable too. Noninterference is often called negative freedom. The ability to choose and
pursue your own goals is called positive freedom. Individuals need both.
In Liberalism individual freedom is upheld by limited government, equality, tolerance, and pluralism.
Limited government means the state is constrained. There are things it cannot do and they are spelled out in a written constitution. Liberals oppose a government with too much power that acts arbitrarily. Such a state denies negative and positive freedoms. Imagine a government that imprisons critics, censors speech, or ideas. That government will restrict press freedom. If it owns the means of production, trade, and commerce it can mismanage the economy making life miserable for it's citizens. Moreover nobody would oppose that government because their livelihood depends on it. Limited government prevents this from happening. This is the liberal effort to control power. No government, faction, or interest group can be too powerful if power is diffused. This checks people's efforts. In America limited government depends on the separation of powers among it's executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Through a system of checks and balances neither branch is too powerful. Conservatives and liberals disagree about what constitutes limited government. Conservatives think the welfare state, progressive income taxes, and regulated markets are inconsistent with limited government. Liberals support these things while seeking to protect civil liberties, privacy, and personal freedom from government interference. It must also be pointed out that while liberals have supported a larger administrative state they work to keep it transparent and responsive. This is done through freedom of information, open records, public hearings, inspectors general, enabling, and protecting whistle blowers.
Equality is one of the most difficult yet essential parts of Liberalism. People want to be free, but they do not want the same thing for others. Liberals believe every individual has the same right to freedom. They must be equal before the law, have a voice in government, and a chance to make the most of their lives. To Liberals each person has worth and dignity so their rights and wellbeing matter. Equal protection shields them from state or private abuse. For all these reasons Liberalism gradually embraced democracy and universal suffrage. Furthermore straight, white, male, Liberals became more supportive of rights for blacks, women, and LGBT people. Liberal equality doesn't mean everyone will have the same wealth, income, prestige, or level of success. But everyone should have the same opportunity unhindered by class, race, or gender. Moreover economic inequalities should never be so great that most people struggle to survive on the verge of destitution while a few are extremely rich. Lastly liberal equality assures each citizen a voice in their government which means the monied can't dominate government officials or policy making. Without equality some individuals are free and others are not. Liberals rightly oppose this.
Tolerance is a widely misunderstood and controversial concept. Many on the Left define it as affirmation without value judgement. Those on the Right claim it is permissive undermining morality, values, and community. Yet tolerance is essential to a free society. It means putting up with someone or something we strongly oppose. Tolerance allows us to argue and disagree while respecting each other's lives and freedom. It is not avoidance or conflict resolution. It is the direct opposite of these things. We may never resolve our differences or deep disagreements; so we must live and govern ourselves together without tyranny or violent strife. All this leads to pluralism which is the coexistence of many different people, values, and lifestyles in one society.
This is the reality of a modern world connected by technology, a global economy, and immigration.
Liberalism doesn't strive to impose an ideal way of life. It enables different, conflicting, competing values, and thoughts to exist together.
The same thing is true in politics. Liberals want to win elections and gain political power to advance their agenda. But Liberals don't want to abolish or repress their opponents. That would betray everything Liberalism stands for. Liberals realize in a truly free political realm where reasonable people debate in fair elections they must lose sometimes. Then they adapt and make better arguments. They offer better policies the next time. For liberal pluralists the clash of political interests and views where power is checked drives the democratic process. It forces people to find political solutions they can all live with. Like limited government and equality individual freedom is not possible without tolerance leading to pluralism.
None of this is abstract to me. Liberalism informs how I think about the political economy, social equality, identity politics, and wokeness.
Our economy doesn't work well for ordinary people whether they are paid hourly or they're salaried. It's increasingly difficult to make ends meet and a health crisis can lead to financial ruin even when you have health insurance. Not to mention its hard for millions of seniors to live adequately. I personally don't know anybody who can afford to live on either their Social Security or 401K alone. Most people need both. We're working smarter and being productive yet almost all the money and wealth are going to a few people at the top. At the same time the largest corporations are getting bigger and bigger making markets less competitive which hurts consumers and makes the rich more powerful than everybody else. You can't ensure individual freedom or the material well-being on which it depends under these circumstances. I'm not against wealthy people. I don't think we can or should eliminate wealth/ income inequality. But if we are going to have a free and prosperous society for every individual we will have to be more equal. Some corporations will have to be broken up, and the political power of monied interests will have be greatly reduced to ensure political freedom and real democracy.
Nobody is free as an individual if they are unjustly treated as part of a marginalized group. Think about black people punished more harshly by the criminal justice system than whites for the same crime or dying in disproportionate numbers during the Covid pandemic because they lack adequate healthcare. Consider Women in the workplace paid less than a man for the same while often facing sexual harassment and abuse. Imagine how difficult that is for Single parent mother in a lower paying job. While Gay and Lesbian people can get married they lack basic Civil Rights protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations in most states and at the Federal level. For Transgender people it's even more bleak. They are more likely to be homeless, unemployed, suffer from anxiety, depression, suicide, and violent hate crimes. There struggles and demands for justice run to heart of Liberal Ideals about individual freedom and the equal right to it.
Right now too many Liberals and Leftists think we have to choose one over the other for ideological reasons and political expediency. This is a huge mistake. If we focus solely on the economy or class the only people who will benefit are straight white cisgendered men. Does this mean for example that blacks or women don't have the same material concerns as working class white men? Absolutely not. But some people bear the added burden of race, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Ultimately we must press for an economy that benefits working people as much as the rich or big business while also ensuring no one is denied or excluded based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Some will read all of this and think of the Democratic Party. For some it will be a reason for hope and commitment to work. Others will see Liberalism as the problem. They will think negatively about Liberals as extremists whose.politics and policies are illegitimate and impractical. Both views are wrong because Liberalism and the Democratic Party aren't synonymous. The party is big tent with various groups, and I'm firmly convinced it's dominated by Centrist or Moderates. There are things Liberals must do to be relevant and effective regardless of what Democrats do. However a more relevant and effective Liberalism could have a positive effect on Democrats that would change our politics and our country for the better.
Whatever Democrats do history has shown what a reformist Liberal politics has done to make America more free and prosperous for all. From the New Deal in the 1930s through The Great Society of the 1960s and beyond. So much of what makes America livable from the forty hour work week and overtime pay to Social Security and Medicare are Liberal policy achievements. More is necessary and possible of Liberals will take a stand.
