Why are there so many people who think that liberalism and communism are one in the same?

Question

I keep reading in this forum (and hearing in everyday life) that being a liberal is a negative thing in the USA, when liberalism is a philosophy believing in freedom of speech, religion, etc., which is what the USA was founded upon. All citizens of the USA are liberals, if they believe in the ideas set forth in our constitution. I also see many trying to equate liberalism with communism. Please read up on these two subjects. As stated above, liberalism is a philosophy -- one that disagrees with government control. Communism is made up of political policies which do believe in government control. Is everyone just not thinking for themselves, anymore in this country? Not wishing to become educated, at least a little bit, about the topics they wish to discuss? There is such a growing gap between us. This country is not an "us against them" nation. I love my country, even when I disagree with its politics. Don't you? Whether a Rep or a Dem or otherwise?

Answer 1

A lot of neo-liberals are like the "hippies" of old. The government should take care of everyone, etc. I don't actually believe that the term, "liberal" applies to them.

I gladly consider myself a liberal, even though I don't believe that we have a place for labor unions, should no longer have affirmative action, and shouldn't hold companies to certain hiring practices/charity practices/social practices.

Some people call me middle of the road, I consider myself liberal in that I oppose much of what the conservatives (close-minded ones to me) feel. I agree with allowing people freedoms, pure and simple, so long as those freedoms don't infringe upon other people's freedoms. Gay marriage - let them marry!

A lot of people simply don't care to educate themselves and would rather get their "slogan of the day" from fox news. They truly don't understand what goes on in politics, they don't care to understand either... so long as they can drift with the herd.

Most people can't respect other people's beliefs either. Granted, I hate Bush, but I'm not going to berate someone for loving the man.

I think too many people are looking for a fight. Even politicians see it... Bush sr. and Clinton sitting side by side to encourage unity. Kerry in his concession speech urging people to let go of the fight. Education I suppose... the lack of it.

Answer 2

If at 20,you are not leaning liberal,you have no heart.If at 40 you are not conservative,you have no head..Sir W.Chirchill.. Liberals are simply childish people whose thinking is not matured.They usually are in rebellion or some other sin and should not participate in politics till they grow up.. Some, like jack Murtaw(sp)and john kerry are bought by sinful special interests. Ted Kennedy is so immersed in sin and special interest, especially his own oil investment that he would gladly watch america rot from the inside before he would vote for what is right for america..Others are sold to the baby murderers, the a.m.a. butchers and thieves, and the worst bunch of seditionists , the scurge of america- the A.C.L.U., aka; Anti Christ's Legal Unit.
Comunism is based on the ideal that all people are created equal and should be treated and rewarded equally. A true comunist is not that bad a thing.. but, the sin and corruption that ruled the Comunist party is what gives them such a bad reputation.. Same with the Democratic party, a real democrat is not intolerable,ie.zell miller. But the dem party is so infested with sin interest that you cannot tell the sin of the comunists from the sin of the democrats.. so to folks with decent conservative ideals, it is sometime hard to tell the difference..

Answer 3

You are right, ... sort of. A classic liberal is what you describe. A modern liberal believes in things like government control of large parts of the economy, federal power over state power, equality of results over equality of opportunity, softness towards criminals, the non-sanctity of life (abortion) except when the life is that of a horrendous rapist/murderer, racial discrimination, oops I mean affirmative action, gun control,...etc. All of these go against classical liberalism, and most go against the constitution. Conservatives are the classic liberals today, weird huh? I love my country, but I fear the power that has been concentrated in the federal government. Most of this concentration has been the result of modern liberalism's belief that the intellectual classes know better than the plebeians, which sounds very much like the dictatorship of the proletariat, hence the comparison with communists. Though communism is an economic system, there is a definite political system of top-down control that has always accompanied it in practice.

Answer 4

It so happens that many of the ideals I have seen espoused by liberals here are very similar to communism, Government control of companies. Income redistribution. Second amendment is outdated. Bush stole the election. Anti christian anti Jewish. Government health care. Government should solve all problems.
The destruction of the family as it existed for thousand of years..

Answer 5

Because a lot of Liberals are in line with Communist idealogies, not to mention the Communist Party of America instead of running their own Candidate for President they decided to endorse John Kerry for President (I am not even making this up, it is a fact and not a suprise since John Kerry's Picture is in Vietnam's Hall of people honored for helping the Communists of Nam defeat the United States).

Answer 6

The liberal's have unfortunately moved so far left, that they are socialists.

Every policy that the democrats come up with is a social program. They want to punish people for working hard, and reward others for doing nothing.

Answer 7

Technically, Communism is an economic theory rather than a political one.

Also Communism is considered radical (far left) liberalism. So I can see where the confusion exists.

Answer 8

Relax its not the same there are just a lot anal people who we pay to protect our country. They cant get with people who think on the terms of solving a problem thru negotiation and not dealing with a situation thru a positive everybody wins position, They think world power and domination, this will be the down fall of the US and what its fore fathers was thinking they wanted to prevent blood shed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

Beacuse no one reads and feel no need to educate themselves. I particluar favorite statemtns is democracy(form of governance) versus communism(economic theory) That shows understanding.

Answer 10

Both restrict property ownership, the free market and personal liberty.