Do liberals have an European way of thinking ?

Question

Some very interesting answers, thank you all.

Just give me more answers :)

Answer 1

Do you mean US people of liberal mind? I assume so.

I had to think about this.

Conservatives do seem to work from a mindset that assumes that the US is the most important country on earth and that armed conflict is the primary way to settle differences between groups of people.

Europeans have learned, through hundreds of years of European wars that have accomplished little or nothing, that armed conflict is of limited use and must be applied carefully, if at all. It may be possible that American liberals have come to the same conclusions without having to experience bombed-out cities, hyperinflationary economies, famine, desolation and refugee camps.

Say, those liberals are pretty smart, eh?

Answer 2

Since the end of World War II, Canadian governments (mostly Liberals) have done their best to distance us from our British roots.

This was done to appease Quebec and attempt to make them feel more part of Canada. It also won them many votes.

At the same time, they have done their best to distance us from any closer ties to the US out of fear that our giant neighbour may overwhelm us culturally, economically or even politically.

If we are not British, and not American, any similarities default to European as that is the only other comparable western society to measure ourselves to.

It is also reasonable to say that Quebec is more European than the rest of Canada and that the Liberal leadership is overwhelmingly represented from "la belle province" (Quebec).

This is not a slam, slight or insult, just an observation.

Oh, and big government with entitlements is totally European. If the liberals could have Canada join the EU, I am sure they would!

Answer 3

Western Europe tends to be more liberal than the United States. But I wouldn't say that American liberals think like Europeans, if that's what you mean. American liberalism is rooted firmly in the Bill of Rights and New Deal, both very American concepts.

Answer 4

Will this whining ever stop?

No disrespect to the person who asked this question...Your question is OK.

It's some of the answers to your question that are just getting sickening.

Both Liberals and Conservatives need to stop all of this childish behavior. We might not agree with each other but a better way needs to be found, to deal with our disagreements.

The people in our Government might not agree with one another but at least they deal with it, like adults should deal with problems.

All I ever see here on Yahoo Answers is, Libs and Cons just attacking each other in a very bad way.

To both Libs and Cons...if you are unhappy with the Government, do something about it besides bitching here on Yahoo Answers!

It has become so pathetic! Day in and day out, it's the same old story....just a bunch of whining crybaby Libs and Cons.

Answer 5

That's the difference between liberals and conservatives, liberals have a European way of thinking whereas conservatives have NO way of thinking.

Answer 6

Liberals don't think. To be a liberal, merely learn the following line: "If elected, I'll start a new program for (insert cause of the hour here) that will only cost $300,000,000 (omit "the first day, and then only $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 after that") and will save (insert newly put-upon minorty group here)."

Answer 7

Somewhat. Liberals aren't always for socialism or looser "morality" laws like Europe has (such as prostitution or drug possession). Liberals like health and welfare sysytems that may approach but stop short of socialism. They do think alike when it comes to separation of church and state.

But really, most deep down in their hearts probably do think like Europeans.

As to these other jackasses, they should keep their idiocy to a minimum and stop giving Conservatives a bad name.

Answer 8

Liberals way of thinking fall in line with the Communist. If you will study the Cold War you will see first hand.

Answer 9

Sometimes. But you can't compare American liberals to Europeans. They might agree on some things, but there are some fierce differences when it comes to their views on, for example, economics.

Answer 10

Although the term is used to decry a political belief......I offer you its meaning for your understanding to increase...your awareness to bud...........and your analytical skills to sharpen........with all respect..............Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value.[1] Liberalism has its roots in the Western Enlightenment, but the term now encompasses a diversity of political thought.

Broadly speaking, modern liberalism places the rights of the individual above the needs of the group. It seeks a society characterized by freedom of thought for individuals, limitations on power, especially of government and religion, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market economy that supports relatively free private enterprise, and a transparent system of government in which the rights of minorities are protected. [2] In modern society, liberals favor a liberal democracy with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law and an equal opportunity to succeed[3].

Modern liberalism usually advocates a limited degree of government interference in the free market, often in the form of anti-discrimination laws, civil service examinations, universal education, and progressive taxation. This philosophy frequently extends to a belief that the government should provide for a degree of general welfare, including the dole for the poor, housing for the homeless, and medical care for the sick. Such publicly-funded initiatives and interferences in the market are rejected by modern advocates of classical liberalism, which emphasizes free private enterprise, individual property rights and freedom of contract; classical liberals hold that economic inequality, as arising naturally from competition in the free market, does not justify the violation of private property rights.

Liberalism rejected many foundational assumptions which dominated most earlier theories of government, such as the Divine Right of Kings, hereditary status, and established religion. Fundamental human rights that all liberals support include the right to life, liberty, and property. Liberalism has its roots in the Western Enlightenment, but the term now encompasses a diversity of political thought, with adherents spanning a large part of the political spectrum.

A broader use of the term liberalism is in the context of liberal democracy (see also constitutionalism). In this sense of the word, it refers to a democracy in which the powers of government are limited and the rights of citizens are legally defined; this applies to nearly all Western democracies, and therefore is not solely associated with liberal parties......thanks for listening.