Is Liberalism healthy for society?

Question

Is liberalism a better way for any society, or are conservative ideals the norm? Please explain

Answer 1

Yes, more later. This is from wiki, but I do think it applies to the health of this society.

Liberalism is an ideology, philosophy, and political tradition that holds liberty as the primary political value.[1] Broadly speaking, liberalism 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 guaranteed. In modern society, liberals favour a liberal democracy with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law and an equal opportunity to succeed[2]. 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. In many countries, "modern" liberalism differs from classical liberalism by asserting that government provision of some minimal level of material well-being takes priority over freedom from taxation. 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, from left to right. In the context of economics, the term "liberalism" refers to economic liberalism, which is associated with the political ideology of liberalism itself.

Answer 2

You need both. It is called being a moderate. I think it would take someone who is moderate to get this country back on track. Somebody like Bush is ruining this country because he a tad too conservative. If Hillary Clinton became President, she would ruin the country because she is way too liberal. A country has to have both to offset each other so the country does not get too far either way. Not everyone would be happy, but I think the country would be better off with the country being in the middle somewhere. People have to remember, before the Revolution, this country was founded on conservative ideas, but it made things closed to new ideas. Thankfully, liberal ideas came into the mix to help the country out and that helped the Revolution.

Answer 3

Liberalism keeps society equal. Conservative ideals appear to be the norm because Liberal is a dirty word these days. Most people proclaiming how conservative they are these days are living a lie because they don't really know what the term means. Liberalism isn't dead, Most of the people would just never admit that they support liberal ideals.

Answer 4

Without liberals, we'd still be living in a time period when the only people who had rights in American society were educated white males. I think it's healthier for society to be fiscally conservative, which the current conservative Republican President is not, and liberal on most social issues. I abhor what modern-day social conservatism has allowed itself to become in the last 25 years, as reflected by people like Rush Limbaugh, William Bennett, Jerry Falwell, Pat Buchanan, Pat Robertson, Sean Hannity and others on the far right. I think there is an awful lot of hatred towards change and progess motivating a lot of what they do.

Twelve years ago, the Republican party was the party of small government, tax cuts, and staying out of your life. That's how they won control of Congress in 1994. Now, the Republican party is the party of war, war, and more war, intruding into people's private lives, and silencing those who oppose them. We need more liberals in society to restore the balance of political power now. And moderate Republicans need to be listened to also.

Answer 5

S H I R A Z ...

WHAT? how is a revolution a conservative idea? in it's very nature it's liberal? It's rebelling against the powers that be...

conservative means "traditional"... or the way things have been... which during the Revolution would mean "stay under English rule"...

Answer 6

well the first answer that you see posted is what liberals think they are. Thomas Jefferson was a liberal of this sort. The liberal
"agenda" was usurped by the American communist party. who finally woke up to the fact that "communist " and "socialist " are swear words in the minds of Americans. So they went underground right into the democrat body politic. Ronald Reagan left the Democratic party for this very reason.
Liberals today are parasites one way or the other. and soooo
self satisfied my my.

Answer 7

Conservative ideals are good when we achieve moral and civil perfection. Until then, liberality (regardless of conservatives) will and has always reigned supreme.

Answer 8

To be liberal is to be generous, look up the definition. We claim to be above the animals, but the dog eat dog world that many republicans want is not any better than the animals. In fact it is worse because animals only kill to survive whereas humans kill for many other reasons. We kill for sadistic, prejudice, and hateful reasons, as well as self defense.
I am not religious anymore, but I still think that it is good to care for the least of us as Jesus said.
And I can not understand the pro life pro death penalty stance. Do I need to explain? Life is life, and since when did humans get to judge? (by christian standards anyway)

Answer 9

Don't blame the older generation for that. I happen to know plenty of old liberals. The old conservatives are just very loud, I think because they fear nobody takes them very seriously. This might be the case, of course.

Answer 10

Sure liberals are better if u belive in flag burning, never working, and making sure THEY are the only ones who get to use freedom of speech