Could anybody explain me why Democrats are called liberals?

Question

Do they only have liberal policies? And why are the Republicans not liberals despite their liberal economic policy?

Answer 1

I had not noticed that the Republicans HAD an economic policy.

Democrats are called liberals because traditionally they have been more open to trying new ideas. Republicans, being conservatives, want to hold on to traditional ways of doing things. All of the social changes we've seen in American in the past 100 years (civil rights, women voting, social security, etc) have been done by the action of the Democratic party.

Today, fifteen years of right-wing commentary have made the word 'liberal' almost a curse. Today's Democrats are calling themselves 'Progressive.'

Answer 2

Liberal and Democrat are not one in the same and conservative and Republican are not one in the same. Although most democrats are liberal and most republicans are conservative. I am independent and conservative, but more of a moderate consevativeon non-religious issues.
From Wikipedia:
Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value. Liberalism has its roots in the Western Enlightenment, but the term now encompasses a diversity of political thought. Many liberals advocate a greater 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 Unemployment benefits 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. However, modern advocates of classical liberalism do advocate a heavier taxation on the corporation, as opposed to the current trend of the burden of income tax resting on the shoulders of the individual worker, as did the early classical liberals.

Answer 3

Ok, so many Americans do not realize the idea I'm about to explain. There are four definitions one must know. Liberal: free, open minded, willingness to change. Conservative: for the status quo, keep things the same. Democrat: one who typically supports socialist government programs and a small military as well as helping middle and lower classes. Republican: one who typically supports the military and not socialist programs, and has the upper class as their base.

So, back to your question, it is possible to have liberal democrats, liberal republicans, conservative democrats, and conservative republicans.

Answer 4

Once upon a time...WAY back in the '50's and '60's...there were strange creatures roaming the land, called "conservative Democrats" and "liberal Republicans".

Then an evil magician called "Nix On" crowned himself king of all America. And this evil man had an illness called "paranoia". He spent all his time writing list after list of the names of people he thought were his enemies. And he told his servants to go out and spy on these enemies, and to steal files, and even to give other Presidential candidates nasty drugs. And they did, and Nix On was happy.

But then, two heralds found out that he was doing these things, and told all the kingdom. And the people got pissed, and made Bad King Nix On go away and live in a cave.

And ever since then, the "liberal Republicans" and the "conservatives Democrats" have no longer roamed the land.

And no one knows where they went.

Answer 5

President Bush is very liberal. President Bush followed President Clinton's recommendation to took out that far right wing conservative Saddam Hussein and his conservative Republican Guard and Republican Palace and Conservative Baath Party (Iraq's version of the Republican Party), so that Iraq could have good decent, honest liberal Democratic Party like the USA Has.

Answer 6

Liberals are considered left-wing and pinko. They are very weak on defense, and they move toward socialism.
The Liberals took over the Democrat Party and drove out all the Conservatives. They have driven out the Moderates.
The ones that call themselves Moderate, are actually Liberals who don't have the guts to admit it.

Answer 7

We think the Bill of Rights is a good thing.
We think fair and open courts are just.
We think employers should provide their employees safe working conditions and a living wage.
We think all wealth should not be placed into the hands of a few.
All these ideas come to us from the 18th century Enlightenment, which the Republicans and the Ultra Religious Right consider a bad thing.

Answer 8

What liberal economic policy?

Answer 9

Republicans bow down to the religious right...Democrats don't. Republicans believe in forcing God down your thoat and up your a**...Democrats don't. Republicans actually believe that if you don't subscribe to their religion, you're a liberal...Democrats don't. The bottom line...Republicans - You must do as I say! Democrats - It's OK to think for yourself.

Answer 10

They are called liberals due to their soft agenda