When did Liberal become a dirty Word in US politics?

Question

I was taught that the US was based on Liberal ideas. I mean a republic with regional governents? a constitution that split executive and legislative powers? That was pretty moderate or "liberal" thinking in the 18th century.

Answer 1

You are referring to classical liberalism of the 18th and 19th centuries. Liberalism in the 20th century is a radical extension of the earlier ideas which developed during the Enlightenment and were designed to combat the privileges of an entrenched aristocracy and kings who ruled by Divine Right.

I would say that liberalism became a dirty word in the late 1970's after the excesses of the counterculture and the failure of "The Great Society" became apparent.

Answer 2

I don't know but I've always considered myself a liberal thinking person until I got on here. They are describing a very radical viewpoint as liberal and labeling all democrats as liberals with a negative connotation. It's annoying. I don't like how polarized they try to make it. I actually share some similar views on republican and democrat issues but not straight down party lines. I get attacked by both sides when really all I am is a reasonable thinking person with answers that don't appeal to either side because they're not extreme enough. I guess there is no place for moderates on YA politics if you want to get the best answer.

Answer 3

Just listen to them talk an you'll know why. They hate America, hate hard work, hate achieving, hate God, hate other people's right to worship God, hate free speech, except for themselves, throw food at rally's in colleges at guest speakers, scream at them, like they did at Condoleeza Rice, hate closed borders, hate protecting their country, hate the military, hate necessary wars, hate Conservatives, hate Bush, need I go on? I think that is more than enough. By the way, whoever told you that America was built on Liberal ideas is wrong. We are a Republic, not a Democracy. We were built on the ideas of freedom, to better ourselves, and to not be controlled by our government.

Answer 4

What liberal means has changed over the years. By that definition, all Americans are liberal. All of us 'liberals' are divided up into two groups. Conservatives and Liberals. So there's liberals (all of us) and then there's liberals (Democrats). Make sense?

Answer 5

the 60s

Answer 6

Thats right and as with most things it has come full circle.
Now cons are the dirty word in politics now that we've come back to a liberal way of thinking. We have to move ahead.

Answer 7

I would say in the mid 60s. You are talking about Liberal ideas. But dictionary liberal and politically liberal are not the same thing.

what liberalism has become is nothig like what it was.

Answer 8

It was based on liberal ideas, but even then there were many conservatives who opposed them, no one believed a large-scale democracy could work, and many opposed breaking away from England.

Liberal isn't a dirty word in U.S. politics, some people just try to use it as such.

Answer 9

If the liberals had stayed with those policies, it might not have become a dirty word. But, since they switched to preferring an authoritarian government which wants to tax the hell out of its citizens so it can dole out money by fiat, liberal became a curse word.

Answer 10

When so many of the democratic politicians who claim to be Liberals turned traitor to their own country.