can Stalin and Mao be called "liberals"?

Question

they both believed in the left and had very "liberal" economic policies. and if you can call them liberals then how come liberals have a reputation for being 'pansies'?

Answer 1

They were totalitarians, not liberals.

Liberals at least make believe that they are acting 'in loco parentis'. These monsters were definitely of the 'Do it MY way or die' variety of 'leaders'.