Why are liberals always equated with socialism?

Question

socialism

1.Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.

2.The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

This is the basic definitions of socialism.Now, below I will give the basic definitions of a liberal.Of course not all liberals will fit into the entire definition.Just like not all conservatives would fit into the definition of that.But, no where does the definition suggest that goods should be owned or produced by the government or that the government should plan and control the economy or have a dictator.Personally, I think being a liberal is a very good thing.Just look at the first three definitions.

liberal
Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.
Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.

Tending to give freely; generous: a liberal benefactor.
Generous in amount; ample: a liberal serving of potatoes.
Not strict or literal; loose or approximate: a liberal translation.
Of, relating to, or based on the traditional arts and sciences of a college or university curriculum: a liberal education.

Answer 1

just wanted to jump in here and adress what seem to me a misunderstanding. "the dictatorship of the proletariat" is not a man; not an individual dictator. we the people are the proletariat; it is our dictates marx was speaking of. and remember this is pure democracy we're talking about here.

in general communist parties represent a conservative viewpoint, certainly not liberal.

ahem, that is what i would say if i knew anything at all about marxist-leninist theory, which i don't, and you can't prove it.

Answer 2

there are a couple really stupid answers on this question... to the idiot that thinks Fox News really is a money making organization, look how much money rupert had to pour into it. Bill O'Rielly and company lost that fool a ton of money. To the idiots that deflected to CNN, MSNBC, NYTimes, et all... Um, the NY Times helped sell the Iraq war. MSNBC does attack repubs alot, but they have also cut down Obama for taking the time to get republican input even though they are only interested in being obstructionist. If you think that I'm interested in watching Cliff Notes News... you're even higher than Rush on an Oxy bender. Next you'll be crying about the "Liberal media" Oh, and that special idiot that thinks Fox shows stories which others won't... yeah, it's because they're pulling stuff out of their butt. Fox news went to court for the right to change news stories from reporters, irrespective of the facts. It's kinda like they're fitting the facts for a predetermined outcome. Fair and Balanced? spare me. I know crap when I see it. You've got a tool on that network who can't even make it through a broadcast without blubbering like the sad little fool that he is. You conservatards can have it.

Answer 3

It is interesting in a question about why liberals are mistaken for socialists (or even more absurdly communists) we get a couple of good answers but then a couple of ignorant diatribes about what a liberal "really"is.
I am a liberal. Despite the attempts of many to make that a dirty word I am not ashamed of it.
I do not believe in the state "running everything" but I do believe in government regulation of market failures. I do not want to "punish the rich" but I do believe that a country will thrive more when it can eliminate poverty and ensure everyone access to proper education and healthcare (why business would want an unhealthy, uneducated workforce I have never understood). I do not believe that religon has any place in government. This does not make me anti-religous - it just means that I support keeping religon in churchesm temples and mosques not in the school curriculum. I do not force my views on others - I simply expect all to be equally supported - so trying to enforce a viewpoint that gays are evil or that a woman cannot choose what to do with her body will raise my ire. You can choose not to be gay and not to have an abortion but you have no right to prevent others, or to disenfranchise or segregate or alienate those that choose to do so. This is what the Dem leaders are supporting. Yet to some we shall always be "communists". If people choose to speak like that, take pride in displaying ignorance, they should not be surprised when thier viewpoint in general is disregarded as an ignorant one.

Answer 4

It doesn't really matter what dictionary definitions are. People who don't agree with other people in politics will use the term which they feel will make their opponents look the worst, like calling conservatives Nazis, which they aren't. Liberals often want to use community money to help people who cannot ever repay the community, and people who are opposed to this practice call it socialism, even though it doesn't even come close. Part of it is spin doctors and part of it is people buying into what the spin doctors preach. Fortunately, most of us liberals are confident enough in our own beliefs that we don't let it bother us. We just keep trying to make the world a better place in the best way we know how.

Answer 5

The next time a Liberal politician tells you that he opposes the culture of corruption and that, if elected, everything will be open and honest, do not believe it. When the Democrats ran their last campaign honesty was their best policy (to fool the voters) and now that they are in the majority they have done nothing to garner the trust of the people. Corruption, runs across both sides of the aisle and the libs have been corrupt for years. It does not seem to matter to the people who vote to put a person like Murtha in office time and again even though he was caught on video tape trying to take a bribe. Murtha has been known for years as a back room politician who wheels and deals and is big on earmarks. He loves to spend taxpayer money paying off people with big bucks and he is not bashful about it. His latest earmark was what caused the fray. He earmarked $23 million dollars for a program that the federal government has been trying to shut down because it is not cost effective. It is in Murtha’s district so he added the money back into the war supplemental.

This made one Republican, Mike Rogers, expressed his displeasure and Murtha sought him out and confronted him in a hostile manner. Murtha then told Rogers that he better not ever try to get anything in a bill because it would never make it. Murtha threatened to base decisions about future requests by Rogers on Rogers’ vote on Murtha’s money which is a violation of the House rules. Rogers asked that a vote be held to Reprimand Murtha for his violation. I knew this would not pass because the Democrats are in the Majority and there are not enough of them with spines who will stand up for what is right despite their campaign promises. Two Democrats voted against the measure (in Murtha’s disfavor) and that was the total number who had enough guts to do the right thing. The Libs held their noses and helped out Murtha.

Still, several Libs said some party members found it distasteful to vote to protect Murtha.

This folks, is what you voted for. These are people who lack the courage of their convictions. These are people who told you they were as pure as the driven snow and that they would run a clean shop and yet each day that passes exposes the corruption that has existed for quite some time. Whether it is Pelosi exempting businesses in her district or Feinstein helping to award her husband’s company defense contracts, the Democrats have shown that they are corrupt and that they do not give a care about what people think. The fiasco with Murtha shows that they will protect one of their own over their own honor and over the best interests of the taxpayers. People in the Pennsylvania district needs to wise up.

Couple this with the culture ending immigration bill that the President, some Republicans and most Liberals are pushing on us despite overwhelming objection from a majority of the country and it is easy to see that these jokers are all poor leaders who have been around way too long.

It is time to vote against any incumbent in 2008. Americans, left or right, Republican or Democrat, or anything in between should band together to vote every incumbent on the ballot out of office. If we put fresh faces in office we can work together to find common ground in addressing the needs of our country.

Answer 6

The definition you give sounds real nifty; however, if you actually talk to someone who claims to be "liberal", all they talk about is how the government should control things and force others to behave according to their views.

These self professed "liberals" have been marching in ideological lock step for over 30 years now: questioning their positions, values or beliefs is strictly forbidden, and punishable by irrational ridicule and character assassination rather than open debate or informed dialog.


In many ways, those proclaiming to be liberal are just as closed minded and insular as any given fascist organization.

Answer 7

Liberals wanted to have the wealth of USA distributed to the people through reasonable taxation and job opportunities prompting people to consider them as socialists.

Answer 8

Socialists like to give themselves flowery names like "liberal". I don't believe liberals are socialists, but I do think all socialists call themselves "liberals". I would call myself a liberal if it wasn't such a false term these days.

Answer 9

liberals are tolerant? I don't see them tolerating Christians or freedom to smoke in public. why do liberals think that minorities are not as smart as them and need special laws in a land where equality is the goal?

Answer 10

Because, historically, and according to known pattern, liberals attempt to set forth policies that have socialist qualities to them, if not blantant socialist policies themselves.

Their record speaks for itself.