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Wow they're right, Americans are stupid. Classical liberals emphasize free private enterprise, individual property rights, laissez-faire economic policy, and freedom of contract, and oppose the welfare state. Classical liberals support equality before the law, but hold that economic inequality, arising from competition in the free market, does not justify wealth redistribution by governments.

This used to be the party-line of Republicans but the neo-cons have destroyed that foundation. It is the Libertarian that most closely identifies with Classical Liberalism.

You Demorats are just dumb, you don't even understand your own politics. And I like Wile E Coyote.

2007-10-13 18:41:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3 2

It's actually a slightly complicated answer. Classical liberalism is a blend of classical, liberal 'laissez-faire' economics and classical political liberalism. In short, it basically advocates for a government that protects individual rights and free markets and then stays out of the way of everything else. The modern Republican Party promotes liberal economics more than the Dems, who favor more governmental regulation (although far less than do most parties in Europe), while the Dems arguably do more to protect individual rights (look at each party's views on the ACLU). Neither particularly believe in small government, despite what they say.

The Libertarian ideology is actually the closest I would say.

2007-10-14 01:43:07 · answer #2 · answered by filmmakr 2 · 2 0

I am not sure if some of the people answering this question understand the difference between Classical Liberalism (think Adam Smith, Voltaire, Friedman) and modern Liberalism, think of FDR and modern liberals.

That being said, I don't believe either party is following classical Liberalism, though of the two major parties Republicans would be somewhat closer on some of the issues, though not all.
I do agree with others that have stated that the Libertarians would be the closer party, though they are not a major party.

A good answer to this question would require a book to be written.

2007-10-14 01:43:15 · answer #3 · answered by Still Learning 4 · 0 2

The present Republican party ( or at least the party Alan Greenspan referred to as being before the Bush years ) is more akin to the founding fathers (FF).

The FF warned of foreign entanglements ( Washington's farewell address) and the isolationism of the (pre-neocon) Republicans used to be reflective of that. The FF feared a strong and large central government and established a Federal Republic rather than a simple democracy. Jefferson thought it a good idea to have a revolution every twentry years or so to avoid a government that will inevitably grow large and intrusive. The Republicans claim to be a "small government" party, looking to minimize government's influence on the lives of citizens wherever possible.

The present-day Democrats always look to the government first to solve any problems, spend money and regulate the lives of citizens

2007-10-14 01:36:30 · answer #4 · answered by LucaPacioli1492 7 · 2 2

Libertarian or the Constitutional Party.
The Republican and Democratic parties are both pretty much the same and are mostly the opposite of classic liberalism.

2007-10-14 01:47:23 · answer #5 · answered by tj 6 · 1 1

I would say that the Libertarian Party is most closely aligned with the ideology of the founding fathers.

The founding fathers believed in self reliance. They believed in the common defense, but say nothing about the common defense of other nations. They would be appalled by the size of government today. The expenditures on individual needs (and the level of income that constitutes "poverty") and our involvement in the affairs of other nations (self determination, anyone?) would have them rolling over in their graves.

2007-10-14 01:33:44 · answer #6 · answered by kevricmom 1 · 6 1

The Libertarian Party.

The Founders would not not approve of either the Republican or Democrat Party.

2007-10-14 02:14:02 · answer #7 · answered by Yak Rider 7 · 4 1

Neither. We need to ditch both of them and use the Constitution as the yard stick by which we measure the validity of new legislation.

2007-10-14 01:30:59 · answer #8 · answered by Ethan M 5 · 2 4

The Democratic party.

Duhh

2007-10-14 01:31:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2 5

Actually the republicans, only because our entire governing philosophy has shifted so far left the libs are off the map!

2007-10-14 01:31:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1 5

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