What do American conservatives mean by 'liberal'?

Question

I'm puzzled by this phrase. It always seems to refer to a sort of phantom, wishy-washy, self-hating, unpatriotic, grubby little troll that I have never actually met in my life, whereas 'liberal' actually has a quite specific meaning in UK political history and a different meaning again in the history of globalisation.

I for one am way to the left of 'liberal', and will be grateful if I'm not tarred with that brush. I'm a proud, upstanding, left-wing anarchist, further left even than your average communist party member. Where do I fit into the average American neo-con picture of the world?

Iraq isn't anarchy. Thanks to the USA, it's chaos.

MissDeviance, I don't hate anyone. I am just very puzzled by the narrowness of the debate on here. And I really don't understand this weird caricature figure of a 'liberal' - someone who seems to hate everything decent and honest and honourable and yet who also wants a massive government and wants to pay humongous amounts of tax.

Most Americans I have met have been lovely, honourable, decent people who are disgusted by the state of their country's politics. I've met maybe one rabid Republican weirdo in my whole life. So how come those weirdos seem to dictate the terms of the debate?

Just to clarify, by 'average American neo-con' I certainly did not mean that most American people are neo-cons - my experience has been that a majority of Americans are to the left of the two main parties. I meant to refer to the typical American neo-con, as opposed to, say, an exceptionally brilliant or stupid American neo-con. Sorry for any confusion caused.

Answer 1

American conservatives use the term "liberal" as a snarl word, much like "fascist", without little regard for the actual politics of those they intend to attack.

They apply it to a broad range of disparate groups, ranging from Bush Lite, center-right Democrats, through welfare-statists, social democrats, to socialists, communists, and anarchists. There probably isn't anything that all of these groups have in common, except that regressive-rightists hate them all.

News & Views for Anarchists & Activists:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/

Answer 2

I agree, it is confusing. From this side of the pond, in our neighborhood, "liberal' means people who want more federal government, to the point of social programs for everything from healthcare to the poor and equalization of the wealth, so there is not a vast difference in socio-economic classes. "Conservative" seems to be associated with overlegislation, loss of personal freedom, and no equalization of the wealth (some people would say conservative Christian, anti-abortion, gun toters).
I believe that the US needs to go back to some of the teachings of the founding fathers. Some say "libertarian" I do believe in downsizing the federal government (which neither side seems interested in) and holding to our consititution. I believe that US government is far too top heavy and is in for a fall. I have researched options and want to move to the outskirts of a little village in Scotland (if they'll have us) if "shewhomustnotbenamed" wins the election. Two of my colleagues from graduate school have already "defected" as it were and become true British citizens. I believe that the only hope for the US is Ron Paul, who is ironically, or cleverly running on the Republican ticket.

Answer 3

Liberal is a term for anyone who ISN'T racist, gullible, ignorant, hateful, irrational, Republican or uneducated.

For example, the Cons are blaming the fires on liberals. That's the lunacy we're dealing with in this country.

Cons will find a news story about a doctor prescribing medication to a child and blame it on liberals, even though no where in the story does it indicate the political affiliation of the doctor or patient.

Liberal is used by Conservatives for anything that they don't like. They love making blanket statements about groups of people based on NOTHING. Don't believe me? Just read this forum, watch Fox News, or tune into the king of ignorance and hate, Rush Limbaugh. He wastes 4 hours every morning blaming every problem in this country on liberals, all while taking credit for anything good without ever providing logical evidence or sources. Just BSing to the kiddies.

Answer 4

a man or woman ought to completely be all 3, on different subjects. A conservative may be probably to choose to maintain values that artwork and function worked properly in the previous. Politically, which ability uphold the form (as an American conservative) and adapt as mandatory particularly than making sweeping adjustments for the sake of replace. A liberal might choose to alter what he or she feels isn't working, particularly than attempting to evolve regulations or classes to lead them to artwork greater effective. A liberal might evaluate the form a dwelling checklist and can be greater probably to choose to amend or maybe replace it. A Republican may be a member of the yank Republican occasion, or--in the wider experience--a man or woman who favors a republican variety of government as antagonistic to a monarchy or dictatorship. A republic must be a democratic republic. A Democrat may be a member of the yank Democratic occasion. in the wider experience, returned, a democrat might like a democracy and can generally choose having a democratic republic. a man or woman must be conservative on some subjects (politics, economics), liberal on others (social concerns) and can properly be a member of the Republican occasion or ought to choose a republican variety of government. Taking those as political ideologies, conservatives might generally tend to vote Republican in US elections, yet some ought to evaluate themselves Libertarians and that i've got usual many conservative Democrats. Liberals might lean to the Democratic occasion and a few ought to lean in the direction of socialism. Republicans tend to be conservatives, moderates and extremely very nearly each and every shade in between. So in essence those political philosophies at the instant are not relatively properly-defined.

Answer 5

Answer: The fact that YOU understand that liberals and communists are the same philosophy is a positive!
American's believe that their liberals are "left-wing anarchist, further left even than your average communist party member".
You should fit in quite well.

Answer 6

True liberalism is great. However, on this site, people use the word liberal as an insult. Liberalism is a system of beliefs that one has. Liberals are strong supporters of human rights, equality, and fairness. The term Liberal is mistakenly misconstrued as communist, socialist, and anarchists. If any open minded person understands the concept of politics they would know what a true liberal is.
Edit: Why do Conservatives place themselves on a pedestal as though they are much better than everyone else.

Answer 7

Since average Americans are not "neo-cons" as you put it, I think you fit cleanly into your own self-definition as an extreme leftist. So congratulations, you're no different than the extreme right wingers you probably loathe.

By your own self-description, you proudly wear the very same swastikas of intolerance and hatred. Changing the colors and the directions of the bends doesn't make you any more holier than thou vs. those you hate.

Answer 8

Liberals stand for civil rights.
In the UK they are Centrist.

Answer 9

The animals in "Animal Farm"

The Pigs = Bush Neocons

Answer 10

The truth is, the people who use the word "liberal" as a slur on this site have no idea what it actually means. It's a Pavlovian phrase programmed into them by right-wing conservative talk radio. When the word gets mentioned, they start frothing with impotent rage and low-wit insults.