Americans Are ALL Liberals

I am no longer a Democrat, but I think I am still a liberal. You might be one, too. I believe in people and in their ability for self government, and I think that’s what constitutes a liberal, at least in the classic tradition.

And I wonder whether most of us in the United States wouldn’t fit that definition. Nowadays people waving American flags try to paint me as a “libtard” and Republicans want to own me, but why, when our beliefs are so similar and emanate from the same underlying philosophy, do we suddenly seem so disconnected from each other? I’ve been trying to take all this hysteria apart to see what it comes from.

Liberalism, a political and economic philosophy, has its roots in the Enlightenment era. It emphasizes individual freedoms, democracy, and market economies.

It is an ideology that values freedom, equality, democracy, and human rights.

So far, I think all Americans can follow along.

As an ideology, liberalism became a distinct movement during the Age of Enlightenment, when Western philosophers and economists began to promote representative democracy, rule of law, and equality under the law. Liberals also sought to replace traditional conservatism — a state religion, absolute monarchy, and hereditary privilege with free trade, marketization, and an end to royal monopolies and mercantilist policies.

Here’s where we part company. Classical conservatism is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes the importance of…