nevertheless, “liberalism” used to have an actual definition. it meant somebody would would say “things are allowed unless they are forbidden”, which is contrary to the anti-liberal (sometimes identified as conservative) view that “things are forbidden unless they are allowed”, which means, liberals don’t bother with things that don’t matter.
now, if you’re a trans girl shitting in a public toilet, that doesn’t matter because it doesn’t really change anything. that is why liberalism says “ok, it shouldn’t be forbidden, so by default it’s allowed” while anti-liberalists claim “i don’t see why these people are doing this, therefore they are faking it (being trans) and also it should be a crime until proven innocent”.
American use of the term “liberal” centers around purely social aspects - all people have the same rights under the law, so as long as you’re not harming anyone else you should be allowed to do whatever you want. Gay, trans, sexually attracted to trains, don’t care, you do you.
European use of the term tends to imply economic liberalism, a la Laissez-faire capitalism.
Thus, American liberals are moderately left-wing, and European liberals are moderately right-wing.
It’s a weird quirk of society that permissive economics and restrictive social norms tend to get bundled together, and restrictive economics together with permissive social norms.
It’s a weird quirk of society that permissive economics and restrictive social norms tend to get bundled together, and restrictive economics together with permissive social norms.
yeah it’s weird, thank you for recognizing that as well :D
yeah, that seems to me how people use these words
nevertheless, “liberalism” used to have an actual definition. it meant somebody would would say “things are allowed unless they are forbidden”, which is contrary to the anti-liberal (sometimes identified as conservative) view that “things are forbidden unless they are allowed”, which means, liberals don’t bother with things that don’t matter.
now, if you’re a trans girl shitting in a public toilet, that doesn’t matter because it doesn’t really change anything. that is why liberalism says “ok, it shouldn’t be forbidden, so by default it’s allowed” while anti-liberalists claim “i don’t see why these people are doing this, therefore they are faking it (being trans) and also it should be a crime until proven innocent”.
American use of the term “liberal” centers around purely social aspects - all people have the same rights under the law, so as long as you’re not harming anyone else you should be allowed to do whatever you want. Gay, trans, sexually attracted to trains, don’t care, you do you.
European use of the term tends to imply economic liberalism, a la Laissez-faire capitalism.
Thus, American liberals are moderately left-wing, and European liberals are moderately right-wing.
It’s a weird quirk of society that permissive economics and restrictive social norms tend to get bundled together, and restrictive economics together with permissive social norms.
yeah it’s weird, thank you for recognizing that as well :D