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To all the infallible unblemished champions of the proletarian revolution who are shitting on "libs":
According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics and Western Political Theory in the Face of the Future, this is the definition of liberalism:
Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality, right to private property and equality before the law.
In your own words, what do you think "lib" means? And if you're going with my cited textbook definition, what's so offensive to you about the tenets that are listed?
Either words' definitions matter or they don't, and if they don't, then none of what you say matters.
Probably not the type of person you are directing the question towards, however, to me "Liberal" when used as a genuine marker of someone's political philosophy is effectively someone who believes in the status quo, but with slightly more protections for individuals, or relatively minor changes to existing political processes. They refuse to believe that other market or political system options are worthy of attempting or simply do not consider them feasible.
As to the second part,
Either words’ definitions matter or they don’t, and if they don’t, then none of what you say matters.
Unfortunately, definitions change over time or simply aren't accurate, homosexual used to inaccurately be defined as "sexual orientation disturbance" for example. That definition of liberal also covers things like the ""Classical Liberalism"" movement as liberal, they believe in COMPLETE market deregulation and capitalist "anarchy", their version of "rights of the individual" is the rights of an individual to do whatever they want to when they have the money to do so, without allowing any government to intervene in any way. This can (and frequently does) include using money to discriminate against other people, that's something worth fighting against.
Also FWIW, "Neoliberal" is defined by Oxford Languages as "favoring policies that promote free-market capitalism, deregulation, and reduction in government spending.", sometimes when people refer to "libs" they mean neoliberals, and yeah, deregulation and free-market capitalism has been tried, it sucks and deserves to be shat on.
- an anarchist
Codified capitalism, anarchism, republicanism, and socialism are liberal philosophies that find their roots historically in the enlightenment. "Lib" isn't the insult that tankies and MAGAs think it is.
FWIW, I advocate for democratic market socialism.
Generally it is used as a derogatory remark towards the flank of capitalist that often styles themselves 'leftist'.
In a very reductive sense it means if you're offended by being called it, then it means you.
In a very reductive sense it means if you're offended by being called it, then it means you.
Wannabe pejoratives usually are overly reductive.
I just think the tankies and MAGA types don't even know what it really means. Republicanism and Marxism are historically both liberal political philosophies that find their roots in the enlightenment.
I think they want to say "corporatist neoliberal", but it's too many syllables or requires too much thought. "Lib" makes for a nicer stone to throw.
I fucking hate shitlib dictionary lawyering.
Just say you're gonna fucking ignore what's happening.
dictionary lawyering
So words don't matter to you, got it.
Just say you're gonna fucking ignore what's happening.
I voted blue up and down the ballot in every election possible in my adult life since 2000, despite the corporatist fellating DNC. I've demonstrated. I've donated. I've written to congressmen. I was in a union earlier in my career.
I've been called worse than "shitlib". Try harder.
Here's how the corporatist DNC read your vote:
THEY LOVE ME!! THEY REALLY REALLY LOVE ME!!
Should I not have voted?
Dunno but you should at least grasp why lots of people think none of that shit works and hasnt for decades
"That shit" is far better than the alternative.
Libs embraced the Cheneys and told Bernie and Tlaib et al to go fuck themselves.
LibsCorporatist DNC embraced the Cheneys and told Bernie and Tlaib et al to go fuck themselves.
Yes, I'm aware of the "paradox of intolerance".
You're doing great comrade; the revolution is one more snarky internet comment and molotov sippy-cup away.
Oh dont worry, I'm done with the "revolution". That's never ever ever gonna happen.
This is you, then.
So, you're triggered enough by my pushback about people not knowing what "liberal" means enough to try to make me
insertNegativeEmotionHere?Now you're just a fucking asshole. Fuck off.
You responded to me first, dummy. So, kick rocks barefoot.