The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #76683   Message #1361415
Posted By: Amos
19-Dec-04 - 05:33 PM
Thread Name: BS: Overcoming Liberalism. A 12 step Program
Subject: RE: BS: Overcoming Liberalism. A 12 step Program
I would like to hear from any of the anti-liberalism faction, exactly what practices or beliefs -- specifically -- they belief they are battling which they call "liberalism".

Here are several definitions from a brief search on the web:

a political orientation that favors progress and reform
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn


an economic theory advocating free competition and a self-regulating market and the gold standard
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn


A political philosophy "historically associated with the idea of freedom: the civil freedom of the individual: free political institutions; freedom of religion; free enterprise and free trade in economics." In its contemporary form, liberalism includes a belief in democratic capitalism, and in the duty of the state to alleviate social ills, and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. (Alan Bullock and Oliver Stallybrass (eds.), The Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought (London 1977), 347). Political parties calling themselves "Liberal" do not always reflect "liberal" values.
www.heritage.nf.ca/confederation/glossary.html


A school of economics that relies primarily on a free market with the minimum of barriers to the flow of private trade and capital. Underdevelopment in the Third World, acording to this school, stems from certain domestic economic policies of the developing country which tend to accentuate market imperfections; reduce productivity of land, labor, and capital; and intensify social and political regidities. The adoption of market-oriented domestic policies is the optimal way to remedy these weaknesses.
www.indiana.edu/~ipe/glossry.html


refers to thinking from the Liberal school of thought that posits that an economic system based on the market and free trade operates under 'natural' laws and brings benefits to the population. The Liberal school of thought, however, has changed and evolved over the years in particular with respect to the role of the state in the economy, which may be confusing. Here are some categories that might help to clarify:
www.trentu.ca/ids/glossary.html