Why do Americans use "liberal" and the like as an

[K.I.L.E.R]

We have Liberals running Australia and they are doing a great job at it. In fact the 2 most popular parties are Liberal and Labor. They usually tend to come close in elections.

The other parties get left in the dirt. Greens, Democrats, etc...

So what's up with the political name calling in the US?

 

[digitalwanderer]

Re: Why do Americans use "liberal" and the like as

So what's up with the political name calling in the US?

It's a cultural thang that really flairs up and gets out of control every four years or so over here.

 

[epicstruggle]

hey kiler, I dont think liberal, labor,... label are accuratly translated from country to country. Could define what a liberal in your neck of the woods stands for. Ill give you some issues if itll make it easier for you:
-abortion
-gay marriage
-enviromnent
-role of govermnent
-welfare
-nuclear power
-in what situation is the use of force necessary

this might more clearly define what type of liberal for you.

later,
epic

 

[akira888]

The term "liberal" signifies completely different political philosophies in different nation-states. "Liberal" in Oz implies someone who is more or less more free-market than average; "liberal" here implies the direct opposite. In the Continent it refers to those who believe in a more or less minimal state while on the British Isles the definition has slowly morphed from the Euro usage to the American usage. In most places however "liberal" tends to be synomynical with the American term "libertarian," while "libertarian" in Europe aligns with the US term "anarcho-syndicalist." Confused yet?

Brief historical explication - originally "liberal" referred to the branch of political philosophy, expoused by Locke, Hume, Bentham, and the early J.S. Mill, which argued that the state should have external limits on its power. For its time this was a fairly radical break with the prevalent normative philosophical conception of the state apparatus which tended to justify absolutism - not only as inevitable but also as desirable.

 

[Mariner]

In the Continent it refers to those who believe in a more or less minimal state while on the British Isles the definition has slowly morphed from the Euro usage to the American usage.

Not really. Our third political party is called the Liberal Democrats and this has traditionally been the middle of the road party with the Labour Party on the left and the Conservatives on the right.

Since 'New Labour' came to power, the Labour party has moved somewhat further to the right in many respects. Personally, I expect the Liberal Democrats to gain some seats in the next election as I know quite a few Labour supporters who are unhappy with the current government but wouldn't vote for the Tories. No one really discusses things as being more or less 'Liberal' - I expect this is because it could cause confusion.

Personally, I've decided that I don't really like the thought of politicians as a class and don't really want to vote for anyone who wants to be a politician. Monster Raving Loonies, here I come!