First of all, a sincere apology for your treatment from those on the Right who use the term Liberal as a pejorative.
Despite the fact that there is a vast difference between the words Liberal and Leftist, many on both sides still confuse the terms. So, by way of an introduction, let us run through the basics to clarify our terms.
1. The fundamental debate in politics is between individualism and collectivism.
The individualist considers the rights and freedoms of everyone on an individual level. The collectivist considers rights and freedoms in terms of the collective ‘good’. The individualist favours individual Liberty as in the right to ‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’. The collectivist is only concerned about these values in terms of groups or collectives. The individualist values each and every person in and of themselves, the collectivist values each person by what they can contribute to the collective.
By example, the individualist considers the right of self-preservation an individual right. The collectivist considers this to be – you guessed it – a collective right.
2. Politics is also a division between those who desire control over others and those who do not.
This was expressed by author and Engineer Robert A. Heinlein as follows:
“Political tags – such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth – are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.” – Robert A. Heinlein
There are those who do not care about controlling others, while there are others who lust for this power.
The first general category simply want to live their lives with minimal interference from the government. The second general category are those who want to manage others and control their lives. It logically follows that Individualists would fall into the first general category, while collectivists would fall into the second category.
3. Freedom is trampled as government expands.
As Thomas Jefferson [and founder of the Democratic Party] stated it:
“The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.” Thomas Jefferson
It should be self-evident that as government grows in size and power, individual Liberty decreases. The historic record shows this to always be the case. It logically followers that those truly imbued with the precepts of Liberty would oppose government expansion.
Individualists have little desire to control others, preferring Limited government to protect Liberty.
Collectivists want control others preferring the destruction of Liberty with expanded government.
How do these three points compare with the definitions of the words Liberal, Conservative and Leftists?
By definition, Liberals favour ‘individual rights and freedoms’ and ‘individual liberty, free trade’ are individualists. They have lot in common with Conservatives who favour ‘free enterprise’ and ‘private ownership’.
Conversely speaking, Leftist political philosophies are collectivist. By definition, those favouring ‘socialist views’ [Collectivism] are on the Left.
So why is this important?
Simply put, those who are truly Liberal have much more in common with Conservatives than the Left. True Liberals and Conservatives are individualists by nature, without much in the way of a desire to control others. These are people who want the government to be limited since that is the only way to maximise Liberty.
Leftists on the other hand, are collectivists by nature, desirous of control over the people who prefer expanded government over Liberty.
It is important to point out these fundamental principles since they clearly differentiate Liberals and Conservatives as on the political right from those on the political Left. Everyone needs to understand these precepts with regard to where they truly belong. For far too long, the Left has co-opted the term Liberal – a word based in freedom – for their designs in power. As is the case with their many other labels and talking points, their exploitation of that label is 180° Degrees out of phase with reality.
Those of you who are truly Liberal need to rejoin your allies in Liberty on the Right.
Frankly speaking, the Left has been lying to you over the decades. While they talk a good game about freedom and civil rights, they act in the opposite manner. Consider their actions:
- They have worked tirelessly to undermine our individual Liberties of free-speech, freedom of the press, the right of self-preservation and even due process and the presumption of innocence.
- Meanwhile they have asserted more and more sovereignty over the lives of ordinary Americans down to strict controls on their property to the types of drinking straws they can use.
- This while they seek to expand government power to unheard of levels with total control over your health care and other ‘free stuff’ that will only serve to set everyone in their servitude.
The Left is the biggest threat to the cause of Liberty at present, those who value this important cause are realising this to be the case and are jumping ship, hence the burgeoning #WalkAway Movement. While many in that movement talk of leaving Liberalism the case presented shows that this isn’t entirely the case. Leaving the Left actually means rejoining the Liberal cause.
Ask yourself: Do you want to stand with the ochlocracy of the Left or the rationality of the Right?
The #WalkAway movement has seen many leave the Left for good, having become fed up with it’s irrationality and mob rule. Do you want your name to be connected to the increasingly violent rhetoric, If not actual violence from the Left?
Recent studies have shown that far-Left activists are a small percentage of the population, while the overwhelming majority are tired of it’s antics. Rejoining those who value Liberty will put you in the majority, instead of with a small segment of the population who value collectivism, political power and expansive government that is destroying Liberty.
Despite their overwhelming advantages in dominating the culture, media and government indoctrination [Public education] system the Left has been on a losing streak. They are down to the desperate measures of trying to control speech along with other Liberties – despite their labeling – as well as threatening violence.
Do you condone these actions? If you do not, then you should #WalkAway.
If you truly value individual rights and freedoms, as well as free trade, then you belong with those who have these in common. The Far-Left political minority does not hold these values as important, so why should anyone be a part of it?
