Are Liberal and Conservative Still Adequate Terms to Describe American Politics Today?

Hi Charles!

In simple terms… Liberal and Conservative are not static. The political spectrum is always moving, and politics follow culture. Culture, in turn, is shifting the Overton Window! This is why the terms 'liberal' and 'conservative' may no longer fully capture the nuanced political landscape of the United States today.

Looking at the current social change stage, the window is moving left. In my opinion, we are in a phase where the political discourse and policies are shifting towards progressive ideals, despite the attempts to maintain traditional conservative stances.

Please open a book… one not written by Bill O'Reilly or some other degenerate rightist. Read the Declaration of Independence and the works of Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke. These texts will inform your understanding of the foundational liberal principles upon which America was built. There are no actual 'conservatives' in American politics today; rather, there are many who subscribe to fascist ideologies.

Original Question Answered

A: Liberal is a person who believes that everyone is inherently equal—that the law ought to be based upon that fact.

A: Conservative is a person who believes that some groups of persons are superior to others—that the law ought to protect the superior group and control all others.

Clearly, the definitions of these terms have evolved over time. Another way of saying this is that liberals favor the rule of law, while conservatives favor a strong social hierarchy where those at the top have all the privileges and none of the responsibilities, and those at the bottom exist or are eliminated for the benefit of those at the top.

The Historical Context of Liberalism

John Locke, in his Treatise on Government, defined liberal principles in 1690, even though it was his readers who later labeled his philosophy with this term. According to Locke, a liberal sees the true purpose of government as protecting citizens from hostile governments and providing means to settle disputes with hostile citizens in courts of law. This protects the citizens' rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, allowing them to achieve and develop by their own efforts.

Locke's ideas unleashed the potential for human progress, leading to the Western Enlightenment, savings property, and education. He also advocated for the self-correcting, inalienable right of free speech, which is determined by debate and logic. This is a key difference between true liberalism and the self-serving attitudes often associated with contemporary political figures.

The Dichotomy of Attitudes

A conservative, as described, is someone who sees no need to fix something that isn't broken. Their belief is that any change could potentially be worse than the original problem. On the other hand, progressives are steadfast in their belief in the importance of abortion rights, viewing unwanted children as hindrances to their lifestyle and eagerly adapting to change to benefit themselves, regardless of the cost. This highlights the progressive desire to take advantage of change for personal benefit.

Progressives often see free speech as a threat to their power, which is why they attempt to silence voices speaking the truth. The recent Covid debacle is just one exposed example of this, demonstrating how progressives can manipulate public discourse.

My Perspective

I am conservative about liberalism as Locke envisioned it: the highest and best use of human intelligence and creativity. I am liberal. While recognizing the potential for overreach with traditional liberal principles, I firmly believe in protecting and advancing the core tenets of Locke's liberalism.