Name: Anonymous 2006-12-30 6:21
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dict.asp?Word=liberalism
"3. An economic theory in favor of laissez-faire, the free market, and the gold standard.
a. A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority."
As you can see, 'liberalism' appears to be essentially 'libertarianism.' Why is it then that whenever anyone uses the term 'liberal' in the USA, they tend refer to some grotesque overextension of government authority into the private economic activities of its citizens?
"3. An economic theory in favor of laissez-faire, the free market, and the gold standard.
a. A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority."
As you can see, 'liberalism' appears to be essentially 'libertarianism.' Why is it then that whenever anyone uses the term 'liberal' in the USA, they tend refer to some grotesque overextension of government authority into the private economic activities of its citizens?