• @saltesc
    link
    271 month ago

    It’s quite clear to me that almost no one in the US—or those “educated” by US politics on social media—has any fucking idea what a “liberal” fundamentally is and always has been. It’s going to become another one of those great terms ruined by a takeover of idiots—not that I’m directly calling your mom an idiot.

    But ffs, when the French gifted that statue, it wasn’t because they were pro-capitalism, burning books, fucking off women’s rights, and bringing the legal system into every facet of society.

    • no bananaOP
      link
      191 month ago

      I, too, look across the pond and wonder what the Americans are fucking doing

          • @lolrightythen
            link
            31 month ago

            For real. Buying groceries is increasingly stressful. Folk tend to reach into personal space of others, leave their carts in intersections, and generally not give a damn about the person next to them.

            I take it very slow and skip the aisle I kind of wanted something from if I see a complication I’d rather not deal with.

            We never see ourselves as part of the problem. It isn’t easy, though.

            • @WhiteOakBayou
              link
              51 month ago

              What I like to remind myself is that we judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions.

            • no bananaOP
              link
              21 month ago

              I have perceived such a development too, but I think it’s just that our minds have been warped by the pandemic. During which we did change a lot of our social norms but many people went back to disregarding personal space while others became very aware of it.

      • @saltesc
        link
        91 month ago

        Always? The “classical” in your article does not mean what you think it does. Just like post-modernism doesn’t mean “the future”. Capitalism didn’t even exist in the era it’s referencing, rightfully referring to laissez faire instead—something capitalism would eventually arise from.

        One of the strongest criticisms of capitalism by liberals is its failure to achieve a moral and equitable distribution of resources. The violation of social freedoms for sake of a market’s freedom. Markets obv play a vital role in driving economic growth but persistent issues such as corruption and institutional weaknesses prevent social justice.

        Even Adam Smith criticised laissez faire in the end because, surprise surprise, it was yet another great idea on paper that was incompatanle with human nature. The result is the freedom of some encroaching on the freedom of others; i.e. fundamentally anti liberal.

        A liberal will support freedom in a market but never support the exploitation or inequality of individual freedoms, such as the outcomes of pure capitalism. Someone that claims to be a liberal while their ideals strip people’s liberties is a fucking wolf in sheep’s clothing.

  • @Hackworth
    link
    English
    251 month ago

    /checks comments to confirm they’re all arguing over what liberal really means.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      91 month ago

      We could stop doing it if there weren’t mother fuckers getting their definitions from the average American. The kind of person that elected Trump twice.

    • no bananaOP
      link
      71 month ago

      They’re also fans of porn!

    • @Alteon
      link
      5
      edit-2
      1 month ago

      I can’t think of a single modern day liberal that would…but alright.

      I mean if you went out and interviewed a “liberal” I’d bet money that they would be against the prison Industrial complex and against rampant unregulated capitalism.

      • @Gradually_Adjusting
        link
        English
        31 month ago

        This is a simple misunderstanding caused by the difference between what the word actually means and what propaganda has made it

        • @Alteon
          link
          41 month ago

          I mean, am I misunderstanding the word and misapplying it? Or are all self-proclaimed modern liberals incorrect in thinking they are a liberal? What would be the better terminology? Progressives?

          • @Gradually_Adjusting
            link
            English
            71 month ago

            It’s a historically centre right ideology, e.g. the Aussie RWNJs call themselves liberals. Fox has successfully renamed the progressive left as liberals in America, as part of a larger effort to keep actual leftism out of the overton window.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    15
    edit-2
    1 month ago

    I think many people are racist, both liberals and conservatives. Liberals just manifest their racism differently. That’s the unfortunate truth.

  • @obre
    link
    91 month ago

    Plot twist, OP’s Mom is a Maoist-Third Worldist

    • ivanafterall ☑️
      link
      English
      51 month ago

      The emphasis is supposed to be placed on “liberals,” as in, “Pshhht…wait until you see the racism I can do, mom.”

    • no bananaOP
      link
      51 month ago

      Fictional American mom is a Trumper 🎺