Universities, the military, and political beliefs.

[Infanteer]

You HAVE been reading Ignatieff, eh? 

 

[KevinB]

I've been reading Diamond.

My conclusions are likely somewhat different than others though...

 

[Glorified Ape]

The use of language has been corrupted, what we think of as "Conservative" today is actually classical "Liberalism" What passes for "Liberalism" today is a variation on socialism, and to be correctly political it is very close to National Socialism or Fascism in nature.

Oh Boy, more Godwin's Law for everyone. Please - "liberalism" in the bastardized mainstream sense it's used in today is nowhere near National Socialism or Fascism. That's just anti-leftist angst talking.

I'd say democratic socialism would better characterize many on the left than either of your sensational comparisons. That being said, many "liberals" fall far short of democratic socialism. I think the confusion of terms is partly resultant from the cleavage between political and economic views. I find that identifying one's views separately is more useful - IE social conservative, economic liberal.

 

[UberCree]

cleavage

Ehhh...heh heh... he said cleavage... heh heh..

 

[a_majoor]

Since "Liberals" (both the Canadian kind and US Democrats, traditional Labour parties in Europe and others who espouse "Liberalism") would allow us the duties and responsibilities of property ownership while using taxes and regulations to dictate the economic outcomes; they are following in the footsteps of Fascism.

Since so much of todays "Liberal" politics is driven by  pandering to or promoting certain groups at the expense of other groups in a "Zero Sum" context, it also resembles National Socialism.

Remember, these are the "correctly political" definitions of these systems, I am simply observing what is going on and supplying the points of comparison. Respect for individual rights, property rights, the supremacy of Parliament and the Rule of Law were the hallmarks of Classical Liberalism, and are now espoused by "conservatives" to varying degrees.

Have a wonderful election