Conversation

Poll: When you use the unqualified terms “liberal” in a political conversation, what do you usually mean?
  • Classical liberal
    21.8%
  • Progressive
    62.5%
  • Socialist
    8%
  • Other (reply to specify)
    7.7%
261 votesFinal results
Replying to
Generally, I use it to mean a group of people who generally take a similar set of positions on popular issues, and who mostly self-identify (and identify) as "liberals." "Bleens" would work just as well, but society seems to have adopted "liberals."
Replying to
I generally only use it in contexts where the major meanings (US Dem Party-like politics, neoliberal economics, liberal intl order) happen to both be roughly aligned w/ each other & what I'm trying to express, or at least don't contradict it. If they're not I'll pick another word
Replying to
I usually use “liberal” in the political sense: the belief that govt power shld be limited & political power dispersed; the rule of law should apply to all, incl. govt officials; courts shld be independent; there shld be a clear boundary between the ruling party & the state; etc.
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