Classical liberalism was the political philosophy of the Founding Fathers. It permeates the Constitution, the Federalist Papers and many other documents produced by the people who created the American system of government. Modern Liberalism has now become all about equality and welfare which no government can possibly promise to each and every person. It comes down to Individualism vs Collectivism. Do individuals have the right to pursue their own happiness, as Thomas Jefferson thought and as the Declaration of Independence stated? Or do we have an obligation to live our lives for the community or the state, as most societies have claimed throughout history? I will not try to answer this question as each subject should be debated and solved on it's own time and merit. This is also why I don't like political labels, individuals are much more complex than the label that is attached to him/her. If you don't follow party politics, remember the battle is not between Republican or Democrats. The battle will always be freedom and limited government vs big government.
The term Liberal has been hijacked by the new progressive movement. The original intent of Liberalism was the belief in limited government and individual freedom. The modern Liberal looks to grow government and the dependence of at every turn. Whether it's the never ending social programs, the welfare state or gun control the modern Liberal seems to believe in everything but individual responsibility. Classical liberals agreed that government had been created by individuals to protect themselves from one another. They thought that individuals should be free to pursue their self-interest without control or restraint by society. In a very broad sense,
Classical Liberalism was defined by adherence to free markets, democracy, and
civil liberties. Economically, it was very similar to today's Conservatism/ Libertarianism ...... how ironic!- BDB
Sources- (Google Images)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberalism
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