What's specifically is wrong with liberalism?

[HumorMe]

Would be easier to list what is right about it.

#1 - Uhm....sorry, can't think of anything.

 

[UA_Iron]

It's at its core an individual hating philosophy which preaches the need to sacrifice personal liberty and freedom to some vague misguided idea of what constitutes the grester good, often by force or the threat of force.

that sounds like christianity?

 

[Mr_MAX]

conservatives.. are so close minded

 

[jerseyart]

that sounds like christianity?

Nah, at its root Christinaity is an individual affirming religion. It, unlike secular humanism, teaches the great inate value of the individual human being.


Which is one of many reasons why it is incompatible with liberalism, and why religious individuals generally offer littel support to the far left.

To the contrary our belief in representative government is based on a theological understanding of humanity. All men are created equal, all men are born with certain inalienable rights. Power flows from the people to the government because it was upon the individual that God bestowed these qualities.

Which is one more reason why communism necessitates the destruction of all religion to achieve its leftist utopian dream

 

[IHateAmerica]

It's at its core an individual hating philosophy which preaches the need to sacrifice personal liberty and freedom to some vague misguided idea of what constitutes the grester good, often by force or the threat of force.

Sounds like the war on terror.

 

[mrplunkey]

Liberalism is well-intended, it's just too theoretical. Too many of their initiatives, while they sound great (like the 5+ Trillion we've spent to "end poverty") just don't fly.

It's not a coincidence that academics and others who are just a little too far from the day-to-day working guy (i.e. Hollywood) flock to liberal ideas in general.

Ever notice how so many people are liberal in college, but once they have a wife, 2.4 kids, a mortgage, a dog and a white picket fence they tend to become more conservative?

 

[jerseyart]

Sounds like the war on terror.

UA's point had some merit

Yours is just idiocy

 

[EnderJE]

Thank you JA and Mr Plunkey for some insightful answers.

JA, I'm not sure how you see it as an individual hating ideology. However, I do see the idea of the "greater good". At the same time though, it does preach taking care of those in need. Is that not a good idea for the masses?

MrP, yes, I do notice how often liberals are mainly those who are twice removed from the day to day life (except in Canada...ugh). At the same time, I also notice those who are in day to day life are bitter people who gave up on whatever dreams that had a long time ago and "settled". This is not mean to be reflective of EVERYONE who lives in day to day life, just the bitter people that I deal with on a daily basis. Anyways, couldn't I use this to indicate that cons ideology is mainly for those who have settled?

 

[jerseyart]

Thank you JA and Mr Plunkey for some insightful answers.

JA, I'm not sure how you see it as an individual hating ideology. However, I do see the idea of the "greater good". At the same time though, it does preach taking care of those in need. Is that not a good idea for the masses?

MrP, yes, I do notice how often liberals are mainly those who are twice removed from the day to day life (except in Canada...ugh). At the same time, I also notice those who are in day to day life are bitter people who gave up on whatever dreams that had a long time ago and "settled". This is not mean to be reflective of EVERYONE who lives in day to day life, just the bitter people that I deal with on a daily basis. Anyways, couldn't I use this to indicate that cons ideology is mainly for those who have settled?

It teaches that the individual is inherently greedy, selfish, and incapable of making the correct choice when left to his own devices.

It seeks to enforce its view of how things should be on that individual, dispossesses him of his or her property and the fruit of his labor, and puts him in servitude to the state.

You dress it up nice maing, with fanciful promises of some leftist utopia, but essentially you seek to harness your dream on the back of every person wiling or not, and use force and threat of confinement when he doesnt comply.

You pursue an equality of outcome that denies the individual his inherent right to pursue his interests and his dreams. More so, you label him selfish and even a criminal for wishing to do so.

I've been given one life in this world. I dont wish to spend it in servitude to your vision, however glorious you may imagine it to be.

Man was born to be free, not shackled by the state like some work horse to pursue someone elses "well intentioned" vision.


You speak of liberalism caring for the individual through aid. Youc care for nothing Your entire philosophy is that some other individual is morally obligated to support everyone else, and if he doesnt, you will confiscate his property and put him in prison for failing to comly to your beliefs. You even discourage private mercy in favor of some all consuming state sponsored version, which does nothing more than spread the misery over a larger portion of the population while placing the state in almost full control of the nations wealth

 

[bluepeter]

Some good answers although I am a liberal and espouse little in terms of ideology that is being detailed here. I think part of the problem is that many Americans categorize any and everybody left of conservative as a 'liberal'. I don't subscribe to many of the supposed liberal philosophies that American conservatives state liberals supposedly embrace. Is this obfuscation or just disdain for anything left of center? I don't know. Either way, a liberal ideology without trampling on the rights of the individual is far more palatable to me than the right side of the spectrum. I find it amusing that many conservatives rail about the rights of the individual and yet most cannot see a homosexual as an individual with rights.

I embrace several conservative philosophies but cannot subscribe to things such as homosexuals being denied the rights of heterosexuals, women being unable to abort a child under any circumstance, polluting the environment is not a big deal etc. etc.