4 ms·

I’ve not seen the Lib Dems described as pro-business in that way before. In my experience they tend to be ideologically in favour of the EU as they support clos

by mprev 8y ago

I’ve not seen the Lib Dems described as pro-business in that way before. In my experience they tend to be ideologically in favour of the EU as they support closer cooperation in pretty much all things.

sonnyblarney 8y ago
Lib Dems are the most pro-business of all political parties. They are basically Europe's 'Libertarians' or 'Classical Liberals'. They are ideologically for 'freedom', but pragmatically they are the party of business. The EU is, at least on the books 'good for business'. Open borders, free trade, free movement of people and labour - it's all theoretically very good for business. Lib Dems tend to be leftish on the social front, i.e. things like gay marriage because it's mostly a freedom/personal issue. They tend to have an educated, business oriented backing, and are inherently globalist.
- cbcoutinho 8y ago
  In the states we have a similar branch of the democratic party that is primarily pro-business and voted left on social issues - see Blue Dog democrats [0] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Dog_Coalition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Dog_Coalition
  - sonnyblarney 8y ago
    Yes but they're not necessarily libertarian or classically liberal. It's a different spectrum. They could be somewhat 'Communitarian' - like Christian types who tend left on social issues. Blue Dog dems do me are like Angela Merkel and Germany CDU. There's no specific analogy for Lib Dems in the US really, though you could say a good chunk of the educated professional class might fit this.
    - lemoncucumber 8y ago
      I think perhaps before the massive realignment of the parties that started in the 60s, the Republican Party was somewhat akin to the liberal democrats. Back then it was the northern, pro-business, more socially liberal party. But then the Democrats supported civil rights and Nixon, Goldwater, Reagan, and co pursued the Southern strategy, and the Republican Party became socially conservative while remaining pro-business.
  - empath75 8y ago
    You’ve got blue dogs precisely backwards. They were culturally right wing and economically liberal for the most part— southern leftovers from the new deal.
tonyedgecombe 8y ago
Compared to the current Labour and Conservative parties even the greens look pro-business.

by mprev 8y ago

sonnyblarney 8y ago

Lib Dems are the most pro-business of all political parties. They are basically Europe's 'Libertarians' or 'Classical Liberals'. They are ideologically for 'freedom', but pragmatically they are the party of business. The EU is, at least on the books 'good for business'. Open borders, free trade, free movement of people and labour - it's all theoretically very good for business. Lib Dems tend to be leftish on the social front, i.e. things like gay marriage because it's mostly a freedom/personal issue. They tend to have an educated, business oriented backing, and are inherently globalist.

cbcoutinho 8y ago
In the states we have a similar branch of the democratic party that is primarily pro-business and voted left on social issues - see Blue Dog democrats [0] [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Dog_Coalition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Dog_Coalition
- sonnyblarney 8y ago
  Yes but they're not necessarily libertarian or classically liberal. It's a different spectrum. They could be somewhat 'Communitarian' - like Christian types who tend left on social issues. Blue Dog dems do me are like Angela Merkel and Germany CDU. There's no specific analogy for Lib Dems in the US really, though you could say a good chunk of the educated professional class might fit this.
  - lemoncucumber 8y ago
    I think perhaps before the massive realignment of the parties that started in the 60s, the Republican Party was somewhat akin to the liberal democrats. Back then it was the northern, pro-business, more socially liberal party. But then the Democrats supported civil rights and Nixon, Goldwater, Reagan, and co pursued the Southern strategy, and the Republican Party became socially conservative while remaining pro-business.
- empath75 8y ago
  You’ve got blue dogs precisely backwards. They were culturally right wing and economically liberal for the most part— southern leftovers from the new deal.

tonyedgecombe 8y ago

Compared to the current Labour and Conservative parties even the greens look pro-business.