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I'm not making a case for progressivism here and I'm clear on the traditional (and international?) definition of "liberal." I'm mainly interested in what speci

I'm not making a case for progressivism here and I'm clear on the traditional (and international?) definition of "liberal." I'm mainly interested in what specifically constitutes a liberal platform or policy model in the US. I genuinely don't know what it looks like. The descriptions I hear are typically hand-wavey in a way that reminds me of communist rhetoric; lots of ideals, few details, and typically reactionary (defined by what it isn't). I'm assuming this is a gap in my knowledge/experience and I'd love to fill it in.

clarkmoody 8y ago
The libertarians are most in line with a classical liberal ideology. It is a platform that acknowledges individual rights that exist independent of government, which finds its only legitimate role in ensuring those rights. Those rights are life, liberty, and property. Any policy that prefers individual liberty and private property over government power and government-granted privileges would be more libertarian. Libertarians support: - Decriminalization of all "moral crimes" such as drug possession and use, prostitution, etc - Freedom of trade and exchange, zero tariffs or import/export restrictions, elimination of price-gouging laws - Elimination of taxation, government welfare programs, corporate welfare - Immediate cessation of all foreign wars and assuming a defensive posture in foreign policy - Elimination of most, if not all, regulations on consumer goods - Sound money and the elimination of fractional reserve banking For the most pure, detailed explanation of libertarianism, check out The Ethics of Liberty[1] [1] https://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Liberty-Murray-N-Rothbard/dp/0814775594/ https://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Liberty-Murray-N-Rothbard/dp/0...
- shredprez 8y ago
  Great response, thank you!
nostromo 8y ago
If you want details, you'll have to look beyond internet comments. :) Read The Road to Serfdom and The Constitution of Liberty by Hayek for a deep discussion of liberalism. The Wealth of Nations and Free to Choose are also great books to consider.
- shredprez 8y ago
  Fair enough :) Thanks for the recommendations!

clarkmoody 8y ago

The libertarians are most in line with a classical liberal ideology. It is a platform that acknowledges individual rights that exist independent of government, which finds its only legitimate role in ensuring those rights. Those rights are life, liberty, and property. Any policy that prefers individual liberty and private property over government power and government-granted privileges would be more libertarian. Libertarians support: - Decriminalization of all "moral crimes" such as drug possession and use, prostitution, etc - Freedom of trade and exchange, zero tariffs or import/export restrictions, elimination of price-gouging laws - Elimination of taxation, government welfare programs, corporate welfare - Immediate cessation of all foreign wars and assuming a defensive posture in foreign policy - Elimination of most, if not all, regulations on consumer goods - Sound money and the elimination of fractional reserve banking For the most pure, detailed explanation of libertarianism, check out The Ethics of Liberty[1] [1] https://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Liberty-Murray-N-Rothbard/dp/0814775594/ https://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Liberty-Murray-N-Rothbard/dp/0...

shredprez 8y ago
Great response, thank you!

nostromo 8y ago

If you want details, you'll have to look beyond internet comments. :) Read The Road to Serfdom and The Constitution of Liberty by Hayek for a deep discussion of liberalism. The Wealth of Nations and Free to Choose are also great books to consider.

shredprez 8y ago
Fair enough :) Thanks for the recommendations!