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This is why I'm a (classic) liberal - because if liberalism wins, not even its enemies have to be afraid of the outcome.

dragonwriter 6y ago
Classical liberalism mostly did win in the West, which is why it split into the modern western center-to-center-right which is oriented around protecting the interests of the elites established by implementation of classical liberalism, and the modern western center-left-to-left which is focussed on going beyond the concrete program of classical liberalism to further the outward distribution of power. (Outside of the center-left to center-right are a mixture of ideologies which are often, but not entirely, less closely tied to classical liberalism as antecedents; many that aren’t derived from liberalism are reactions against it. The idea that “enemies” of classical liberalism (or even adherents outside of the mercantile elites) have nothing to be afraid of from it is only true at the level of bland platitudes, not concrete implementation. But that’s not unique to classical liberalism, many ideologies are harmless to anyone, even their opponents, at that level.
- FeepingCreature 6y ago
  > The idea that “enemies” of classical liberalism (or even adherents outside of the mercantile elites) have nothing to be afraid of from it is only true at the level of bland platitudes I agree that there's things to lose, but I don't think the achievement that the enemies of an ideology should not be put to death should be underestimated! Sure there's things you lose, but there's a lot of things that you were historically at risk of losing when your ideology lost, that you aren't anymore. Like your life, your children, your self-determination. To me that's an achievement well worth protecting and celebrating. I think inasmuch as that's a bland platitude it's because we've forgotten how bad it was. The guillotine is a tasteless internet joke now.

dragonwriter 6y ago

Classical liberalism mostly did win in the West, which is why it split into the modern western center-to-center-right which is oriented around protecting the interests of the elites established by implementation of classical liberalism, and the modern western center-left-to-left which is focussed on going beyond the concrete program of classical liberalism to further the outward distribution of power. (Outside of the center-left to center-right are a mixture of ideologies which are often, but not entirely, less closely tied to classical liberalism as antecedents; many that aren’t derived from liberalism are reactions against it. The idea that “enemies” of classical liberalism (or even adherents outside of the mercantile elites) have nothing to be afraid of from it is only true at the level of bland platitudes, not concrete implementation. But that’s not unique to classical liberalism, many ideologies are harmless to anyone, even their opponents, at that level.

FeepingCreature 6y ago
> The idea that “enemies” of classical liberalism (or even adherents outside of the mercantile elites) have nothing to be afraid of from it is only true at the level of bland platitudes I agree that there's things to lose, but I don't think the achievement that the enemies of an ideology should not be put to death should be underestimated! Sure there's things you lose, but there's a lot of things that you were historically at risk of losing when your ideology lost, that you aren't anymore. Like your life, your children, your self-determination. To me that's an achievement well worth protecting and celebrating. I think inasmuch as that's a bland platitude it's because we've forgotten how bad it was. The guillotine is a tasteless internet joke now.