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Many things described as "liberal" today mean the opposite of what was historically true and what many people expect, and this disconnect is likely contributing to some of heightened frustration we're seeing in political arguments in 2020.
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Starting in roughly 2013, "liberal" veered sharply from its roots. You'll hear the word "illiberal" used to describe these contradictions, or "far/alt left," simply "not liberal", or "classic liberal" to differentiate that they're talking about basic enlightenment values.
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What are classic liberal values? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism#:~:text=Liberalism%20is%20a%20political%20and,and%20equality%20before%20the%20law They include civil rights, free speech, free markets, separation of church and state, capitalism, freedom of religion, limited government, and human rights. The US constitution was founded on liberal principles.
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It's possible for moderates and Republicans to be more liberal than Democrats.
Today, people with different values who both identify as liberal are talking past each other. E.g., the phrase "trans women are women." Classic liberal is marked with
; new/radical/alt is â:
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Today, people with different values who both identify as liberal are talking past each other. E.g., the phrase "trans women are women." Classic liberal is marked with
; new/radical/alt is â: 4/25
Classic liberal: trans women deserve equal rights, protections, and treatment; people should use trans womens' pronouns because it's humane and decent but government shouldn't compel it. 5/25
â Far/alt left: trans women are literally biological women and saying otherwise is violence and must be silenced; government should mandate pronoun usage; not using trans womens' pronouns is hate speech.
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Here's a mega-thread of classic liberal ideas compared to radical new ones. Many of the new ones contradict what "liberal" has meant for hundreds of years. This simple comparison isn't perfectâ-âmany of these ideas are complexâ-âbut it gets to the heart of the shift quickly. 7/25
Build new things to improveâ Dismantle existing things to improve
No one has the right not to be offended and to always feel comfortableâ Everyone has the right not to be offended and to always feel comfortable
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Ideas exist independently from their creators' identities, behavior, and valuesâ Ideas are inseparable from their creators' identities, behavior, and values
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No one is immune from criticismâ More oppressed people are immune from criticism, especially coming from less oppressed people
Debate opposing ideas so the strongest ones emergeâ Silence opposing ideas because they can threaten people
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The pinnacle of truth is a heavily-researched and well-supported scientific theoryâ The pinnacle of truth is one's lived experience
You are what you doâ You are what you say you are
There is mostly growth in discomfortâ There is mostly loss in discomfort
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Aspire to a colorblind, merit-based society where the best person for a job winsâ Aspire to a color-obsessed, merit-blind society where jobs are distributed equally
Figure out the individual to understand societyâ Figure out society to understand the individual
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Argument and challenge can be healthyâ Argument and challenge are usually toxic
Focus on the individual, because they make up societyâ Focus on the collective, because no one exists outside of their identity groups
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Your positions are private; no one can compel you to share them or interpret meaning from your silenceâ Your positions are of public concern; others need to know where you stand and your silence can be interpreted as evidence of your beliefs
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Assume that most successful people worked hard for their outcomes and wealth can be deservedâ Assume that most successful people rose up due to privilege and almost always abuse their power
Actions and intent matter mostâ Positioning and impact matter most
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Default to trying to solve problems yourselfâ Default to enlisting authorities or groups to solve your problems
Suffering can provide meaning and strengthâ Suffering usually weakens and should be avoided
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Prioritize equal opportunities (equality)â Prioritize equal outcomes (equity)
Feelings are just one data inputâ Feelings are the most important kind of data input
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It's morally superior and more productive to focus on what you can control in your own sphereâ It's morally superior and more productive to focus on larger societal issues
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The scientific method helps get us closer to objective truthsâ The scientific method is just one tool and there are no objective truths
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In a perfect world, race is irrelevantâ In a perfect world, race is center stage and we will have a "reckoning" with it
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Capitalism is the best system yet discovered for creating wealth and innovationâ Capitalism is inherently unfair, reinforces systemic inequalities, and must be dismantled
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Large groups of people saying the same thing is suspicious and possibly dangerousâ Large groups of people saying the same thing is good and possibly ideal
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Anyone can live how they wish regardless of their backgroundâ No one can shed the influence of their background in how they live
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To gain clarityâ-âand have more comprehensible political conversationsâ-âassess what someone is saying, versus how they categorize it. That itself is a liberal approach.
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For easier reading, I compiled this list with a few more details in post format in "You keep using the word 'liberal:' it doesn't mean what you think it means," on @Medium 
https://medium.com/@sarahadowney/you-keep-using-the-word-liberal-it-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-it-means-6832bd945076
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https://medium.com/@sarahadowney/you-keep-using-the-word-liberal-it-doesnt-mean-what-you-think-it-means-6832bd945076 25/25
