Do any of them know what the word “liberal” actually means?

  • @[email protected]
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    36 months ago

    The context is typically pretty important for how it is being used. The user of the term often provides more than enough context I find.

    If ‘liberal’ is being used in a derogatory sense, which isn’t going to be captured by an academic definition, it’s often aimed at neoliberalism in a pretty broad sense.

    Which is probably what this meme is referring to: the shared rejection of neoliberalism. The motivations are different but that’s immaterial to these things. I mean: it is specifically referencing an American political party here: so I wouldn’t be looking for a political science definition on ‘liberal’.

      • @[email protected]
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        16 months ago

        Those statements are both true, but: Neoliberalism dominates both political parties in the United States and has for generations. The Democratic Party is also neoliberal, (often in spite of their voters.)

        The Republican Party’s neoliberalism has fostered fascist and christian nationalist factions to the point they may take over.

        The Democratic Party’s stance has been to try and absorb disaffected Republican neoliberal voters from the above.

        Which leaves ‘non-neoliberal American liberals’ with the choice of supporting… well it is and has been a successful right wing strategy to say the least.

        • @[email protected]
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          06 months ago

          The Democratic Party’s stance has been to try and absorb disaffected Republican neoliberal voters from the above.

          That’s a leftist idea that Leftists just made up and are running with due to their own echo chambers. Dems do like capturing centrists, especially now the GOP has gone off the rails, but the coalition is absolutely led by progressives who push progressive policies as much as they can. The theory is to capture disaffected centrists and win them over with clearly superior Democrat policies and positions. Doesn’t always work, but that’s the play. When the Democratic party allows oil leases or higher border funding, it doesn’t do so skipping with joy. It does so reluctantly as part of a compromise to win other gains.

          This is the part where you get out the tin foil hats and claim that despite all evidence to the contrary, Democrats actually secretly want every bad thing ever to happen. Because they’re just that evil.

          • @[email protected]
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            06 months ago

            Dems do like capturing centrists,

            Doesn’t always work, but that’s the play.

            Sure doesn’t. Very strong arguments to my point.

            • @[email protected]
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              06 months ago

              You didn’t even read it did you lol

              Just like “aha, everything you said actually supports me!” like you think it’s some sort of debate uno reverse card

              • @[email protected]
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                16 months ago

                It doesn’t seem like you’re grasping that I wasn’t or haven’t really been refuting you.

                The Democratic Party’s appeal to centrism by passing right wing policies is against their progressive base. The strategy doesn’t always work and it hasn’t been working.

                So why you working yourself up?