"Liberalism (from the Latin liberalis, "of freedom") is the belief in the importance of liberty and equality. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but most liberals support such fundamental ideas as constitutions, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights, capitalism, free trade, and the separation of church and state. These ideas are widely accepted, even by political groups that do not openly profess a liberal ideological orientation. Liberalism encompasses several intellectual trends and traditions, but the dominant variants are classical liberalism, which became popular in the 18th century, and social liberalism, which became popular in the 20th century.

Liberalism first became a powerful force in the Age of Enlightenment, rejecting several foundational assumptions that dominated most earlier theories of government, such as hereditary status, established religion, absolute monarchy, and the Divine Right of Kings. The early liberal thinker John Locke, who is often credited for the creation of liberalism as a distinct philosophical tradition, employed the concept of natural rights and the social contract to argue that the rule of law should replace absolutism in government, that rulers were subject to the consent of the governed, and that private individuals had a fundamental right to life, liberty, and property.

The revolutionaries in the American Revolution and the French Revolution used liberal philosophy to justify the armed overthrow of tyrannical rule. The 19th century saw liberal governments established in nations across Europe, Latin America, and North America. Liberal ideas spread even further in the 20th century, when liberal democracies triumphed in two world wars and survived major ideological challenges from fascism and communism. Conservatism, fundamentalism, and military dictatorship remain powerful opponents of liberalism. (nice grouping!)

Today, liberals are organized politically on all major continents. They have played a decisive role in the growth of republics, the spread of civil rights and civil liberties, the establishment of the modern welfare state, the institution of religious toleration and religious freedom, and the development of globalization. Political scientist Alan Wolfe wrote, "liberalism is the answer for which modernity is the question".

That about sums it up.

"Liberal: a power worshipper without power."

~ George Orwell

I'm not convinced that the democratic party is liberal, nor that the GOP is conservative.

The democrats have, many times, failed to protect our liberties when they were in power, and the GOP has failed to reign in government spending when they were in power.

But then again a lot of Socialists claim to be "liberal" (with other people's money).

It is tough to discern what is a true liberal vs. one of those Socialist "save the world from themselves" jerk offs.

Many Libertarians are thought to be something other than Liberal but then again Liberal has lost its core meaning.

Exactly - most of my self-described 'liberal' friends lean strongly towards socialism....and socialism is often at odds with personal liberty.

I agree re: libertarian - I don't think libertarianism can be understood through the lens of the conservative/liberal dichotomy....they are strongly to one side on some issues, strongly to the other side on other issues.

Look past the politics.

very true. Libertarianism is neither left nor right.

Liberalism is a mental disorder

I have yet to see one definition of liberal on these boards besides mine and the OP that are even close to factual definitions.

Very few on these boards seem to know anything about liberalism.

Or socialism for that matter.

Liberals don't care for Obama that much, showing Obama is not too liberal.

Socialist don't care for Obama either, showing he is not a socialist.

Communists don't like Obama either showing he is not a communist.

Being Christian he is not a Muslim.]

So it seems a few of the posts on this forum are not factual at any level.

P F F F T T T T T ...

"Liberal: a power worshipper without power."

~ George Orwell

My point exactly.

Obama the Muslim is a liberal, socialist, communist.

.....and he's against the people of America.

Do wap wap wap.

Obama is as liberal as Stalin was!

It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it; consequently, the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using the word if it were tied down to any one meaning.

George Orwell

Sexually Liberated

Teehehe