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In reply to the discussion: Liberalism in Europe 'facing its biggest fight' against the far-right and 'the politics of fear' [View all]rogerashton
(3,920 posts)6. Don't forget that
in Europe, a "liberal" is a believer in free markets. More or less what we call a libertarian in this country, though not tainted by the association of libertarianism with Reagan's southern strategy Republicanism in the US. In that sense they are more consistent than our libertarians, and draw on a much more distinguished tradition, such as John Stuart Mill. Nevertheless, they are committed to the "invisible hand."
The association of "liberal" with a more dirigiste approach in the US originates in FDR's cabinet, where the liberals opposed the "populists" (progressives) such as Huey Long, who called for much more sweeping change. They were "liberal" by comparison, much as pale ale is pale by comparison with Guinness.
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Liberalism in Europe 'facing its biggest fight' against the far-right and 'the politics of fear' [View all]
pampango
Mar 2015
OP
I suppose the collective memory of the evil of fascism is dying with that generation passing away.
pampango
Mar 2015
#2
The liberals are "misguided" but not the far-right? The latter simply reflects "reasonable fear"?
pampango
Mar 2015
#7
OK, I'm trying to find your Tower Hamlets segregated swimming pool story
muriel_volestrangler
Mar 2015
#21
And that is what we need to address. These things are fearful but FDRs words ring even truer today
jwirr
Mar 2015
#26
Most liberals in Europe do believe in markets though they have tempered that with strong safety
pampango
Mar 2015
#8
"I don't think you will find that any European liberals are pro-union." Really?
pampango
Mar 2015
#13
Mercantilism is not 'competition among nations'. It is economic policy to benefit one country over
pampango
Mar 2015
#19
That certainly proves that nazis din't believe in the 'free market'. Nationalism and militarism
pampango
Mar 2015
#15
Yes, as I said, they are not socialists, and neither is the US Democratic party
muriel_volestrangler
Mar 2015
#29
The EU exists only to further neoliberalism and capital run amok so I hope it busts.
TheKentuckian
Mar 2015
#12
Let's hope that the income equality and overall prosperity in Europe does not go bust
pampango
Mar 2015
#16
The whole agenda of the EU is to undo income equality, strip away those protections,
TheKentuckian
Mar 2015
#22
If that were true, Europe would not have the world's best income equality and would have lost
pampango
Mar 2015
#25
No, I meant what I said not what you want to jump off on. Why do you just put words in people's
TheKentuckian
Mar 2015
#27