Liberalism used to be a good thing
 

Liberalism was the philosophy of the great Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Adam Smith. Liberalism referred to political and economic liberty, to maximum individual freedom under the protection of a minimalist state.

Then in the 1920s and 1930s, progressives like John Dewey led the charge to rebrand liberalism to mean the alleviation of material and educational poverty, and liberation from old dogmas and faiths.

Liberty no longer meant freedom from tyranny, but became freedom from want and freedom to live in accord with the state and the general will.



With apologies to Jonah Goldberg

"Republican" used to mean "one who believes in a republic", or perhaps somewhat more cynically, that the people need representation because they lack the ability to effectively govern themselves. In other words, "big government".

"Democrat" used to mean "one who believes in a democracy" or straight decision-making by the people. In other words, no politicians and "small government".

Funny how convoluted this has all become. . .