Liberal And Proud

[poliphilo]

I remember a time when "liberal" wasn't a bad word.

And I've never understood how we got to this present situation where politicians of both left and right use it to smear their opponents.

Here's how my Pocket Oxford Dictionary defines it.

Open-handed, generous, not sparing (of), abundant, (of persons, conduct, provision made etc); open-minded, unprejudiced, free from pedantry; (Pol.) advocating democratic reforms......

So what's not to like? I'm seeing a bowl full of scrumptious rosy apples- and you're telling me they're rotten?

I think there's some sort of mean trick being played on us here.

I'm a liberal. Or try to be- it's a high ideal. And I want to live in a liberal society.

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There's this word that's been cropping up recently and it bothers me.

"post-democratic".

There's a feeling over here (maybe over there as well) that our democracy isn't working any more. People aren't participating, the institutions are decaying, our leaders are getting to be less answerable to the people.

So what happens in a post-democratic world?

Will I like it?

As Churchill said, "democracy is the worst system of government there is- apart from all the others."

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

There's a feeling over here (maybe over there as well) that our democracy isn't working any more. People aren't participating, the institutions are decaying, our leaders are getting to be less answerable to the people.

If 'the people' don't elect them, then why should they be answerable?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's a vicious circle.

And of course the people in power are delighted if no-one holds them to account.