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As a Pro-Choice, Pro-Second Amendment, Pro-Speech Libertarian, I don't want liberalism or conservatism to "run its' course". I want both sides to continue fighting for their beliefs and agendas so that it forces a balance of policy. Neither side should get *everything* they want, but both should get *some* of what they want.
Actually, Neoliberalism is "a policy model that encompasses both politics and economics and seeks to transfer the control of economic factors from the public sector to the private sector. Many neoliberalism policies enhance the workings of free market capitalism."
Some would argue that Obama, Biden and the Clintons are neoliberals. Senator Booker, with his coziness to Wall Street, could be considered another neoliberal. One could say that having to spend time "dialing for dollars" from corporate/wealthy interests similar to that of Republicans makes most Congressional Democrats neoliberal to some degree.
The interpretation above of neoliberalism is instead perhaps a less flattering description of progressivism or even democratic socialism. Seeing that even the White House and the Senate had to concede some level of benefitting the suddenly needy among the plurality of the population, I don't see the economic aspect going away anytime soon. Neither will the calls for social justice from the marginalized and their majority allies. I admit to being confused about what "compelled labor for the benefit of another" means.
Last edited by FindingZen; 10-17-2020 at 06:19 PM..
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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Going under the radar but very much effecting all such things is the rapid secularization of younger Americans. If a majority have no faith in a God and afterlife to deal out punishment for evil and comfort for the afflicted then your strategy for making things equal and fair during physical life becomes far more extreme and far reaching. Previous liberal movements were still paired with Christianity, Marxism / Wokeism is paired with atheism or at least scepticism.
Just because liberalism is under siege, doesn't mean it's run its course. It means we need it more than ever. When liberalism was under attack from totalitarianism, would the author quoted by the OP have suggested the West just roll over and die, because being "under siege" = "it's run its course"? The author needs a better argument than that.
Going under the radar but very much effecting all such things is the rapid secularization of younger Americans. If a majority have no faith in a God and afterlife to deal out punishment for evil and comfort for the afflicted then your strategy for making things equal and fair during physical life becomes far more extreme and far reaching. Previous liberal movements were still paired with Christianity, Marxism / Wokeism is paired with atheism or at least scepticism.
Why does liberalism need to be paired with Christianity or any religion for that matter? Marxism wasn’t really paired with atheism (which isn’t a movement), but was built around worshipping the state as the ultimate deity. An atheist could lean in any political direction.
Going under the radar but very much effecting all such things is the rapid secularization of younger Americans. If a majority have no faith in a God and afterlife to deal out punishment for evil and comfort for the afflicted then your strategy for making things equal and fair during physical life becomes far more extreme and far reaching. Previous liberal movements were still paired with Christianity, Marxism / Wokeism is paired with atheism or at least scepticism.
They were? Was the labor movement of the 1930's connected to Christianity on the whole (lone activists like Dorothy Day not being representative of the broader movement)? I don't see what religion has to do with it. Outside of the Bible Belt, American liberalism has been secular for longer than you think. Religion, in fact, in some ways has held liberalism back. One could even argue, that religion is antithetical to liberalism.
Going under the radar but very much effecting all such things is the rapid secularization of younger Americans. If a majority have no faith in a God and afterlife to deal out punishment for evil and comfort for the afflicted then your strategy for making things equal and fair during physical life becomes far more extreme and far reaching. Previous liberal movements were still paired with Christianity, Marxism / Wokeism is paired with atheism or at least scepticism.
From my perspective, the secularization of younger Americans is due to their discovering that the majority view of faith in this country leans towards (White) patriarchy and does not offer inclusion. I think mostly of conservative Christian denominations although it may also apply to Orthodox Judaism and, much of Islam. Evangelicals' support and regard for the current head of state compared to their predecessor isn't slowing that acceleration away from religion.
However, there are liberal-to-progressive faiths, denominations and leaders who are beginning to assert themselves. Where these entities are available to younger people, not only may it attract support from secular folks, it may draw those disillusioned from their conservative houses of worship.
I'm confounded by the pairing of Marxism and "Wokeism". There is plenty of room on the left-leaning continuum between social inclusion and nationalizing private companies.
Last edited by FindingZen; 10-19-2020 at 07:18 AM..
At the risk of redirecting the conversation, I'd argue that conservatism is under threat, partly because it doesn't so much represent conservatism anymore. There's little concern on the right about conserving the environment anymore. Family values formally went out the window on the last inauguration day. And another bet on supply-side/trickle down economics exploded the national debt before the coronavirus forced Senate Republicans to concede more spending. I'm not sure if stonewalling District and Supreme Court nominees for one President only to rush and force them through for another is a conservative trait, either.
Plays for social inclusion by Republicans in the current election cycle are transparent and cynical. While mainline Democrats often fall short in their promises for social change, the last four years will make it difficult for Republicans to attract more than the most individualist non-majorities for perhaps a generation or more, even if the 2012 autopsy report is finally taken seriously.
Just to kick things off, liberty and equality are both considered Enlightenment ideals. Are they in contention with each other? Pondering that question may help you to understand where the critics of liberalism are coming from.
The United States was founded on Enlightenment principles. Our entire Constitution and system of laws is based on those principles. It's important that people understand that.
The Enlightenment is absolutely under attack from the Left Wing ideology of 2020. Many people will be in denial about that because they still see the Left as proponents of racial equality and clean air.
The problem with "replacing" the U.S. Constitution is, what do you replace it with? Nazism? Maoism? Sharia? Stalinism? The Enlightenment evolved over hundreds of years. What do we see as a competing philosophy on the horizon?
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