Steve Kangas short FAQ: : What is liberalism?

Steve Kangas was an exceptional person who explained liberal thought better than anyone else. He died under mysterious circumstances:

see http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKkangas.htm

The definition of "liberalism" has changed continually throughout history, and even today it means different things to different people. One of the more fundamental definitions is that liberalism is openness to progress and change. 

By contrast, conservatism attempts to conserve the traditions and received truths of the past. Liberalism has also been defined as generosity, tolerance, open-mindedness and willingness to give.

In the 18th century, liberals and libertarians were one and the same: both championed free markets, individual liberty and a greatly reduced role for government and aristocracy. 

This has led to one definition of liberalism: that liberals oppose political absolutism in all its forms, be they monarchist, feudal, military, clerical or communitarian. However, there is considerable difference of opinion on how to run a decentralized society. 

Today, liberals generally believe in a large and free private sector that is generously defined, defended, and promoted by the public sector. In other words, a balance between individual and group behavior.

For example, consider the free market: liberals believe that individuals should be free to do whatever they please on the market, within the law. 

The law is determined by democratic government, and not only prohibits simple crimes like theft and murder, but commercial crimes like fraud, copyright infringement, insider trading, breach of contract, price gouging, etc. 

Without these laws, the market would function either poorly or not at all. For instance, if we did not have copyright laws discouraging people from pirating all their software, computer programmers could not even make a profit, and would have no incentive to produce.

Yet another function of government is to defend the free market -- for example, with police and military forces.

Yet a third function of government is to promote the free market. A dramatic example is Eisenhower's Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, which authorized the creation of over 40,000 miles of interstate highway. These highways interconnected, accelerated and expanded the U.S. economy, with profound results. 

They allowed the middle class to migrate from the cities to the suburbs, with an enormous increase in privacy and quality of life. Highways are but one example of how publicly funded infrastructure has increased commerce -- others include railroads, canals, satellite communications, and even the Internet. 

The net began as a project funded by the Pentagon and public universities. Much of this infrastructure was too huge and expensive to be funded by private companies, and languished undeveloped until the public sector stepped in. 

What distinguishes liberals from other political parties is that liberals advocate a greater degree of government support, defense and promotion of the free market.

Source: http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/ShortFAQ.htm

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