Question for "liberal"...

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

Wouldn't your ideology be better characterized as "communitarian" rather than "liberal"?

[megamattman1]

Are your notions of liberalism equal to socialism or communism? Noting that these are no voluntary endeavors. And your idea of communitarian is voluntary?


Either way, people define terms differently. Your way may be better for you to define.

It seems a general notion here is that "liberal" equals "unreasonable" or even stupid, but that's not how all people see it. (I mean beyond the one's who really are unreasonable and stupid and don't see it that way)

Conservative can have bad connotations too. Some might generally say, he's so conservative, that he doesn't care if people die or perhaps are murdered as long as economics are good. You might not consider this person conservative, but there are these notions out there.

You have to look at both sides when throwing these words around. Make sure you have everything clearly defined. Otherwise you're just arguing, and you probably don't really disagree.

Edited October 20, 2004 by megamattman1

[XIX]

In terms of faith, I consider myself orthodox, as opposed to being conservative ro liberal. I'm not quite sure what others would refer to me as...

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

My definition of a liberal is one who choses equality over freedom and freedom over order.

A communitarian (equality over freedom, order over freedom) would be a liberal economically but a conservative on life issues such as abortion.

It seems to me that a liberal who is also an orthodox Catholic is not really a liberal but a communitarian.

This isn't a debate over conservatism and liberalism at all. I don't think the conservative-liberal scale is adaquate.

Edited October 20, 2004 by thedude

[Snarf]

I avoid using the term "liberal" since it's so historically subjective. Up until relatively recently, it was used to describe the idea of separation of government and the economy, almost the opposite of what it means now.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

I am talking about the current American definition of a liberal and Catholics who claim to be a part of that group. I think their ideology is better represented by communitarianism than liberalism. This thread isn't deeply philosophical.