Thursday, December 25, 2008 |
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Progressivism is the opposite of conservatism, while liberalism opposes authoritarianism.
The left-right dichotomy is at its most authoritarian around the endpoints - communism on the left, fascism, monarchy and other dictatorial schema on the right. On that scale, liberalism occupies, nay, owns the metaphorical center. It represents the ultimately moderate viewpoint, the plateau at the top of the bell curve.
Which is why to hear right-wingers (who typically call themselves conservatives) call liberals "leftists" is to laugh. But when liberals accepts such framing and self-identify as leftists, they are not helping their cause. This does nothing but dilute, and pollute, the brand.
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